Industry Briefing - BCA

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CODE ON ACCESSIBILITYCODE ON ACCESSIBILITY

IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT 2013IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT 2013by

Universal Design Department

Building Plan and Management Group

Building and Construction Authority

Industry Briefing

We shape a safe, high quality, sustainable and friendly built environment

Item Programme Presenters

1 Introduction Goh Siam Imm

2Provisions for Persons with Visual &

Hearing ImpairmentJoyce Tung

3 Hearing Enhancement System Gordon Lee

Tea Break

4Accessible Routes and Other

requirements Cheong Yin Oi

5 Sanitary Provisions Tan Cheong Ee

6Family-friendly Features and

Residential Development Tan Jwu Yih

8 Q & A

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• 1990: Code on Barrier-free Accessibility in Buildings

• 1995: 1st Revision- Better served the needs of the elderly and the

wheelchair bound

• 2002: 2nd Revision- Good practice guides added

• 2007: 3rd Revision

- Seamless connectivity and accessibility beyond

confines of buildings

• 2013: 4th Revision

Code on Accessibility

in the Built Environment 2013- Enhanced provisions and incorporated

Universal Design concepts

BACKGROUND

• Building and Construction Authority [Chair]

• Housing and Development Board

• Land Transport Authority

• National Parks Board

Government Government AgenciesAgencies

Voluntary Voluntary Welfare Welfare

OrganisationsOrganisations

InstitutionsInstitutions

Industry PlayersIndustry Players

• National University of Singapore

• Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists

• Disabled People’s Association

• Handicaps Welfare Association

• Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped

• Singapore Action Group of Elders (ceased operation in mid July 2012)

• Society for the Physically Disabled

• Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore

• Singapore Institute of Architects

PU

BLI

CP

RIV

AT

EP

EO

PLE

TRIPARTITE CODE REVIEW COMMITTEE

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• Ensure user friendliness with refinement of prescriptions and dimensions

• Provide greater clarity with more illustrations

REFINEMENT OF REFINEMENT OF CODECODE

• Overview of categorisation of building types

• Introduce “Objective” statements

• Differentiated requirements for different building types

IMPROVE CODE IMPROVE CODE STRUCTURE STRUCTURE

/ORGANISATION/ORGANISATION

• Family friendly

• Elder friendly

• Enhanced provisions for persons with disabilities

ENHANCE THE ENHANCE THE CODECODE

OBJECTIVE OF CODE REVIEW

Code 2013 provides

• Greater emphasis on universal design concept with

provisions that benefit a wider spectrum of people, including

parents with infants, the young and elderly.

• A comprehensive, balanced set of provisions to better

address the needs of persons with disabilities

OBJECTIVE OF CODE REVIEW AND CHANGES

4

Study

User Trials

Site visits

SITE VISIT & USER TRIAL

Source

No. of persons/ organizations providing the

feedback

Types of feedback

Code related Non-Code relatede.g. complaints,

enquiries

Public 14 4 10

Industrye.g. QP, builders,

building owners, suppliers

15 15 -

Interest Groupse.g. VWOs, agency

16 15 1

Total 45 34

(75%)

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(25%)

• Received about 300 suggestions & views

• Public and stakeholders generally supportive

PUBLIC CONSULTATION (1-30 April 2013)

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• Code was launched on 30 August 2013

• Industry briefing on 30 Sept 2013

• Code will be implemented from 1 April 2014 for

• New buildings & buildings undergoing A & A works

with building plans submitted to BCA for approval.

IMPLEMENTATION OF ACCESSIBILITY CODE 2013

KEY CHANGES TO THE ACCESSIBILTIY CODE 2013

Wheelchair users

Family Friendly

Elder Friendly

Visually Impaired

Hearing Impaired

Five important areas:

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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

CODE CODE STRUCTURE AND CHANGES IN CHAPTER 1 & 2STRUCTURE AND CHANGES IN CHAPTER 1 & 2

CHAPTER CHAPTER 1 1

• Scope• Set out fundamental design and construction

requirements and guidelines for making those buildings

specified in Table 1 accessible to PWDs and families with

young children

• Specification is based on the dimensions of commonly

used wheelchair sizes and users. For larger wheelchairs

and motorised scooters, additional space allowances to be

considered to the needs of the intended users. (CL 1.17)

• Definitions • “Detectable warning surface”

• “grab bar” vs “handrail”

• “primary access route” vs “secondary access route”

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CHAPTER CHAPTER 22

• Table 1 (clause 2.1)

• Areas or levels in the type of buildings specified in Table – to

be made accessible for persons with disabilities and other

intended users (families with young children)

• Residential Development (clause 2.2)

• Minimum Accessible Provisions (clause 2.3)

• Interconnectivity (clause 2.4)

• Exemptions (clause 2.5)

• Alterations and Additions works (clause 2.6)

CHAPTER CHAPTER 22

• Table 1 (clause 2.1)

• Specify the areas or levels in the type of

buildings specified to be made accessible for

persons with disabilities and other intended

users (families with young children)

• Serves as a quick reference for key facilities and

accessible features to be provided for various

building types.

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TABLE 1

This table serves as a quick

reference for key facilities and

accessible features to be

provided….

Building Type Accessible AreasKey provisions to note**

Sanitary provision Other provisions

1. Residential

Buildings

(a) 4-storeys and below

(without lift access);

(b) 4-storeys and below

(with lift access);

(c ) 5-storeys and above.

All communal

areas and facilities

at 1st storey.

All communal

areas and facilities.

All communal

areas and facilities.

WC at common area. Cl 2.2 and Chapter

7.

Note : **The table serves as a quick reference for key facilities and accessible

features to be provided for the various building types. Relevant provisions

that are specified in the Code shall also be complied with.

Legend

AM : Water closet compartment for ambulant disabled

UGB : Urinal for ambulant disabled

WC : Accessible Toilet



5 Hotels, boarding

houses, chalets and

backpackers’ hotels.

All areas intended for

access by employees,

guests or the public.

AM, UGB, WC Cl 2.3.3: 1 in 100 guest

rooms to be accessible.

1 in 50 guest rooms to be

elder friendly.

Cl 6.8: Hearing

enhancement system

shall be provided.

Cl 4.6.1.4, 4.11.1.2 and

5.1.7: Tactile and Braille

signs shall be provided.

6 Serviced

apartments.



residents, visitors, or

the public.

AM, UGB, WC Cl 2.3.4: 1 in 100

apartments to be

accessible.

TABLE 1

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TABLE 1

Building Type Accessible Areas Key provisions to note**


13 Pre-school, schools,

colleges, universities or

institutions of learning.



students or the public.

AM*, UGB*, WC *AM and *UGB are not

required in pre-schools,

primary and secondary

schools.

Cl 6.8: Hearing

enhancement systems

shall be provided.

Cl 4.6.1.4, 4.11.1.2 and


signs shall be provided

except for pre-school and

school.

TABLE 1



15. Hospitals, clinics,

nursing homes,

homes for the aged

and welfare homes.


access by patients,

residents, employees

or the public.

AM, UGB, WC

Sanitary facilities within

the wards or homes for

patients/residents are to

be provided in

accordance with the

hospitals’ and homes’

requirements and needs.

Cl 6.8: Hearing

enhancement systems shall

be provided in hospitals and

clinics.

Cl 4.6.1.4, 4.11.1.2 and


signs shall be provided in

hospitals and clinics.

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CHAPTER 2

MINIMUM MINIMUM ACCESSIBLE PROVISIONSACCESSIBLE PROVISIONS

• Banking ticketing offices

• Accessible to wheel chair users

• Hearing Enhancement system to at least one of the

service counter s

• Service booth

• eg ATMs, cash electronic systems, book drops

• at least one of such service booths to be accessible

800 m

ax

CHAPTER 2


• Halls and Auditorium

• Hearing Enhancement system to be provided

• Min 2 wheelchair spaces – 200 seat or less

• Min 1 wheelchair space for every additional 200

seats or part thereof

• Wheelchair space 900x1200 (depth) to be located

alongside the fixed seats

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Clause 2.3


• Hotels, Boarding houses and Backpacker hotels, etc

• 1 in every 100 guestrooms or part thereof to be

accessible

• 1 in every 50 guestrooms or part thereof to be

provided with elder-friendly features

• Hearing enhancement system to at least one of the

service and information counters

CLAUSE 2.5

EXEMPTIONSEXEMPTIONS

Code 2007 Provision• Does not apply to plants, equipment rooms

& machinery spaces

Code 2013 Provisions

• Does not apply to areas which would pose a

health or safety risk for persons with disabilities:

o Construction sites

o Areas which are raised mainly for purposes of

security, life safety or fire safety

o Plants, equipment rooms & machinery spaces

o Loading docks

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CLAUSE 2.3.11

INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS BUILDINGS

• Accessibility for all except• Process plant and structure for

• Oil and gas industries

• Premises which handle chemicals, toxic materials and

potential explosive compound

(This will includes ancillary office areas located within the

same development)

• Areas with activities that requires a “gowning

regime” in clean rooms

• Production areas with heavy machinery, etc

• Areas for warehousing and storage

CLAUSE 2.3.2.1

INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS BUILDINGS

NO CHANGE

•Flatted Factories or industrial buildings for

multi users • At least one accessible washroom shall be

provided at the common area of every level

Accessible

Toilet

Accessible Toilet

Toilet

Cluster A

Toilet

Cluster

B

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CLAUSE 2.4

INTERCONNECTIVITY INTERCONNECTIVITY

Current • Access route plan showing primary access route

within the building to be provided

W OR K SP A C E / A R E A

D R OP O FF POIN T

A D J A C EN T

B U ILD IN GLIFT LOB B Y

CLAUSE 2.4

INTERCONNECTIVITY INTERCONNECTIVITY

•Footpaths in road reserve abutting

development under construction to be :• Barrier-free and unobstructed

• Free of construction activities and equipment

•Existing accessible public footpaths under

construction or have been removed • To provide an alternative accessible foot path

with minimum width of 1200mm.

• Adequate signage to direct users.

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Industry Briefing - BCA