Building for Everyone: A Universal Design Approach All booklets from the Building for Everyone series: Booklet 1 - External environment and approach Booklet 2 - Entrances and horizontal circulation Booklet 3 - Vertical circulation Booklet 4 - Internal environment and services Booklet 5 - Sanitary facilities Booklet 6 - Facilities in buildings Booklet 7 - Building types Booklet 8 - Building management Booklet 9 - Planning and policy Booklet 10 - Index and terminology Building for Everyone: A Universal Design Approach External environment and approach 1 Centre for Excellence in Universal Design Creating an environment that can be used by all people, regardless of their age, size, disability or ability. The National Disability Authority’s Centre for Excellence in Universal Design has a statutory role to promote the achievement of excellence in universal design in: • the design of the built and external environment • product/service design • information and communications technologies (ICT) • the development and promotion of standards • education and professional development • raising awareness of universal design More information and updates on the website at: www.universaldesign.ie II Building for Everyone Booklet 1 - External environment and approach The other booklets from the Building for Everyone series: Booklet 2 - Entrances and horizontal circulation Booklet 3 - Vertical circulation Booklet 4 - Internal environment and services Booklet 5 - Sanitary facilities Booklet 6 - Facilities in buildings Booklet 7 - Building types Booklet 8 - Building management Booklet 9 - Planning and policy Booklet 10 - Index and terminology i Contents 1.0 Objectives 4 1.1 Introduction 5 1.2 Terminology 8 1.3 Design Issues 9 1.3.1 Topographical constraints 9 1.3.2 Safety and convenience 10 1.3.3 A balance of needs 10 1.4 Vehicular Environments 12 1.4.1 Car park provision 12 1.4.2 Car parking spaces 13 1.4.3 Car parking signage 19 1.4.4 Designated car parking spaces 21 1.4.5 Multi-storey and underground car parks 25 1.4.6 Paid parking 30 1.4.7 Setting-down points 34 1.4.8 Taxi ranks 35 1.5 Pedestrian environments 37 1.5.1 Access routes 37 1.5.1.1 Drainage 40 1.5.1.2 Guardrails 41 1.5.2 Changes in level 43 1.5.2.1 External ramps 47 1.5.2.2 Handrails 49 1.5.2.3 Ramp surface and edge protection 51 1.5.2.4 External steps 53 1.5.3 Surface materials 62 1.5.3.1 Natural and tempered landscapes 63 1.5.3.2 Urban environments 64 ii 1.5.4 Street furniture 65 1.5.4.1 Lighting and signage 66 1.5.4.2 Placement of street furniture 67 1.5.4.3 Bins 69 1.5.4.4 Bollards 69 1.5.4.5 Gates 69 1.5.4.6 Drinking fountains 69 1.5.4.7 Seating 70 1.5.5 Pedestrian crossing points 73 1.5.6 Tactile paving surfaces 79 1.5.6.1 Blister surface for pedestrian crossing points 79 1.5.6.2 Corduroy paving for hazards 84 1.6 Protection of Outdoor Works 87 1.6.1 Construction sites 87 1.6.2 Roadway and pavement maintenance 89 A1 Defnition of Universal Design 90 A2 Human Abilities and Design 90 A3 Further Reading 95 List of Illustrations 99 Index 101 III 1.0 Objectives The guidance in this booklet promotes the concept and philosophy of universal design and encourages developers, designers, builders and building managers to be innovative and think creatively about solutions that meet the needs of al building users. The objectives of the series of booklets are to: • i dentify and promote best practice with regard to universal design of the built and external environment • p rovide best practice guidelines while recognising existing regulations in Ireland • p rovide guidelines that are usable by and accessible to the target audience • promote the achievement of universal design in Ireland This booklet aims to: • identify and promote best practice for access to and understanding of the external environment and approach to buildings with regard to universal design • i ncrease awareness of, and encourage designers to identify, the needs of all those who require access to the external environment in order to undertake daily activities • h ighlight the wider benefts experienced by all when accessible and universal design features of the external environment and approaches to buildings are provided • encourage designers to provide universal design solutions for the external environment and approaches to buildings that look beyond the recommended requirements of national building regulations 4 1.1 Introduction This booklet is part of the series “Building for Everyone – A Universal Design Approach,” which aims to provide practical guidance on the universal design of buildings, places and facilities. Universal design places human diversity at the heart of the design process so that buildings and environments can be designed to meet the needs of all users. It therefore covers all persons regardless of their age or size and those who have any particular physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual ability or disability. It is about achieving good design so that people can access, use, and understand the environment to the greatest extent and in the most independent and natural manner possible, without the need for adaptations or specialised solutions (see full defnition in Appendix A1). Why universal design? People are diverse - some are left-handed and some right-handed - and vary in their age, size and functional capacities. Illness or disability (whether temporary or permanent) can also affect characteristics such as a person’s mobility, dexterity, reach, balance, strength, stamina, sight, hearing, speech, touch, knowledge, understanding, memory, or sense of direction. A reference list with these booklets indicates some of the key differences in human abilities that should guide the design of buildings and of outdoor places. (See full description of Human Abilities in Appendix A2). People of diverse abilities should be able to use buildings and places comfortably and safely, as far as possible without special assistance. People should be able to fnd their way easily, understand how to use building facilities such as intercoms or lifts, and know what is a pedestrian facility and where they may encounter traffc. Given the wide diversity of the population, a universal design approach, which caters for the broadest range of users from the outset, can result in buildings and places that can be used and enjoyed by everyone. That approach eliminates or reduces the need for expensive changes or retro fts to meet the needs of particular groups at a later stage. 5 It is good practice to ascertain the needs of the range of expected users as early as possible, and to check the practicality and usability of emerging designs with a diverse user panel. Designing for one group can result in solutions that address the needs of many others. For example: • level entry (Step-free) entrances facilitate not just wheelchair users but also people with buggies; people with suitcases or shopping trolleys; people using walking or mobility aids; and people with visual diffculties • larger toilet compartments provide easier access to wheelchair users; those with luggage or parcels; parents with pushchairs or accompanying small children; those using walking or mobility aids; and larger-sized people • clear, well-placed signage that uses recognised symbols or pictograms helps people with reading or cognitive diffculties, and those whose frst language is neither English nor Irish Sometimes one solution will not suit all and a range of options will need to be provided. For example: • providing both steps and a ramp where there is a change in level • providing parking ticket machines that offer slots at different heights to facilitate use at standing height, sitting height, and by people of small stature This series of booklets is for architects, engineers, planners, developers, designers, building contractors, building workers, building managers and others involved in designing, commissioning and managing buildings and their surroundings. It provides guidance on a universal design approach to all new buildings, and the use and adaptation of existing environments. Those who commission, design, construct or manage any part of the built and made environment also have a duty of care to adhere to relevant legislation and regulations including equality legislation, building regulations and health and safety regulations. 6 The guidance is based on a best practice approach, drawing on up-to-date international best practice; guidelines and standards; previous guidance by the National Disability Authority; and extends beyond disability access matters to incorporate a universal design approach. The series is fully compatible with Part M (2010) of the Building Regulations and associated Technical Guidance Documents related to Part M. A disability access certifcate is required for new buildings other than dwellings (including apartment buildings) and certain other works (as set out in Article 20 D (1) of SI 351 of 2009) to which the Requirements of Part M of the Building Regulations apply, which commence or take place on or after 1 January 2012. Further details on these and other relevant standards, codes of practice, and professional codes of practice are listed in Appendix A3 Further Reading. The detailed guidance provided here does not represent the only possible solution. Designers may come up with other ways to meet a diversity of users. New materials and technologies that emerge may open up further possibilities of accommodating the diversity of the population. Checklists are provided throughout the series and while they provide a summary of main considerations and technical criteria, they should not be regarded as a substitute for the main text or an exhaustive list. A comprehensive index is also available for the suite of booklets. The Building for Everyone series is available online at www.nda.ie and www.universaldesign.ie. Electronic links are provided to relevant sections in the different booklets. As standards and requirements develop, the electronic versions of these booklets will be updated. The electronic version is produced in accessible PDF format, in accordance with the Web Content Access Guidelines 2.0. If you have any diffculties in this regard or require the document, or particular sections, in alternative formats, please contact the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority,