Owners of buildings should be aware of The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as since 2 December 1996 it has placed a duty on those providing goods, facilities and services ("service provider") not to discriminate against disabled people.
Their obligations are:
- not to refuse service;
- not to provide a worse standard of service;
- not to offer service on worse terms.
From October 1999, "service providers" will have to take reasonable steps to:
- change practices, policies or procedures which make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use a service;
- provide ancillary aids services which would make it easier for, or enable disabled people to use a service;
- overcome physical features which make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use a service, by providing the service by a reasonable alternative method.
From 2004, "service providers" will have to take reasonable steps to remove, alter or provide reasonable means of avoiding physical features that make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use a service.
Additional information is available from the Building Control Division with technical guidance taken from the current Building Regulations and other relevant publications.
New buildings will be built and approved under the requirements of the Building Regulation approved document Part M, Access and Facilities for Disabled People and this regulation covers such items as listed and therefore will provide the following:
M2 Access and Use
- Design and construction of ramped and stepped approaches to building.
- Size and type of entrance doors.
- Design and construction of ramps, steps and lifts within building.
- Size of internal doors and requirements for visibility glazing to doors across circulation routes.
M3 Sanitary Conveniences
Sanitary conveniences need to be of suitable design.
General
When alterations are carried out to buildings consideration should also be given to the above items to incorporate them within the design.
Further guidance is available from British Standard 8300:2001 Design of Buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of Disabled People - Code of Practise.