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BEAM PLUS FOR NEW B UILDINGS INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (IEQ)
V ERSION 1.2 IEQ 22 ACCESS FOR P ERSONS WITH DISABILITY
Copyright © 2012 BEAM Society Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 188
6 IEQ 6.8 BUILDING AMENITIES
IEQ 22 ACCESS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY
EXCLUSIONS None.
OBJECTIVE Ensure full access to pertinent building facilities for persons with
disability.
CREDITS ATTAINABLE 1
PREREQUISITES Full compliance with Building (Planning) Regulation (CAP 123F)
Regulation 72 ‘Buildings to be planned for use by persons with a
disability’ and Schedule 3 ‘Persons With A Disability’, and the obligatory
design requirements set out in the Code of Practice for Barrier Free
Access (BFA).
CREDIT REQUIREMENT 1 credit for providing at least 3 enhanced provisions
ASSESSMENT The Client shall provide evidence of the investigation in form of a report
prepared by a suitably qualified person demonstrating provision of at
least 3 enhanced provisions as stipulated in the “Recommended Design
Requirements” of BFA 2008.
BACKGROUND In order to enhance social integration disabled persons should have the
same rights as any other individuals. Under the Disability Discrimination
Ordinance, discrimination against persons with a disability by failing to
provide means of access to any premises that the public is entitled to
enter or use, or by refusing to provide appropriate facilities is prohibited,
unless the premises are designed to be inaccessible to persons with a
disability. The legal requirements for the provision of facilities for the
disabled are prescribed in the Building (Planning) Regulations (CAP
123F) Regulation 72 ‘Buildings to be planned for use by persons with a
disability’ and Schedule 3 ‘Persons With A Disability’.
Full access for disabled persons means more than just being able to
enter and leave a building, or use the toilets. It enables persons with a
disability to make full use of the basic facilities in a building without
assistance and undue difficulties. The Code of Practice for Barrier Free
Access [1] sets out design requirements to cater for the special needs of
persons with locomotory disabilities, visual impairment and hearing
impairment.
Facilities that cater for the special needs of the physically impaired
should be provided, which include but are not limited to shaded areas for
walking and sitting; access to public toilets; adequate lighting;
emergency phones; visual-free walking areas; ramps with handrails; and
car or bus dropping-off points near to venues.
As the advice provided cannot be exhaustive, developers and designers
should exercise forethought and creativity to cater for the well-being of
disabled persons when designing buildings, and allowing greater
independence of disabled persons, the elderly, and other less physically
able persons using the facilities.
1 Code of Practice for Barrier Free Access