DDA and Building Regulations:

Part M – Guidance and advice
The latest Part M of the Building Regulations came into effect on 1 May 2004. It no longer refers to disabled access but instead to access for all. This is because a parent pushing a child's buggy, for example, will face nearly as many difficulties when trying to enter a building as a person in a wheelchair – as would an employee trying to wheel around a post cart or tea trolley. The aim of the new Part M is to foster a more inclusive approach to design and accommodate the needs of all people, regardless of disability, age or gender. 

What effect does Part M have?
The new Part M Regulations apply to ALL buildings with a floor area greater than 30m², delivered after 1 May 2004, which will remain on site for 28 days or more. In effect, ramped access to principal entrance doors should be provided to all buildings, including Portakabin buildings, delivered after 1 May 2004. This applies regardless of any existing provision for disabled access, the intended use of the buildings, and whether or not you employ any people with disabilities. The only exemptions are for active members of the emergency services or Armed Forces, but not to their support or administration staff.

What about public access to buildings with less than 30m² of floor space?
You will still need to provide disabled access to the principal entrance doors, but, as the building is less than 30m², the access ramp does not have to conform to Part M of the Building Regulations. What you must do, however, is to make “reasonable provision” for disabled access. Our range of 1200mm wide modular ramp systems is ideal for this.

What about public access buildings, regardless of size, which will be on site for less than 28 days?
You will need to make “reasonable provision” for access, but you will not have to conform to Part M of the Building Regulations.

What is different about ramps for buildings with more than 30m² of floor space?
Part M Regulations for access to buildings over 30m² have been made far more stringent. The most obvious difference is that ramps have to be longer and wider. The unobstructed width required by the new regulations is 1500mm, compared with 1200mm previously. The travel distances between landings (dictated by the gradient at which the ramp is set) have been greatly reduced, which means that all new ramp systems will be set at a new lower gradient of 1:15. The ramp surface also has to be slip resistant, especially in the wet. Ramp slopes, landings and kick plates need to be colour contrasting. Handrails must be provided to both sides of the ramp, with a visual contrast to their background and must be warm to the touch and anti-slip. All ramps that achieve a rise of 300mm or greater must also have (where possible) steps to the main landing. Our new Techramp system fulfils all the requirements of Part M.

Disability Discrimination Act Part III – What you need to know
 

How does Amendment III to the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) effect me?
Employers with fewer than 15 employees are no longer exempt from the regulations. You may be required to make reasonable adjustments to physical features of existing buildings and to any new buildings, including Portakabin buildings. Reasonable provision will need to be made for disabled access and use.The regulations are retrospective too – the DDA applies to ALL existing buildings (apart from dwellings), as well as any new ones.

What will happen if I don't provide disabled access?

Offenders may be faced with legal action over non-compliance with the DDA. In April 2000, the Government established the Disability Rights Commission to police the compliance issues relating to the Disability Discrimination Act. The commission will assist disabled groups and individuals to take action against anyone who has a building that does not comply.

Where else can I get advice?
In all circumstances your local Building Control office (www.labc-services.co.uk) will give impartial advice. You can also contact your local disabled access action group – details are available from the Disability Rights Commission (www.drc-gb.org) – or contact the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (www.odpm.gov.uk).

Sources:

The Building Regulations 2004 – Approved Document M – Access to & use of building.

Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of Disabled people – code of practice BS8300:2001.

Designing to Enable – The Gateshead Access Panel.

Centre for Accessible Environments.