This British Standard gives recommendations for the design of new buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people. It applies to car parking provision, setting down points and garaging, access routes to and around all buildings, and entrances to and interiors of new buildings. Routes to recreational facilities associated with and in the immediate vicinity of buildings, such as patios, and seating and picnic areas, are also covered.
The recommendations given in this British Standard also apply for assessing the accessibility and usability of existing buildings and, where practicable, as a basis for their improvement. The extent to which the recommendations apply to listed and historic buildings is determined on a case by case basis.
This British Standard applies to the following types of building:
a) transport and industrial buildings, e.g. rail, road, sea and air travel buildings and associated concourses, car-parking buildings and factories;
b) administrative and commercial buildings, e.g. courts, offices, banks, post offices, shops, department stores and shopping centres, and public service buildings, including police stations;
c) health and welfare buildings, e.g. hospitals, health centres, surgeries and residential homes;
d) refreshment, entertainment and recreation buildings, e.g. cafes, restaurants, public houses, concert halls, theatres, cinemas, conference buildings, community buildings, swimming pools and sports buildings;
e) religious buildings;
f) educational, cultural and scientific buildings, e.g. schools, universities, colleges, zoos, museums, art galleries, libraries and exhibition buildings;
g) dwellings and other residential buildings, e.g. hostels, hotels, residential clubs, university and college halls of residence, nursing homes and prisons.
This British Standard does not apply to dwellings or residential buildings designed exclusively for use by disabled people nor does it make specific recommendations relating to the use of buildings by children.