BARRIER

FREE
DESIGN
ABDUL ILAAH M Y
MOHAMED SHAFIQ R
MOHAMMED IQBAL A
KALYAN KUMAR GANDHI K
 WHAT???
The goal of barrier free design is to provide an
environment that supports the independent
functioning of individuals so that they can get
to, and participate without assistance, in every
day activities.
A well-designed environment which is safe,
convenient, comfortable, and readily accessible
benefits everyone.
Today accessibility for all is recognized as a
basic necessity.
Barrier-free features are now becoming
fundamental to all design concepts.
UNIVERSAL DESIGN OR
DESIGN FOR ALL
Not allowing a person equal
opportunities and participation is an
infringement on his/her rights as a
citizen of this country.
Throughout the world it is being realized
that there need not be an exclusive design
effort to suit the needs of people with
differences. One proper design, which keeps
in mind all the requirements, can work for
all.
 PHYSICAL DISABILITIES

Disability is not a phenomenon but a phase.

Everyone at one point or the other passes
through such phases. The elderly, ill, pregnant,
obese, children, persons with fracture or with
luggage could all be described as passing
through a phase of disability
 OVERCOMING THE SITUATION
It means free and safe environment
This is regardless of gender, age or condition.
It defines that set of services which can be accessed by all independently
Therefore, to list out people affected by barriers
- Wheelchair users
- People with limited walking/movement abilities
- People with visual impairment or low vision
- People with hearing impairment
- Elderly and infirm persons
- Pregnant ladies
- Children
- People with temporary disabilities
This is not just giving a Ramp and an Elevator/lift
These range from door and passage widths to flooring surfaces, from counter
heights to door handles and railings from signage and auditory signals to tactile
guides.
 TYPES OF DISABILITIES
1. Non-Ambulatory : Impairments that, regardless of cause or
manifestation, for all practical purposes, confine individuals to wheel
& chairs.
2. Semi-Ambulatory : Impairments that cause individuals to walk
with difficulty or insecurity. Individual using braces or crutches,
amputees, arthritics, spastics &those with pulmonary & cardiac ills
may be semi-ambulatory.
3. Sight : Total blindness or impairments affecting sight to the extent
that the individual functioning in public areas is insecure or exposed
to danger.
4. Hearing : Deafness or hearing handicaps that might make an
individual insecure in public areas because he is unable to
communicate or hear warning signals.
 NON-AMBULATORY
Persons restricted on
wheel chair should use
the facilities within the
built environment
independently without a
helpers assistance.
However, wheelchair
design must assume
that the user should be
able to operate the
wheelchair without help.
 SEMI-AMBULATORY

Persons in this category who use walking aids such as

crutches or canes, who are amputees, who have chest
ailments or heart disease. The persons in this category
include those who can not walk without a cane and those
who have some trouble in their upper or lower limbs
although they can walk unassisted.
 DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
Width of passage for crutch users (min. 900 mm)
Finishes of floor surface with non slip floor material.
Installation of handrail to support the body weight at the critical places e.g.
staircase, toilet, ramp, passage with a change of level (800-850 mm).
Extension of handrail on the flat landing at the top and bottom of the stairs
(300 mm).
To prevent slipping off the cane or crutch from the side of the stairs or ramps
(20 mm high lip on the exposed edge)
To prevent a cane or crutch tip from slipping off the side of the stairs or ramp,
install a 20 mm high lip on the exposed edge.
 PERSONS WITH IMPAIRED VISION
Persons in this category are totally blind or with impaired vision. Visually impaired
persons make use of other senses such as hearing or touch to compensate for the
lack of vision. It is necessary to give instructions accessible through the sense of
touch (hands, fingers or legs).
While walking with a white cane to spot their feet near the tip of the cane the
persons may bump his or her head or shoulder against protruding objects.
Persons with limited vision may be able to discriminate between dark and bright
shades and difference in primary colors.

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
Use of guiding blocks for persons with impaired vision to guide them within the
buildings and facilities and out side the building. (Refer details of guiding/warning
blocks).
Installation of information board in braille.
Installation of audible signages (announcements)
Removal of any protruding objects and sufficient walking space for safe walking.
For persons with limited vision use of contrasting color arrangements
PERSONS WITH
HEARING DISABILITIES

Persons in this
category are totally
DESIGN
deaf or have difficulty REQUIREMENTS
in hearing. They Provision of information
generally use their board in an easily
sight to gather understandable
information in public manner.
places. Provision of illuminated
signages, layout
diagrams to help the
persons easily reach the
desired place.
ELDERLY PERSONS
Elderly persons may suffer impaired mobility,
sight disabilities (partially or fully), hearing
disabilities or any other physical difficulties, for
which the design guidelines for them within and
outside the buildings and facilities shall be
similar like other physically disabled persons.
ANTHROPOMETRICS
ANTHROPOMETRICS
DESIGN
CONSIDERATIONS
Dimensional
data which can
be used for
guidance when
designing
facilities and
equipment for
use by persons
with a disability.
WALKS AND PATHS
Walks should be smooth, hard level surface suitable
for walking and wheeling.
The minimum walk way width would be 1200 mm
and for moderate two way traffic it should be
1650 .mm - 1800 mm.
Longitudinal walk gradient should be 3 to 5% (30
mm - 50 mm in 1 meter)
Texture change in walk ways adjacent to seating will
be desirable for blind persons.
 APPROACH
o Ramped Approach : Ramp shall be finished with non slip material to enter
the building. Minimum width or ramp shall be 1800 mm with maximum gradient
1:12 for pedestrian,1:15 minimum for wheelchair users.
o Length of ramp shall not exceed 9.0 M having double handrail at a height of 800
and 900 mm on both sides extending 300 mm beyond top and bottom of the
ramp. Minimum gap from the adjacent wall to the hand rail shall be 50 mm.
o Stepped Approach : For stepped approach size of tread shall not be less
than 300 mm. and maximum riser shall be 150 mm. Provision of 900 mm high
hand rail on both sides of the stepped approach similar to the ramped approach.
o Entrance Landing:
o A clear space of not less than ramps width shall be provided at the head and foot
of every ramp; door swing and alike shall not be allowed to swing onto the
landing.
o Entrance landing shall be provided adjacent to ramp with the minimum dimension
1800 x 2000 mm.
o A level resting space outside the swing of any door at the top of a ramp should be
provided to avoid the possibility of roll-back for wheelchair user when trying to
open the door.
WIDTH OF ENTRANCE AND EXIT
STAIRS
Steps and staircases shall be intended as an
alternative to lift access in buildings and
shall be of adequate design to allow all persons,
with or without a disability, to travel safely and
independently.
Where steps or stairs are in an accessible
route, complementary ramps, lifts or
escalators should be provided.
DIMENSION AND ORIENTATION

The required staircases and the main circulation staircase in

common areas of a building shall be constructed with treads
not less than 300 mm in width (measured at the centre of the
flight) from the face of one riser to the face of the next riser
and with risers not more than 150 mm in height;
The risers built with vertical or receding face not more than
15mm from the vertical, without a projecting nosing;
It shall not have more than 11 steps in any flight without the
introduction of a landing;
It shall be provided on both sides with properly fitted
handrails.
It shall be provided with non-slip nosing in contrasting color.
STAIRS AND HANDRAILS
 HANDRAILS
Handrails shall be of the correct
sizes, strengths and shapes and be
conveniently located to provide
secure hand-grips, and be capable
of taking the entire weight of the
persons using them.
Handrail to ramp and step shall be
fixed not less than 35 mm and not
more than 50 mm clear of wall and
with a clear height of 70mm from
the top of the bracket to the top of
the handrail.
The top of handrail shall be at a
height of not less than 850 mm
and not more than 950mm above
any nosing, floor or landing.
 CORRIDORS
Corridors are passages providing for internal circulation
within a building.
The minimum width shall be 1500 mm.

DOORS
Minimum clear opening of the entrance door shall be
900mm. and it shall not be provided with a step that
obstructs the passage of a wheel chair user.
Threshold shall not be raised more than 12 mm.
HEADROOM
Where the headroom is 2000 mm or less from the finished floor level, a
warning guardrail or other barrier shall be provided for detection,
having its leading edge at or below 680 mm above the finished floor
level.
 TOILET
One special W.C should be provided with the essential provisions such as
wash basin for the use of the physically challenged
The minimum size-1500 x 1750 mm
Minimum clear sopening-900mm[swing out]
The W.C. seat shall be 500 mm
Toilet floors-Non slippery[no level difference]
Guiding blocks near the entrance should be textural
 WASH BASIN
The toilet shall be provided with a wash basin
mounted with the rim not higher than 750 mm
above the finished floor level. A clearance of
550mm shall be maintained from the finished floor
level to the bottom of the apron.
Tap for wash basin shall be automatic or of lever
control type without spring loading.
Tap shall not require tight grasping, pinching or
twisting of the wrist.
The operating force required shall not be greater
than 22 N.
WASH BASIN
 WINDOWS
A window should have handles/controls at a height that permits use from
wheelchairs.
A window should have an unobstructed viewing zone for wheelchair users.
Curtain or Venetian blind controls/ropes should be accessible for wheelchair users.
ESCALATORS AND PASSENGER CONVEYORS
Escalators or passenger conveyors are not considered part of a
barrier-free route of travel.
However, adequate warning or guarding shall be provided alongside
and at each end of the escalators and passenger conveyors for the
safety of persons with visual impairment.
Tactile Warning Strips
Tactile warning strips shall be provided at both bottom and top ends
of an escalator.
Tactile warning strips shall be provided at both ends of a passenger
conveyor.
Design Considerations
Escalator can be a useful addition to stair and lift where significant
height difference has to be negotiated, but it should be designed with
slower speed for the safety use by persons with visual impairment
and the elderly.
The angle of inclination of escalator should not exceed 30.
 LIFTS
Wherever lift is required as per by-laws, provision of at least one lift shall be
made for the wheel chair user with the following cage dimensions of lift
recommended for passenger lift of 13 persons capacity by Bureau of Indian
Standards.
Clear internal depth : 11OO mm.
Clear internal width : 2000 mm.
Entrance door width : 900 mm.
A hand rail not less than 600 mm. long at 800-1000 mm. above floor level
shall be fixed adjacent to the control panel.
The lift lobby shall be of an inside measurement of 1800 x 1800 mm. or
more.
The time of an automatically closing door should or minimum 5 seconds
and the closing speed should not exceed 0.25 M/ Sec.
The interior of the cage shall be provided with a device that audibly
indicates the floor the cage has reached and indicates that the door of the
cage for entrance/exit is either open or closed.
 SIGNAGES
The main purpose of signs should be to provide a clear
designation of places, warnings and routing
information.
A person in a wheel chair is less than 1200 mm high.
A person who is partially sighted needs contrasting
texture along side walkways and audible signs for
dangerous areas,.
Signs should be useful to everyone, easily seen from
eye level, readable by moving the fingers and well
lighted for night time identification.
Signs shall indicate the direction and name of the
accessible facility and incorporate the symbol of
access.
The size, type and layout of lettering on signs shall be
clear and legible
 SIGNAGES
Signs should be in contrasting colours and
preferably be embossed in distinct relief to allow
visually impaired persons to obtain the
information they contain by touching them
Simple symbols and contrasting colours which
are universally recognized should be used, e.g.
green for safety or go, yellow or amber for risk
or caution, and red for danger
SIGNAGES
 PARKING
Adequate numbers of accessible car parking
spaces shall be provided with proper access,
proper designation and directional signage in
the car parks.
The parking spaces reserved for persons with a
disability shall be located in proximity and with
an accessible route to the lobby with an
accessible lift or entrance.
The minimum width for a parking space for
persons with a disability shall be 3600 mm.
PARKING - REQUIREMENTS
SWITCHES AND CONTROLS

This section is applicable to operable part

of controls such as electrical switches,
wall socket outlets and controls of other
electrical and mechanical equipment.
Switches, socket outlets and controls for
lighting and other equipment shall be
located so that they are easily reachable
for all users.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Ease of operation, visibility, reachable height and
free from obstruction are key factors that affect
the use of building services by persons with a
disability.
All outlets, switches and controls should be
positioned consistently in relation to doorways
and corners within a building and in a logical
sequence of passage through the building.
Light switches and socket outlets should have a
minimum luminous contrast of 30% with their
background to indicate their locations.
 ILLUMINATION
Artificial lighting should be designed to give
uniform illumination and good color rendering of
all surfaces, without creating glare, or pools of
bright light and strong shadows.
Uniformity of illumination level should be
maintained throughout the designated confined
areas such as staircases, corridors or the like.
Higher illumination level at the entrance doors
to flats and the exit doors should be provided.