Barrier Free Design in Commercial Spaces

Arc. 8010 Disaster Management and barrier free environment th 8 Semester Assignment

List of Contents

1.

Introduction 1.1 Aim 1.2 Target Group Classification of Commercial Spaces Design Elements within the Building Premises 3.1 Site Planning 3.2 Parking 3.3 Approach to Plinth Level 3.4 Entrance Landing 3.5 Corridor 3.6 Entrance/Exit Door 3.7 Windows 3.8 Stair Ways 3.9 Lift 3.10 Toilet 3.11 Signage 3.12 Other Facilities List of References

1. 2.

4.

Introduction

We are all physically disabled at some time in our lives. A child, a person with a broken leg, a parent with a pram, an elderly person, etc. are all disabled in one way or another. Those who remain healthy and able-bodied all their lives are few. As far as the built-up environment is concerned, it is important that it should be barrier-free and adapted to fulfil the needs of all people equally. As a matter of fact, the needs of the disabled coincide with the needs of the majority, and all people are at ease with them. As such, planning for the majority implies planning for people with varying abilities and disabilities. AIM The social aim of this study is to integrate disabled people into society in order for them to take an active part in society and lead a normal life. To be active, a disabled person should be able to commute between home, work and other destinations. The technical aim of the manual is to provide a barrier-free environment for the independence, convenience and safety of all people with disabilities. TARGET GROUP The target group is composed of five major categories: (a)Wheelchair users (b) People with limited walking abilities (c) The sightless (d) The partially sighted (e) The hearing impaired Other categories that may benefit to some extent from the proposed measures include the mentally disabled, people susceptible to physical fits, people with extreme physical proportions, and people with functional disabilities of the arm or hand.

Classification of Commercial Spaces

Retail Shopping Zone General Business & Commercial District Centres Wholesale, Godowns, Warehousing/Regulated Markets Design considerations Accessibility requirements for wheelchair users should be applied to all new large speciality shops having a sales area of 100 m or more. In small shops, provisions for wheelchair users should be applied wherever possible. In large multi-storey department stores and supermarkets, accessible elevators should be installed to provide access to lower and/or upper levels for the benefit of wheelchair users and people with mobility problems. Merchandise display areas in accessible shops should be as conveniently located as possible to a wheelchair user. Angled mirrors can be placed above high shelves for visibility. In accessible clothes shops, at least one changing room should allow for a full 360 turn of a wheelchair.

Information counter at entrance

Retail spaces entrance/ exit , parks

Range of Reach

Design Elements within the Building Premises 1. Site Planning Walks and Paths Levels and Grooves Kerb Ramp 2. Parking 3. Approach to Plinth Level Ramped Approach Stepped Approach 4. Entrance Landing 5. Corridor 6. Entrance/Exit Door 7. Windows 8. Stair Ways 9. Lift IO. Toilet 11. Signage 12. Other Facilities Counter Water Fountain Telephone Mailbox . Vending Machine

Site Planning
Walks And Paths

Levels and Grooves

Kerb Ramp

Typical Detail of Walkway

Parking

Approach to Plinth Level

Ramped Approach

Entrance landing shall be provided adjacent to ramp with the minimum dimension 1800 x 2000 mm. The entrance landing that adjoin the top end of a slope shall be provided with floor materials to attract the attention of visually impaired persons (limited to coloured floor material whose color and brightness is conspicuously different from that of the surrounding floor material or the material that emit different sound to guide visually impaired persons hereinafter referred to as guiding floor material Finishes shall have a non slip surface with a texture traversable by a wheel chair. Curbs wherever provided should blend to a common level.

Corridor

Guiding floor materials shall be provided or devices that emit sound to guide visually impaired persons. The minimum width shall be 1500 mm. In case there is a difference of level slope ways shall be provided with a slope of 1:12. Hand rails shall be provided for ramps/slope ways.

Steps and Staircases

Steps and Staircases

Toilets

Signage

Shapes of guiding blocks for persons with impaired vision

Other Facilities

List of References

[1] Guidelines and space standards for Barrier Free Built Environment for Disabled and Elderly Person -- Central Public Works Department Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment India, 1998 [2] [3] [4] Barrier-Free Design Guidelines -- Hamilton Public Works Barrier-Free Design Guide -- Based on Alberta Design Code 2006 Universal design : Manual for Practical Design for Architects