13.1.4 Building Requirements

The specified facilities for the buildings for differently abled persons shall be as follows :-

i) Approach to plinth level

ii) Corridor connecting the entrance / exit for the differently abled.

iii) Stair-ways

iv) Lift

v) Toilet

vi) Drinking Water.

i) Approach to plinth level :- Every building should have at least one entrance accessible to the differently abled and shall be indicated by proper signage. This entrance shall be approached through a ramp together with the stepped entry.

ii) Ramped Approach :- Ramp shall be finished with non-slip material to enter the building. Minimum width of ramp shall be 1800mm. with maximum gradient 1 : 12. Length of ramp shall not exceed 9.0 m. having 800 mm. high hand rail 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.

iii) Stepped Approach :- For stepped approach size of tread shall not be less than 300 mm. and maximum riser shall be 150 mm. Provision of 800 mm. high hand rail on both sides of the stepped approach similar to the ramped approach.

iv) Exit / Entrance Door :- Minimum & clear opening of the entrance door shall be 900 mm. 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.

v) Entrance Landing :- Entrance landing shall be provided adjacent to ramp with the minimum dimension 1800 mm. x 2000 mm. The entrance landing that adjoins 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 colour and brightness is conspicuously different from that of the surrounding floor material or the material that emits 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.

vi) Corridor connecting the entrance / exit for the differently abled :- The corridor connecting the entrance / exit for differently abled, leading directly outdoors to a place where information concerning the overall use of the specified building can be provided to visually impaired persons either by a person or by signs, shall be provided as follows :-

a) Guiding floor materials or device that emits sound to guide visually impaired persons shall be provided.

b) The minimum width shall be 1500 mm.

c) In case there is a difference of level, slope ways shall be provided with a slope of 1 : 12.

d) Hand rails shall be provided for ramps / slope ways.

vii) Stair-ways - One of the stair-ways - near the entrance / exit for the differently abled shall have the following provisions :-

a) The minimum width shall be 1350 mm.

b) Height of the riser shall not be more than 150 mm. and width of the tread 300 mm. The steps shall not have abrupt (square) nosing.

c) Maximum number of risers on a flight shall be limited to 12.

d) Hand rails shall be provided on both sides and shall extend 300 mm. on the top and bottom of each flight of steps.

viii) Lifts - Wherever lift is required as per regulations, 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 of Bureau of Indian Standards. Clear internal width 1100 mm. Clear internal width 2000 mm. Entrance door width 900 mm.

a) A hand rail not less than 600 mm. long at 1000 mm. above floor level shall be fixed adjacent to the control panel.

b) The lift lobby shall be of an inside measurement of 1800 mm. x 1800 mm. or more.

c) The time of an automatically closing door should be minimum 5 seconds and the closing speed should not exceed 0.25 m. / sec.

d) The interior of the cage shall be provided with a device that audibly indicates the floor, the cage has reached indicates that the door of the cage of entrance/exit is either open or closed.

ix) Toilets :- One special W.C. in a set of toilets shall be provided for the use of differently abled with essential provision of washbasin near the entrance for the handicapped.

a) The minimum size shall be 1500 mm. x 1750 mm.

b) Minimum clear opening of the door shall be 900 mm. and the door shall swing out.

c) Suitable arrangement of vertical / horizontal handrails with 50 mm. clearance from wall shall be made in the toilet.

d) The W.C. seat shall be 500 mm. from the floor.

x) Drinking Water :- Suitable provision of drinking water shall be made for the differently abled near the special toilet provided for them.

xi) Designing for Children :- In the buildings meant for the pre-dominant use of the children, it will be necessary to suitably alter the height of the handrail and other fittings & fixtures, etc. Explanatory notes :-

1) Guiding / Warning Floor Material :

The floor material to guide or to warn the visually impaired persons with a change of colour or material with conspicuously different texture and easily distinguishable from the rest of the surrounding floor materials is called guiding or warning floor material. The material with

different texture gives audible signals with sensory warning when a person moves on this surface with walking stick. The guiding / warning floor material is meant to give the directional effect or warn a person at critical places. This floor material shall be provided in the following areas :-

a) The access path to the building and to the parking area.

b) The landing lobby towards the information board, reception, lifts, staircases and toilets.

c) Immediately at the beginning/end of walkway where there is a vehicular traffic.

d) At the location abruptly changing in level or beginning / end of a ramp.

e) Immediately in front of an entrance / exit and the landing.

2) Proper signage :-

Appropriate identification of specific facilities within a building for the differently abled persons should be done with proper signals. Visually impaired persons make use of other senses such as hearing and touch to compensate for the lack of vision, whereas visual signals benefit those with hearing disabilities. Signs should be designed and located so that they are easily legible by using suitable letter size (not less than 20 mm. high). For visually impaired persons, information board in brail should be installed on the wall at a suitable height and it should be possible to approach them closely. To ensure safe walking, there should not be any protruding sign which creates obstruction in walking. Public Address System may also be provided in busy public areas. The symbols/information should be in contrasting colour and properly illuminated because people with limited vision may be able to differentiate amongst primary colours. International Symbol Mark for wheel chair be installed in a lift, toilet, staircase, parking areas, etc., that have been provided for the differently abled.