Future Inclusive, Access Consultants, contact details, access audits, DDA, Disabled access, disabled egress, Nottinghamshire / Derbyshire/ Leicestershire.

Managing inclusive building design for Higher Education

December 2009

New guidance has been produced by the Equality Challenge Unit to help ensure that accessible and inclusive design is considered at all stages in proposals for new buildings, or refurbishment schemes in buildings for higher education. A copy can be downloaded from:-

http://www.ecu.ac.uk/publications/files/Managing-inclusive-building-design-in-he.pdf/view

Future Inclusive Joins Constructionline

Future Inclusive have joined Constructionline - the Government's register of pre-qualified Construction Suppliers.

Prospective clients can be assured that they are dealing with a reliable and professional organisation.

RIBA Inclusive Design Video

The Royal Institute of British Architects has released a video showing Inclusive Design in practice and the role of Architect, Access Consultant , Client and building manager in making the built environment accessible to all users.

http://www.youtube.com/user/RIBAVIDEO

BS8300 : 2009 published

The British Standards Institute has published the updated BS 8300:2009 Code of Practice for the Design of buildings and their approached to meet the needs of disabled people.

Major changes in the revised Code include an increase in accessible bedrooms in hotels, with a fixed hoist in some rooms, plus more accessible parking.

In major public buildings, the Code recommends provision of 'Changing Places' sanitary accommodation, for assisted use by people with profound and multiple disabilities, and accessible baby changing facilities.

Information on means of escape, reflecting the provisions of BS9999, colour and contrast and slip resistance for floors is also given.

An additional handrail is recommended for stairs in buildings that are used by children, and adjustments made in the design of door vision panels and ironmongery.

The Code of Practice sets 'Best Practice' standards, and will inform the next revision of the Building Regulations Approved Document part M.

Landmark ruling under the DDA

16th January 2009

In a landmark ruling a judge has ordered RBS to install a lift to give access
for a wheelchair user to his local bank.

See more information at

www.equalityhumanrights.com

BB 102 - School design for disabled children

December 2008

The department for children,schools and families has published Building Bulletin 102, giving guidance on designing for disabled children and children with additional educational needs.

The guidance is intended for both mainstream and special schools, and can be downloaded at

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/_doc/13210/BB102.pdf

New British Standard for Fire Safety published

BS 9999: 2008 has finally been published, bringing together much of the information from BS 5588 and ADB 2006

Copies of the standard are available to buy from the British Standards Institution

DES required by Housing Associations

Housing Associations: duty to produce a DES
(Disability Equality Scheme)
22nd June 2007

Habinteg has produced a draft disability equality scheme, and will soon publish a guide for other social housing providers

View the DES at
www.habinteg.org.uk

Creating Inclusive Environments

The Planning Advisory Service has published a case study considering how local planning authorities can achieve inclusive & accessible develoments, and make the consultation process widely accessible.

Download a copy from

www.pas.gov.uk

Means of Escape for disabled people

March 2007

New guidance from Communities and Local Government to help building managers evacuaute all users safely from a building in an emergency.

Supplements the 'Fire Safety Guides' and is downloadable free at;

www.communities.gov.uk

Provide more accessible information !

The Government's Office for Disability Issues has published guidance for public bodies on providing more accessible information

The guide introduces Five principles to improve the design of information and communication with disabled people;

1. Ensure that disabled people are involved from the start
2. Provide information through a range of channels and formats
3. Ensure your information meets user needs
4. Clearly signpost other services
5. Always define responsibility for information provision

The guidance can be downloaded from:

http://www.officefordisability.gov.uk/docs/ODI_FivePrinciples_2007.pdf

Building Regulations - New fire safety requirements

Building Regulations Approved Document B [Fire Saftey] was published on 18th December 2006, and comes into force on 6th April 2007.

Approved Document B is split into two. B1 - Dwelling houses, and B2 - Buildings other than dwelling houses, including the common parts of blocks of flats.

B1 reduces the requirements for door-closing devices in dwellings.

B2 requires that inclusive egress for disabled people be incorporated into the means of escape, and gives guidance on the provision of refuges, installing fire alarms to alert Deaf users of an emergency alarm, and level thresholds to final exits on fire escape routes.

For buildings covered by the RRO* - a new regulation, B16, requires the provision of fire safety information at handover to the 'responsible person'. This is to assist in the production of management procedures for the safe evacuation of all users of the building.

A copy of Part B can be downloaded free of charge from

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/4000000000084.html

[* Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, operational since 1st October 2006]

Inclusive Design - it's on our agenda !

Lead Consultant at Future Inclusive, Hilary Tansley, has qualified for membership of the RICS Inclusive Environment Scheme, one of only 15 country-wide to achieve membership to date.

The scheme was started last year by the RICS, to promote excellence in the field of inclusive environments, and to offer quality assurance to clients seeking advice on inclusive design and the implications of the DDA.

Hilary is a Chartered Building Surveyor and is also registered as a Consultant member on the National Register of Access Consultants.

Future Inclusive work nationally from a base in the East Midlands, providing access audits, access statements, design appraisals and training.

DDA 2005 now fully in force

DDA 2005 has been fully in force since 4th December 2006.
Most importantly - public bodies, such as local councils, are required to produce a 'Disability Equality Scheme' to show how they will ensure that disabled people will get equal outcomes from the services provided.
Duties to disabled people are extended to bus and train services, public authorities and private clubs. People diagnosed with some illnesses, such as cancer and MS, are protected from discrimination from the date of diagnosis.

News

Monday, December 14, 2009

Managing inclusive building design for Higher Education

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Future Inclusive Joins Constructionline

Monday, March 16, 2009