New Delhi: Building Access Byelaws

The Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation has issued a public notice proposing amendments to the Unified Building Byelaws, 1983, pertaining to the National Capital Territory of Delhi. This step has been taken with a view to providing a barrier-free environment in public buildings for persons with disability and are applicable to all buildings, recreational areas and facilities used by the public. Domestic residences are exempted in this notification.

At the outset, the notice seeks to identify the disabilities which include impairments that confine individuals to wheelchairs and "impairments that cause individuals to walk with difficulty or insecurity'' and "individuals using braces or crutches, amputees, arthritics, spastics and those with pulmonary and cardiac ills''.

The notice also takes into account hearing disabilities "that might make an individual insecure in public areas because he is unable to communicate or hear warning signals'' and sight disabilities - "total blindness or impairments affecting sight to the extent that the individual functioning in public areas is insecure or exposed to danger''.

It also specifies that "every building should have at least one access to main entrance/exit to the disabled which shall be indicated by proper signage. This entrance shall be approached through a proper ramp together with stepped entry''.

The notice further lays down that the access path from the plot entry and surface parking to building entrance will have even surface without any step. Slope, if any shall not have gradient greater than 5 percent. Selection of floor material shall be made suitably to attract or to guide visually impaired persons.

For parking of vehicles of disabled persons, surface parking for two equivalent car spaces shall be provided near the entrance for the physically challenged persons with maximum travel distance of three metres from building entrance. The information stating that the space is reserved for wheelchair users shall be conspicuously displayed. Guiding floor materials shall be provided or a device which guides visually impaired persons with audible signals or other devices which serves the same purpose shall be provided, the notice adds.

Also, the notice stipulates that the buildings will have to provide specified facilities such as approach to plinth level, corridor connecting the entrance/exit for the handicapped, stair-ways, lift, toilet and drinking water. While braille signage shall be provided at the above-specified facilities, the notice also calls for provision of ramps with non-slip material at the entry to the building.

Guiding floor materials or devices that emit sound shall be provided to guide the visually impaired persons in the corridor connecting the entrance and exit for the handicapped. Stairways with open riser and provision of nosing are not permitted in such buildings. Wherever lift is required as per bye-laws, provision of at least one lift shall be made for the wheel-chair user with specified cage dimensions. The braille signage will be posted outside the lifts.

The notice also lays down that "one special WC in a set of toilet shall be provided for the use of handicapped with essential provision of washbin near the entrance''.

An alternative to immediate evacuation of a building via staircases and/or lifts is the movement of persons with disability to safety areas within a building. If possible, they could remain there until fire is controlled or extinguished or until rescued by fire-fighters. It is useful to have the provision of a refugee area, usually at the fire protected stair- landing on each floor that can safely hold one or two wheel-chairs, the notice stipulates.

Source: Bye-laws changes to help disabled access. The Hindu, April 04, 2002, New Delhi.