BUILDING ACCESS
OPENING THE DOOR TO INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS Here, Eryl Jones, Managing Director of the ASSA ABLOY Door Hardware Group, advises on the opportunities available for inclusive building designs, the key considerations for door opening solutions, and the potential risks of not complying with these. ASSA ABLOY DOOR HARDWARE GROUP
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ulie Fleck, a prolific strategic access and inclusive design advisor, states: “A lot of architects and designers want to do their best to meet inclusivity standards, but then they might face a client that wants to design things out and cover the legal minimum.” This can be a real challenge for architects looking to prioritise inclusive design, which should now be viewed as a non-negotiable. When talking about inclusive design, many immediately think of those with a disability or a specific, specialist requirement. Naturally, buildings must be designed for these individuals, and key market drivers such as an ageing population and consumer buying power are ensuring the needs of these people can no longer be seen as a second thought. Indeed, BS 83002:2018 – the British Standard setting out how buildings should be designed, constructed and maintained – was most recently updated in 2018, with its emphasis shifting from creating an ‘accessible’ environment to one that’s ‘inclusive’. It now prioritises ensuring those with specific needs have these accommodated within a general space, and not set apart in a separate area. In essence, inclusive design aims to remove the barriers that might prevent an individual from using an environment freely and with ease. Everyone will experience limited mobility at some point in their lives, whether it’s as a tourist laden with bulky luggage, a parent with a young child, an older person, or someone that might have suffered an injury. The key is to overcome any challenges that might restrict or limit a building to be used independently.
FC&A – OCTOBER – 2020
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