BS 8300 explains how the built environment can be designed to anticipate, and overcome, restrictions that prevent disabled people making full use of premises and their surroundings.
An accessible environment is one which a disabled person can enter and make use of independently or with help from a partner or assistant, including being able to escape in the event of fire or other emergency (See BS 9999 - Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings).
Some facilities can be designed in such a way as to incorporate access for disabled people. In other situations, additional features such as grab bars, touch legible signs and hearing enhancement systems might be needed.
The guidance in this standard covers a wide range of disabilities and the use of the built environment by disabled people who can be residents, visitors, spectators, customers, employees, or participants in sports events, performances and conferences.
BS 8300 gives recommendations for the design of new buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people (including, where appropriate, disabled children). It applies to car parking provision, setting-down points and garaging, access routes to and around all buildings, and entrances to and interiors of new buildings. The recommendations also apply to routes to facilities associated with and in the immediate vicinity of buildings.
This British Standard applies to the following types of building:
a) Transport and industrial buildings, e.g. rail, road, sea and air travel buildings and associated concourses, car parking buildings and factories
b) Administrative and commercial buildings, e.g. courts, offices, banks, post offices, shops, department stores and shopping centres, and public service buildings, including police stations
c) Health and welfare buildings, e.g. hospitals, health centres, surgeries and residential homes
d) Refreshment, entertainment and recreation buildings, e.g. cafés, restaurants, public houses concert halls, theatres, cinemas, conference buildings, community buildings, swimming pools and sports buildings
e) Religious buildings
f) Educational, cultural and scientific buildings, e.g. schools, universities, colleges, zoos, museums, art galleries, libraries and exhibition buildings
g) Dwellings and other residential buildings, e.g. hostels, hotels, residential clubs, university and college halls of residence, nursing homes and prisons.
This British Standard does not apply to dwellings or residential buildings designed principally for use by disabled people.
A conference on BS 8300 has been proposed for 2009.
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