Hi All.....
our library service wants to install a new reception counter as part of a library
upgrade but insists that the whole counter will be 760mm high as per Part M
for wheelchairt users. They will not provide a higher/raised section or even a
section at the usual 900mm because "it doesn't look nice". My assertion that
they are not catering for all their clients is falling on deaf ears.
Part M of Building Regs is not clear in this respect and our building control
section will pass the counter as proposed (ie at one level 760mm high). The
library service will not consider the guidance of BS8300 because it is advisory.
Does anyone know of any statutory requirement to provide a counter which is
universal? I have also scoured the "CyMal Museums Archives and Libraries
Wales Disability Portfolio - Wales Addition" but to no avail.
any advice gratefully received.
ps
i have already drawn the library services attention to the following........
Some disabled people are unable to bend or stoop and are potentially being
discriminated against if a counter at two heights as per the best practices of
inclusive design is not provided. There are likely to be more people who are tall
or can’t bend or stoop than wheelchair users who will want to visit the
library/TIC and so this counter design is really strange.
The DDA duties for service providers are quite clear and those duties are
anticipatory. Local authorities also have a duty under the Disability Equality
Scheme to make sure that they don’t discriminate against disabled people and
to impact assess all their actions to make sure that discrimination doesn’t
occur. The duties under the DDA go beyond Building Regulations and British
Standards but the intro to Section 4 of Part M of the Building Regs
states: "4.1 The aim is for all people to have access and use of all the
facilities provided within buildings." Section 3.6e states that the requirements
of Part M will be satisfied if “any reception desk or counter is designed to
accommodate both standing and seated visitors…….”
BS8300 is quite definite that counters should be at 2 heights and Part M
recommends that designers refer to the BS for guidance. Part M also directs
people to use BS8300 as guidance more than 20 times.
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