A building's classification as "accessible", "accessible with assistance"
or "not accessible" does not constitute a final judgement on its usability,
but rather represents the first indication in reply to a query by a person with
mobility difficulties. Therefore, that classification is supplemented with information
about the building's measurements, so that each disabled person can evaluate
the accessibility according to his/her specific needs.
A building is defined as:
ACCESSIBLE: if the place allows a person in a wheelchair to move independently
ACCESSIBLE WITH ASSISTANCE: if a person in a wheelchair - with the help
of an assistant - can enter and move around inside comfortably.
NOT ACCESSIBLE: if a person in a wheelchair – even with the help of an
assistant - is not able to enter or move around inside comfortably.
Parameters of accessibility:
The judgement of the overall accessibility of a building is given by evaluating
the level of accessibility of each individual basic part that make up the building
(main entrance, hall, toilets, lifts, bedrooms, etc). A structure is considered
"accessible" when all the basic parts that constitute it are such. If
one of the basic parts is "accessible with assistance", then the overall
building will be considered accessible with assistance. A building is judge
"not accessible" when at least one of the basic parts is not accessible.
THE CAR PARK is:
- accessible if the ground is not uneven or gravely, if there are no
slopes greater than 8%, if there are no steps or obstacles before arriving
at the entrance of the building.
- accessible with assistance if there are more than 3 steps before
arriving at the building's entrance or if the relatively steep or uneven ground
makes the presence of an assistant necessary.
- not accessible if there are more than 3 steps before arriving at
the building's entrance or if the ground is very uneven or steep.
THE MAIN ENTRANCE is:
- accessible if there are no steps and if the door is at least 80 cm
wide.
- accessible with assistance if there are a maximum of 3 consecutive
steps and the door is between 60 and 80 cm wide.
- not accessible if there are more than 3 consecutive steps and the
door is less than 60 cm wide or there are obstacles that prevent the passage
of a wheelchair.
THE HALL is:
- accessible if there are no steps, doors are at least 80 cm wide and
allow independent access to the lift.
- accessible with assistance if there are a maximum of 3 consecutive
steps or the door is between 60 and 80 cm wide.
- not accessible if there are more than 3 consecutive steps or if there
are passages less than 60 cm wide or obstacles which prevent the passage of
a wheel-chair.
THE TOILETS are:
- accessible if there are no steps at the entrance, the door is at
least 80 cm wide, the wc has a toilet bowl and not a squat-down toilet, shower
at floor level, enough space to manoeuvre a wheel-chair inside.
- accessible with assistance if there are a maximum of 3 consecutive
steps at the entrance, or doors between 60 and 80 cm wide, or the space inside
does not allow independent movement of the wheel-chair, or if the bath-tub
or shower is not at floor level.
- not accessible if there are more than 3 consecutive steps at the
entrance or the door is less than 60 cm wide, or there is a squat-down toilet
instead of a toilet bowl, or there are obstacles that prevent the movement
of the wheelchair. If the spaces, supports and handles comply completely with
the law, the wc has a toilet bowl and not a squat-down toilet, there is a
floor level shower.a note defines them as equipped for disabled people.
THE LIFT is:
- accessible: if the door opening is at least 80 cm wide, the cabin
is a minimum of 90 cm wide and 130 cm deep and there are no steps which prevent
access.
- accessible with assistance: if the door is between 60 and 80 cm wide
or the cabin measures 80x100 cm or 100x80 cm minimum, or if there are a maximum
of 3 steps at the entrance.
- not accessible: if the doors are less than 60 cm wide or if the cabin
measures less than 80x100 cm or 100x80 cm, or if there are more than 3 steps
at the entrance.
THE BEDROOM is:
- accessible if there are no steps at the entrance, the door opening
is at least 80 cm, the space between the bed and other furniture (bed-side
tables, desk, wardrobe, etc) must allow a person in a wheel-chair to move
independently, there must be on one side of the bed at least 80 cm of space
to place the wheel-chair and the entrance to the toilet must be comfortable.
The bathroom must also be accessible. If the supports and spaces comply
completely with the law and if the bathroom is equipped for disabled
people a note defines it as equipped for disabled people.
- accessible with assistance if there are a maximum of 3 consecutive
steps at the entrance or the door is between 60 and 80 cm wide, or the bathroom
is accessible with assistance, or if the space between the bed and the
other furniture allows a person in a wheelchair to move comfortably with the
help of an assistant.
- not accessible if there are more than 3 consecutive steps at the
entrance, or the doors are less than 60 cm wide, or the bathroom is
not accessible, or if there are obstacles or there are furnishings which impede
the movement of the wheelchair.