General approach to building PDF Print E-mail

The approach to a building includes setting-down points, car parking, and pedestrian routes within a building's site boundary.

The key principles of an accessible, inclusive approach are:

  • convenient vehicle access
  • short, safe, level routes into the building
  • well signposted routes
  • one route for all

Setting-down and car parking

Convenient vehicle access includes provision of both:

  • setting-down points
  • designated parking for disabled people

Both should be as close as possible to the principal entrance, which should be accessible. Sufficient space should be provided for loading and unloading wheelchairs. Good management of these areas is vital, to ensure that setting-down points and parking spaces for disabled people are not blocked or misused by other users.

Parking controls should be easy for a disabled person to operate, and dropped kerbs should be provided to give access to adjacent pavements.

The two diagrams below show the layout of off-street and on-street parking bays.

 

Design of designated off-street parking bays, showing access zones and dimensions of spaces
Designated off-street parking bays
© Centre for Accessible Environments

 

Diagram of a single parking bay measuring 6.6 metres by 3.6 metres, accompanied by a dropped kerb and tactile paving
Example of an on-street parking bay
© Centre for Accessible Environments

Routes to building

Approaches to buildings from setting-down points and from accessible parking bays need to be as level as possible. Changes in level are difficult for many people to negotiate.

Routes should be clearly signed, and may include landmarks for orientation. Wherever possible, everyone should be able to use the same route into the building so that unnecessary segregation does not occur.