handicapped law

8/8/2019 Handicapped Law

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BP 344 HANDICAPPED LAW

A. OUTSIDE AND AROUND BUILDINGS

1. DROPPED CURBS

1.1 Changes in level at walkways should be effected by slight ramps anddropped;

1.2 Dropped curbs should be provided at pedestrian crossings and at the endof footpaths of a private street or access road;

1.3 Dropped curbs at crossings should have a length corresponding to the widthof the crossing; otherwise, the minimum width should be 0.90 m.;

1.4 Dropped curbs shall be ramped towards adjoining curbs with a gradient notmore than 1:12;

VARIATION OF DROPPED CURB AT CORNER

1.5Dropped curbs shall be sloped towards the road with a maximum crossgradient of 1:20 to prevent water from collecting at the walkway

1.6 The lowest point of a dropped curb should not exceed 25 mm height abovethe road or gutter;

2. CURB CUT-OUTS

2.1 Curb cut-outs should only be allowed when it will not obstruct a walkway or

in any way lessen the width of a walkway;


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2.2 The maximum width of a curb cut-out should be 0.90 m.;2.3 Curb cut-outs should not have a gradient not more than 1:12;

OTHER VARIATIONS OF DROPPED CURB AT CORNERS

3. WALKWAYS

3.1 Walkways should be kept as level as possible and provided with slip-resistant material;

3.2Whenever and wherever possible, walkways should have a gradient nomore than 1:20 or 5%;

3.3 Walkways should have a maximum cross gradient of 1:100;

3.4 Walkways should have a minimum width of 1:20 meters:


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3.5 If possible, gratings should never be located along walkways, whenoccurring along walkways, grating openings should have a maximumdimension of 13 mm x 13 mm and shall not project more than 6.5 mm

above or below the level of the walkway;3.6 Walkways should have a continuing surface without abrupt pitches in angle

or interruptions by cracks or breaks creating edges above 6.5 mm.;

GRATINGS ON WALKWAYS

3.7 In lengthy or busy walkways, spaces should be provided at some pointalong the route so that a wheelchair may pass another turn around; thesespaces should have a minimum dimension of 1.5 meters and should bespaced at a maximum distance of 12.00 meters between stops;

REST STOPS ON BUSY OR LENGHTY WALKWAYS

3.8 To guide the blind, walkways should as much as possible follow straight-forward routes with right angle turns;


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3.9 Where planting is provided to the walkway, regular maintenance is essentialto ensure branches of trees or shrubs do not overhang walkways or paths,as they do not only present a particular danger to the blind, but they alsoreduce the effective footway width available to pedestrians;

3.10 Walkway headroom should be less than 2.00 m and preferably be higher;

3.11Passageways for the disabled should not be obstructed by street furniture,bollards, sign posts or columns along defined route, as they can behazardous;

4. HANDRAILS

4.1 Handrails should be installed at both sides of ramps and stairs and at theouter edges of dropped curbs at crossings; handrails should not be installedbeyond the width of any crossing so as not to obstruct pedestrian flow;

4.2 Handrails shall be installed at 0.90 m and 0.70 m above steps or ramps;handrails for protection at great heights may be installed at 1.00 m to 1.06m;


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HANRAIL HEIGHT

4.3 A 0.30 m long extension of the handrail should be provided at the start andend of ramps and stairs;

4.4 Handrails that require full grip should have a dimension of 30 cm to 50 cm;

4.5 Handrails attached to walls should have a clearance no less than 50 mmfrom the wall; handrails on ledges should have a clearance not less than 40mm;

HANDRAIL DIMENSIONS

5. OPEN SPACES

5.1 Where open spaces are provided, the blind can become particularlydisoriented. Therefore, it is extremely helpful if any walkway or paths can begiven defined edges either by the use of planters with dwarf walls, or a grassverge, or similar, which provides a texture different from the path.


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6. SIGNAGES

6.1 Directional and informational sign should be located at points convenientlyseen even by a person on a wheelchair.;

6.2Signs should be kept simple and easy to understand; sign ages should bemade of contrasting colors gray values to make detection and reading easy;

6.3The international symbol for access should be used to designate routes andfacilities that are accessible;

Sign Size (cm) Usage


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A 10 x 10 Comfort room stall doors

A, B, C, D 15 x 15 With or withoutdirectional arrows to identify

Doors, rooms

A, B, C 22 x 22 With or without arrows

A, B, C, D, E 30 x 30 For exterior use.

A, B, C, D, E 60 x 60 For exterior use

F 20 x 60 For exterior use

6.4 Should a sign protrude into a walkway or route, a minimum headroom of 2.00meters should be provided; See Fig.

6.5Signs on walls and doors should be located at a maximum height of 1.60

meters and a minimum height of 1.40 meters;

SIGNS ON WALLS AND DOORS

6.6 Sign ages labeling public rooms and places should have raised symbols,letters or numbers with a minimum height of 1 mm; Braille symbols should beincluded in signs indicating public places and safety routes;


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6.7Text on signboards shall be of a dimension that people with less than normalvisual acuity can read at a certain distance.

7. CROSSINGS

7.1 In order to reduce the exposure time to vehicular traffic, all at grade crossingshould;

7.1.1 be as perpendicular as possible to the carriageway;

7.1.2 located at the narrowest, most convenient part of the carriageway

7.1.3 have central refuges of at least 1.50 m in depth and preferably 2.00 m,provided as a mid-crossing shelter, where the width of carriageway to

be crossed exceeds 1m.00 m;

7.2 All crossings should be located close if not contiguous with the normalpedestrian desire line;


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7.3 Provide tactile blocks in the immediate vicinity of crossings as an aid to theblind; the tactile surface should be high enough to be felt by the sole of theshoe but low enough so as not to cause pedestrians to trip or to effect themobility of wheelchair users;

NOTE: tactile strips formed brushed or grooved concrete have not proved successfullyas they do not provide sufficient distinction from the normal footway surface andtherefore should not be used;

7.4 Light controlled crossings with pedestrian phases and audible signals aremost beneficial to the disabled; they should be provided wherever possible;

7.5 The audible signals used for crossings should be easily distinguishable fromother sound in the environment to prevent confusion to the blind; a prolongedsound should serve as warning signal that the crossing time is about to end;

7.6 Sufficient time should be allowed for the slower persons negotiating acrossing; a walking speed of 0.90 m/sec. rather than 1.20 m/sec. should beconsidered; a minimum crossing period of 0.60 seconds or the crossingdistance times the crossing speed (0.90 m/sec.), whichever is greater;

B. PARKING

1. PARKING AREAS

1.1 Parking spaces for the disabled should allow enough spaces for a person totransfer to a wheelchair from a vehicle;

1.2 Accessible parking spaces should be located as close as possible to

building entrances or to accessible entrances;

1.3 Whenever and wherever possible, accessible parking spaces should beperpendicular or at an angle to the road or circulation aisles;

1.4 Accessible parking slots should have a minimum width of 3.70 m.;

1.5 A walkway from accessible spaces of 1.20 m. clear width shall be provided

between the front ends of parked cars;


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1.6 Provide dropped curb cut-outs to the parking level where access walkwaysare raise;

1.7 Pavement markings, signs, or other means shall be provided to delineateparking spaces for the handicapped;

1.8 Parking spaces for the disabled should never be located at ramped orsloping areas;

C. INSIDE BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES

1. ENTRANCES1.1 At least one entrance to every building should be accessible from arrival

and departure points to the interior lobby;

1.2 One (1) entrance level should be provided where elevators are accessible;

1.3 In case entrances are not on the same level of the site arrival grade,ramps should be provided as access to the entrance level;


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ENTRANCES WITH VESTIBULES

1.4 Entrances with vestibules shall be provided a level area width at least a1.80 m. depth and a 1.50 m. width

2. RAMPS

2.1 Changes in level require a ramp except when served by a dropped curb, an elevatoror other mechanical device;

2.2 Ramps shall have a minimum clear width of 1.20 m;

2.3 The maximum gradient shall be 1:12;

2.4 The length of a ramp should not exceed 6.00 m. if the gradient is 1:12; longer rampswhose gradient is 1:12 shall be provided with landings not less than 1.50 m.;

2.5 A level area not less than 1.80 m. should be provided at the top and bottom of anyramp;

2.6 Handrails will be provided on both sides of the ramp at 0.70 m. and 0.90 m. from theramp level;


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2.7 Ramps shall be equipped with curbs on both sides with a minimum height of 0.10 m.;

2.8 Any ramp with a rise greater than 0.20 m. and leads down towards an area wherevehicular traffic is possible, should have a railing across the full width of its lowerend, not less than 1.50 meters from the foot of the ramp;

RAMPS AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC

3. DOORS

3.1 All doors shall have a minimum clear width of 0.80 m.;

3.2 Clear openings shall be measured between the surface of the fully open doorat the hinge and the door jamb at the stop;

3.3 Doors should be operable by a pressure or force not more than 4.0 kg; theclosing device pressure an interior door shall not exceed 1 kg.;

3.4 A minimum clear level space of 1.50 m x 1.50 m shall be provided before and

extending beyond a door; EXEMPTION: where a door shall open onto but notinto a corridor, the required clear, level space on the corridor may be aminimum of 1.20 m corridor width;


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3.5 Protection should be provided from doors that swing into corridors;

DOORS AND CORRIDORS

3.6 Out swinging doors should be provided at storage rooms, closets andaccessible restrooms stalls;

3.7 Latching or non-latching, hardware should not require wrist action or fine

finger manipulation;

3.8 Doorknobs and other hardware should be located between 0.82 m and 1.06 mabove the floor; o.90 is preferred;

3.9 Vertical pull handless, centered at 1.06 m. above the floor, are preferred tohorizontal pull bars for swing doors or doors with locking devices;

3.10 Doors along major circulation routes should be provided with kick platesmade of durable materials at a height of 0.30 m to 0.40 m;


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DOOR HARDWARE4. THRESHOLDS

4.1 Thresholds shall be kept to a minimum; whenever necessary, Thresholds

and sliding door tracks shall have a maximum height of 25 mm andpreferably ramped;

5. SWITCHES

5.1 Manual switches shall be positioned within 1.20 m to 1.30 m above thefloor

5.2 Manual switches should be located no further than 0.20 from the latches

side of the door;


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6. SIGN AGES(See SIGN AGES under OUTSIDE AND AROUND BUILDING)

7. CORRIDORS

7.1 Corridors shall have a minimum clear width of 1.20 m.; waiting areasand other facilities or spaces shall not obstruct the minimum clearancerequirement;

7.2 Recesses or turnabout spaces should be provided for wheelchairs to

turn around or to enable another wheelchair to pass; these spaces shall

have a minimum area of 1.50 m x 1.50 m and shall be spaced at amaximum of 12.00 m.;

7.3 Turnabout spaces should also be provided at or within 3.50 m of everydead end;

TURN ABOUT SPACES AT DEAD ENDS

7.4 As in walkways, corridors should be maintained level and provided witha slip-resistant surface;

8. WASHROOMS AND TOILETS


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8.1 Accessible public washrooms and toilets shall permit easy passage of awheelchair and allow the occupant to enter a stall, close the door andtransfer to the water closet from either a frontal or lateral position

8.2 Accessible water closet stalls shall have a minimum area of 1.70 m x

1.80 m. One movable grab bar and one fixed to the adjacent wall shall

be installed at the accessible water closet stall for lateral mounting;fixed grab bars on both sides of the wall shall be installed for stalls formounting;

8.3 A turning space of 2.25 sq. m. with a minimum dimension of 1.50 m.for wheelchairs shall be provided outside water closet stalls

8.4 All accessible public toilets shall have accessories such as mirrors,paper dispensers, towel racks, and fittings such as faucets mounted atheights reachable by a person in a wheelchair;

8.5 The minimum number of accessible water closets on each floor level oron the part of the floor level accessible to the disabled shall be one (1)

where the total number of water closets per sex on that level is 20; andtwo (2) where the number of water closets exceed 20;

8.6 In order to aid visually impaired persons to readily determine whethera washroom is for men or for women, the sign age on mens washroomshall be an equilateral triangle with a vertex pointing upward, andthose for women shall be a circle; the edges of the triangle should be0.30 m long as should be the diameter of the circle; these sign agesshould at least be 7.5 mm thick; the color and gray value of thesegeometric forms should be distinct from the color and gray value of thedoors; the words men and women or the appropriate stick figuresshould still appear on the washroom doors should still appear on thewashroom doors for the convenience of the fully sighted;

NOTE: the totally blind could touch the edges of signs and easily determinewhether it is straight or curved;

8.7 The maximum height of water closets should be 0.45 m; flush controlshould have a maximum height of 1.20 m.;

8.8 Maximum height of lavatories should be 0.80 m with a knee recess of

0.60 0.70 m vertical clearance and a 0.50 m depth;

8.9 Urinals should have an elongated lip or should be trough-type; themaximum height of the lip should be 0.48m;


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MIN. WATER CLOSET STALL DIMENSIONS

9. STAIRS

9.1 Tread surfaces should be of a slip of a resistant material; nosing should

be provided with a slip-resistant strips to further minimize slipping;


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9.2 Slanted nosing are preferred to protruding nosing so as not to imposedifficulty for people using clutches or braces whose feet have a tendencyto get caught in the recessed space of protruding nosing; for the samereason, open stringers should be avoided;

9.3 The leading edge of each step on both runner and riser should be

marked with a paint or non-skid material that has a color or gray value ofthe rest of the stairs; markings of this sort should be a helpful to thevisually impaired as well as to the fully sighted person;

9.4 A tactile strip 0.30 m wide shall be installed before hazardous areassuch as sudden changes in floor levels and at the top and bottom of thestairs; special care must be taken to ensure the proper mounting oradhesion of tactile strips so as not to cause accidents;

10. ELEVATORS

10.1 Accessible elevators should be located not more than 30.0 m from theentrance and should be easy to locate with the aid of signs;

10.2 Accessible elevators shall have a minimum dimension of 1.10 m x 1.40 m;


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MIN. DIMENSIONS OF ELEVATOR

10.2 Control panels and emergency systems of accessible elevators shall bewithin reach of a seated person; centerline heights for the topmost buttons

shall be between 0.90 m to 1.20 m from the floor;10.3 Button controls shall be provided with Braille signs to indicate floor level;

at each floor, at the door frames of elevator doors, Braille-type signs shall beplaced so that blind persons can be able to discern what floor the elevator carhas stopped and from what level they are embarking from; for installationheights, See Section 6.6 Sign Ages;

10.4 Button sizes at elevator control shall have a minimum diameter of 20 mmand should have a maximum depression depth of 1 mm;


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BUTTON SIZE

11. WATER FOUNTAINS

11.1 At least one (1) fountain shall be provided for every 2,000 sq. m. of floorarea and there shall not be less than one (1) on each floor. Water spouts shallbe at the front and shall be push-button controlled. If wall-mounted, themaximum height of the water fountain shall be 0.85 m from the floor to therim. Should the floor-mounted type be higher than 0.85 m and up to the rim,either provide paper cups or another lower fountain.

12. PUBLIC TELEPHONES

12.1 Provided a clear, unobstructed space of 1.50 m x 1.50 m in front of wall-mounted and free-standing units and telephones mounted at the rear wall ofalcoves or recesses.

12.2 Telephone booth door openings should have a minimum clear width of

0.80 m with either out swing, folding or sliding doors. Coin slots, dialingcontrols, receivers and instructional signs shall be located at a maximum of1.10 m above the floor.

13. PLACES OF ASSEMBLY

13.1 Number of seating accommodations reserved for a wheelchairusers shall be in accordance with Section 7 of Rule III.


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D. SAFETY

1. FENCING FOR ROADWORKS AND FOOTWORKS. ALL EXCAVATIONS,WHETHER ON THE ROAD OR FOOTWAY MUST BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED OR

FENCED-IN TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS IN GENERAL AND DISABLED INPARTICULAR. WHATEVER THE TYPE OF PENCING USED, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THERAILINGS SHOULD INCORPORATE THE FOLLOWING FEATURES

1.1 The height of the rail should be at least 1.00 above the adjacent surface;

1.2 The railing should incorporate a tapping rail to assist the blind; this should notbe greater than 0.35 m above the adjacent surface;

1.3 The fences should be strong enough to offer resistance should a blind personwalk into it;

1.4 Gaps should not occur between adjoining fence lengths;

2. COVERS FOR EXCAVATIONS

2.1 Excavations in the footways or carriageway where pedestrians may walkshould be cover temporarily with properly constructed and supported boards

to provide path for pedestrians;


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2.2 If the footway width will be reduced to less than 1.20 m because of theexcavation, the temporary covering should extend across the whole footway;

2.3 Minimum dimensions at obstructions

2.3.1 Effective width of footways past any obstruction should not be lessthan 1.20 m.


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3.1.2 Signs should not reduce the available footway width to less than 1.20m.

4. LOCATION OF EMERGENCY EXITS

4.1Wall mounted or free standing tablets with an embossed plan configuration ofthe building which would also indicate location of lobbies, washrooms andemergency exits (through the use of different textures to symbolized the

spaces) should be provided at the main lobby of each floor or other strategiclocations; the markings on this tablet should be readable by both the blind andthe fully sighted;

4.2 Flashing light directional signs indicating the location(s) of fire exits shall beprovided at every change in direction with sufficient power provided inaccordance with the provisions for emergency lighting under Section 3.410 ofP.D 1185 (The Fire Code of the Philippines);

ADDITIONAL INDICATION FOR FIRE SAFETY OF HOSPITALS


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A. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS. Should be fire resistive, non-combustibleconstruction materials. Reinforced concrete, concrete products, steel/ metal products,glass, cement boards, gypsum boards.

B. CEILINGS. As much as possible, provisions for ceiling are not recommended. This isdue to the fact that ceiling serves as a hiding place for rats that gnaws the electrical

system and where waste combustible materials accumulated. Any concealed spacebetween the ceiling and the floor or roof above shall be fire proof for the full depth of thespace along the line of support of the floor or roof structural members.

C. DOORS. All doors facing hallways/ corridors should be made of fire resistive materialswith self-closing mechanism or equipped with automatic door closer. Doors should bekept closed but not locked.

D. FIRE EXIT DOORS. Shall be made of fire resistive materials at least 2-hour fire raring,self-closing with panic hardware and swinging to the direction of exit travel. Componentsshould conform to accepted standards and/ or recognized fire test lab oratory. Should bemaintained closed but not locked. Edges should be suitably sealed, provided with fireresistive door strip and smoke stoppers as protection against smoke, heat and fire.

Doors shall have an adequate opening that can accommodate bed lying patients in caseof fire or emergencies. Power assisted door shall be easily operable manually to permitexit travel in case of power failure.

E. COMPARTMENTATION. Interior walls, partitions on rooms and corridors/ hallwayshall reach slab to slab without openings. Pipe penetrations should be suitably sealedwith concrete plastering or approved fire resistive sealant/ collar/ pillows.

F. OPENING ON WALLS ALONG CORRISORD/ HALLWAY. No openings/ windows shallbe made on all walls along corridors/ hallways. Only door openings are allowed providedit is a fire resistive door and with self-closing mechanism.

G. VERTICAL OPENINGS. Shall be protected with at least 4 hours fire resistiveconstruction materials. Openings shall be provided wit h self-closing, fire resistive doors/covers. Pipe penetration against walls and floors shall be suitably sealed with concreteplastering or approved fire resistive sealant/ collars/ pillows. Fire resistive doors shall beat least 2 hour fire resistive, exit swinging self-closing with panic hardware. Doorcomponents should conform to accepted standards or recognized fire test laboratory.

H. INTERIOR RAAMPS/ ELEVATORS/ ESCALATORS. Shall be protected withapproved, predesigned and engineered automatic fire sprinkler system.

ICUs, MICUs, NICUs, Nursery, Operating rooms, Delivery rooms: Shall be locatedpreferably on rooms/ areas on the ground floor or street level due tot the incapacity ofthe patients for self-evacuation and the need for the life support system/s equipment.

I. SIGNAGE. The building exit signs should be of approved type and strategicallylocated. Proper exit making should be provided in order to assist occupants, patientsespecially visitors that are not familiar where exits/ fire exits are located.

J. EMRGENCY LIGHTING. Rooms, hallways, corridors, stairs, fire exit stairs, lobbies, exitdischarge areas and other exit ways shall be provide with portable AC/DC emergencylighting. Generators should be equipped with automatic transfer switch with less than 10seconds delay on transfer to automatic operation.

Source:Hospitals Should be Safe from Disasters: Reduce Risks,

Protect Health Facilities, Save Lives. Department of Health,2008

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