Design Appraisals – Auditing Plans

Design Appraisals - Auditing Plans

Plan_Auditing"Universal design refers to the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of their age, size or disability".
(Disability Act, 2005)

TMS Configure provides assistance at the planning stage to ensure a design adheres to Universal Access Best Practice principles. This is useful particularly for companies seeking approval of through the Planning Application process of Councils.

Benefits of considering Universal Access at Design Stage:

1. Cost
It is estimated that designing an environment to universal design standards incurs less than a 1% additional cost in the overall project. However retroactively altering an environment once construction has commenced causes costs to grow exponentially throughout the life of the building.
John Clarkson, Professor of Engineering Design at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Cambridge Engineering Design Centre

2. Increased Customer Numbers

  • 8.3% of the Irish population has significant disabilities. (Irish Census) It’s not just wheelchairs; building design affects those with visual, hearing and learning impairments and across the whole spectrum of abilities.
  • Add to that number the friends and families accompanying people with disabilities.
  • At any time, one in five Irish people will experience difficulties in getting around. The figure is going to increase with Ireland’s aging population. (NDA)
  • Buggy and pram users are more likely to find the environment user friendly and easier to visit and shop

    3. Lower Accident Rates
    "An accessible building is a safer building".
    National Disability Authority

    4. Customer Care
    An environment that understands the diverse needs of its customers will provide a better quality of service to its clients. Think Diverse, Design Diverse

    5. Sustainability
  • Part M of the Building Regulations is currently being updated, with a draft release date of early 2008. Adhering to universal access principles at the design stage ensures responses to changes in legislation are anticipated in advance.
  • The Building Control Bill, 2005 proposes the introduction of a Disability Access Certificate which, if adopted, will require the design of new non-domestic buildings (factories, offices, shops, hotels etc) and apartment blocks to be certified by local building control authority as compliant with Part M before work commences.
  • The ageing population in Ireland means an increasing requirement to remove barriers and enhance the quality of services provided for this growing section of our community

    6. A Model for Best Practice
    The implementation of these principles provides a model for service providers in similar sectors and improves public and professional recognition of the building and its developers and clients.

    7. Coherence with Government Bodies and Local Authorities
    The Disability Act 2005 and the related Sectoral Plans require that all public buildings are made accessible to people with disabilities by 2015. The impact of this on the private sector is:
  • The government is disability – proofing its procurement process. Contractors are being required to show adherence to principles of universal access in the tendering process and have an awareness of the needs of people with disabilities

    "A public body can achieve its Section 27 obligations by:
    Taking care that in all public procurement exercises accessibility is highlighted as a criterion to be considered throughout the entire tendering process (from drawing up and running tender competitions through tender evaluation and placing the contract to final debriefing)".
    (Guidance Framework from www.la-accessibility.ie)


    8. Staff Retention
    A more accessible environment increases the pool of potential new workers that an employer can tap into. It also helps organisations retain existing employees who may acquire a disability. What’s more, higher staff satisfaction will also lead to improved productivity. (NDA)

    • Line

    TMS Configure Limited provides disabled access advice and consultancy including disabled access audits, design appraisals and training.

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