3.8. - General Req's For Barrier-Free Design

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3.8. - REQ's for Barrier-Free Design Apply to

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All part 9 buildings EXCEPT for:

• houses,
• semi-detached houses,
• duplexes,
• triplexes,
• townhouses,
• row houses,
• boarding or rooming houses (with less than 8 boarders or roomers),
• Group F-1 occupancies (which is NOT a PART 9 occupancy),
• buildings which are not intended to be occupied on a daily or full time basis.

Additionally, where a barrier-free path of travel is provided above the first storey, the req's of Article 3.3.1.7. "Protection on Floor Areas with A Barrier-Free Path of Travel", also apply 9.5.2.2.(1)

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3.8. - Barrier-Free Design - ENTRANCES

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The number of barrier-free entrances are based on the number of entrances into the building (not necessary the req'd exits and therefore entrances), see Table 3.8.1.2. These entrances are from the parking spaces, etc. to the entrance and not simply the doors themselves.

If there are occupancies on the first storey, or a storey to which a barrier-free path of travel is provided, and those occupancies are separate from the reminder of the building, (example: a strip mall) at least 1 barrier-free entrance must be provided to each such occupancy.

Where barrier-free storeys in different are connected by a walkway or bridge, the walkway or bridge must be barrier-free.

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3.8. - Barrier-Free Path of Travel

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The basic req. is that a min width of 1100mm be provided in a barrier-free path of travel. There are two exceptions to this general rule which will be addressed shortly.

The barrier-free path of travel (interior and exterior walking surfaces) has certain required features, namely:

• no opening larger than 13 mm,
• any elongated openings must be at right angles to the path of travel,
• be stable, firm and slip-resistance,
• to have bevelled edges with a 1 in 2 slope max, if the difference in elevation is less than or equal to 13 mm,
• if the difference in elevation is more than 13 mm, be provided with sloped floors or ramps.

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3.8. - Barrier-Free Path of Travel - transition zones

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Where the width of 1600 mm cannot be provided throughout the barrier-free path of travel, widened areas of at least 1800 mm by 1800 mm are to be provided every 30 m max.

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3.8. - Barrier-Free Path of Travel - Reduced Headroom

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If the headroom is less than 1980 mm high in a barrier-free path of travel, then a guardrail is required not more than 680 mm above the finished floor. This guardrail is to guide the visually impaired away from the reduced headroom location. As such this guardrail is to be located in line with the headroom height of 1980 mm.

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3.8. - Barrier-Free Path of Travel - Escalators or moving walkways

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In transportation, in the form of escalators or moving walkways, is provided from the entrance floor level and the barrier-free storey, a barrier-free path of travel is also required to those storeys. This may be accomplished by providing elevator(s) or the like.

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3.8. - Barrier-Free Path of Travel - Signage

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The route from an escalator or inclined moving walk to the barrier-free path pf travel shall be clearly indicated with appropriate signs and where a moving walk provides access between areas on the same floor level, a barrier-free path of travel shall be provided between the areas served by the moving walk.

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3.8. - Barrier-Free Path of Travel - Location of Switches

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Controls for the operation of building services; for example, elevator call buttons, thermostats, electrical swithes, etc., are req'd to be located not more than 1200 mm high in the case of thermostats or pull stations [3.1.8.5.(1)(c)(i)] and not less than 900 mm or more than 1100 mm above the finished floor in the case of all other controls [3.1.8.5.(1)(c)(ii)]. In either case the controls must be operable with a force of not more than 22.2N.

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3.8. - Barrier-Free Path of Travel - Illumination

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The illumination of barrier-free oath of travel is mandated to be at an average level of at least 50 lx measured at the floor area. (3.8.1.6.)

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3.8 - Barrier-Free Path of Travel - Areas Requiring Barrier-Free Path of Travel

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A barrier-free path of travel is req'd throughout the entrance storey and within occupied floor areas served by an elevator or similar device, EXCEPT to:

• service room;
• elevator machine rooms;
• service spaces;
• crawl spaces;
• attic or roof spaces;
• high-hazard industrial occupancies;
• assembly areas with fixed seats (except for those areas with seating designed for wheelchair use, adaptable seating or spaces for storage of wheelchair and mobility assisted devices);
• residential suites located on other than the entrance storey and that have their entrances not located at an elevator stop level,
• inside a suite of residential occupancy except those req'd to be barrier-free, or
• those parts of a floor areas that are not at the entry level, provided the same amenities are provided elsewhere in a barrier-free path of travel. See Appendix A

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3.8 - Barrier-Free Path of Travel - Groups NOT Required Barrier-Free Path of Travel

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• floor areas in Group B, Div 2 (care and treatment occupancies) or 3 (care occupancies), not req'd to be served by ramp or elevator [3.5.2.1.(3)];
• Group C (residential) or D (Business and personal services occupancies) occupancies that are in floor areas in a bldg that is 3 storeys or less in height and max 600 sm in building area;
• Group F, 2 (Medium hazard industrial occupancies) and 3 (Low hazard industrial occupancies) occupancies that are not req'd to be served by an elevator [3.8.2.2.(1)];
• Portions of bars and restaurants where the same amenities and uses are provided in other floor areas that have a barrier-free path of travel, or
• to portions of child care facilities that have an entrance door at floor levels that do not have a barrier-free path of travel.

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3.8 - Barrier-Free Design - Number of Seats

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The minimum number of spaces designated for wheelchair in an assembly occupancy is based on the number of fixed seats and is found in table 3.8.2.1.

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3.8 - Barrier-Free Design - Number of Accessible Suits

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In Group C buildings, not less than 15% of the suites are to be provided with a barrier-free path of travel from the suite entrance door to the doorway to at least:

• 1 bedroom;
• 1 bathroom which conforms to the design req's of 3.8.2.1.(6) - has a lavatory, water closet, shower or bathtub, wall reinforcement for grab bars and be designed to permit a wheelchair to turn in an open space not less than 1500 mm in diameter;
• a kitchen or kitchen space, and
• a living room or space.

The number of barrier-free residential suites shall be in proportion to the number of suites of residential occupancy in the reminder of the building [3.8.2.1.(7)] and the suites shall be distributed among storeys that are req'd in 3.8.2.1. to have a barrier-free path of travel, having regard to the height of the suite above grade.

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3.8.2. - Barrier-Free Design - Path of Travel Provision

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A barrier-free path of travel shall be provided outside the building and within, from the entrance to:

• the exterior parking area (where one is provided),
• at least one indoor parking level (if the parking is served by a passenger elevator).

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3.8.2. - Barrier-Free Design - Vertical Clearance for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

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A vertical clearance of at least 2100 mm must be provided throughout the path a wheelchair accessible vehicle that it would need to navigate from the entrance to the designated parking space(s).

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3.8.2. - Barrier-Free Design - Barrier-Free Passenger Loading Zone

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Where a barrier-free passenger loading zone is provided, that area must be at least 2 440 mm wide, at least 7 400 mm long and located adjacent and parallel to the vehicle pull-up space. Furthermore, there must be a curb cut if a curb is provided and a clearance of at least 3 600 mm to overhead projections must also be provided [3.8.2.2.(3)].

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3.8.2. - Barrier-Free Design - Washrooms

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W/Cs required to be barrier-free have specific req's. Where washrooms are required, those washrooms are to be accessible (see 3.8.3.2. Appendix A for more info), except:

• in a large floor area, if special washrooms are provided close by (within 45m);
• in suites of residential occupancies;
• those buildings which are exempt from having barrier-free design.

(3.8.2.3)

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3.8.2. - Barrier-Free Design - Washrooms

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The minimum number of universal washrooms provided in a building in which washrooms are req'd in 3.7.4. must conform with Table 3.8.2.3.A.

Even if more washrooms are provided than req'd by the building Code, those washrooms must be barrier-free accessible if the washrooms are located on a storey to which barrier-free access has been provided [3.8.2.3.(4)].

Where a washroom req'd by 3.7.4. is provided in a storey that is NOT req'd to have a barrier-free path of travel, it must have specific design considerations and be provided with at least one ambulatory water closet stall [3.8.2.3.(6)]

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3.8.2. - Barrier-Free Design - Washrooms

Where W/C are NOT req'd

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• in residential suites;
• where other barrier-free washrooms are close by (within 45 m);
• in situations where washrooms are located within the suites and those suites are completely separated from and do not have access to the remainder of the building (e.g. stip mall situations) in;
• Group D (business and personal services occupancies), E (Mercantile occupancies), F (industrial occupancies), and
• have areas of suites less than 300 sm.

[3.8.2.3.(5)]