Contents

4.0 Introduction
4.1 Access to buildings
4.2 Access within buildings
4.3 Stairs and ramps
4.4 Pedestrian protective barriers
4.5 Electrical safety
4.6 Electrical fixtures (does not apply to non-domestic buildings)
4.7 Aids to communication
4.8 Danger from accidents
4.9 Danger from heat
4.10 Fixed seating
4.11 Liquefied petroleum gas storage
4.12 Vehicle protective barriers

4.0 Introduction
4.0.1 Introduction
4.0.2 Aims
4.0.3 Latest changes
4.0.4 Relevant legislation

Guidance
4.0

4.0.1 Introduction

The guidance in this document is appropriate for all non-domestic buildings.

Safety has been defined by the International Standards Organisation as ‘a state of freedom from unacceptable risks of personal harm’. This recognises that no activity is absolutely safe or free from risk. Thus no building can be absolutely safe and some risk of harm to users will exist in every building.

• Slips, trips and falls in and around buildings are a major cause of accidental death and serious injury to building users and result in around 1900 deaths per year.
• Collision or entrapment accidents cause a significant number of injuries and deaths to building users. The majority of such accidents occur during normal use, many involving features such as doors and windows.
• Electrical current accidents are not a major cause of death in buildings but there is evidence that the risk is increasing, for example from the growth of DIY and from the increased use of electrical appliances in the home.

This guidance also covers access to buildings, encompassing issues of both safety and the amenity of the building users. An accessible environment is one in which all people can enter and make use of conveniently and safely.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), and Part III in particular, will have a profound affect on the design of buildings. The definition of ‘disabled people’ in the DDA is much more fully inclusive than the definition that has been used in the Technical Standards.

Code of Practice Rights of Access - Goods, Facilities, Services and Premises Disability Rights Commission 1999

Part III of the DDA introduces measures to prevent discrimination against disabled people, such as the removal of physical features that could be a barrier to access to a service. Designers, clients and developers have specific duties under the Act and are recommended to study the legislation and the Code of Practice — Rights of Access, Goods, Facilities, Services and Premises that supports Part III of the Act.

From October 2004, the DDA requires that reasonable adjustments should be made to any non-domestic building to eliminate physical barriers to access. An exemption is granted to a building that complies with the Technical Standards and it is unlikely to be reasonable for a service provider to have to make adjustments to physical features that are covered by the Standards for a period of 10 years from the date the work was completed.

Standard 4.6 (Electrical fixtures) does not apply to non-domestic buildings and is therefore excluded from this guidance.

4.0.2 Aims

The intention of this section is to give recommendations for the design of buildings that will reduce the risk of accidents that could otherwise arise from built-in hazards or from the malfunction of mechanical equipment. The standards are intended to:

• ensure a level of accessibility to and within buildings and that areas presenting risk are correctly guarded
• reduce the incidence of slips, trips and falls, particularly for elderly and disabled people;
• ensure that electrical installations are safe in terms of the hazards likely to arise from defective installations, namely fire, electric shock and burns or other personal injury.
• prevent the creation of dangerous obstructions, ensure that windows can be cleaned and operated safely and reduce the risk of injury caused by collision with glass or unsafe access to, and on, roofs;
• to reduce the risk of explosion through the malfunction of an unvented hot water storage system;
• ensure the appropriate location and construction of storage tanks for liquid petroleum gas.

4.0.3 Latest changes

It was the intention that this guidance document would be a straight transcription of the technical requirements in the previous Parts of the Technical Standards. However certain requirements have been clarified, updated or become obsolete over the last few years. It was felt appropriate to include such changes in this new guidance document.

The following is a summary of the changes that have been introduced since the 6^th amendment to the Technical Standards came into force on 4 March 2002.

4.1.1 additional guidance on set-down points

4.1.2 additional guidance on unobstructed approach

4.1.3 additional guidance on large numbers of parking spaces for disabled people

4.1.5 clarification of guidance on accessible thresholds

4.2.1 revised guidance on access for disabled people

4.2.2 revised guidance on access for disabled people.

4.2.3 additional guidance on provision of both ramp and stair in some locations

4.2.4 revised guidance excluding places of lawful detention

4.3.3 minimum step rise amended from 75mm to 100mm

4.3.4 removal of reference to stepped ramps from current S3.10

4.3.5 revised guidance permitting open risers to stairs used for descent only

4.3.7 more appropriate method of measuring landing lengths on stairs

4.3.7 deletion of guidance allowing doors opening onto bottom landing

4.3.12 revised guidance for ramp edge protection

4.3.13 clarification of guidance on ramp widths

4.3.15 revised guidance on landing length of ramps

4.3.17 revised guidance on handrails to wide stairs

4.3.22 additional guidance on stepped and ramped gangways within areas of fixed seating

4.8.1 revised guidance excluding places of lawful detention

4.8.3 clarification on size of working areas provided

4.8.8 expanded guidance on access to roofs

4.0.4 Relevant legislation

Listed below are some pieces of legislation that may be relevant and/or helpful to those using the guidance in this particular Section.

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 sets out measures intended to end discrimination against people with disabilities in the areas of employment, access to goods, facilities and services, in the management, buying or renting of land or property and in education

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

The Workplace, (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 cover the key issues for inspection and enforcement by local authorities on matters relating to the physical characteristics of the workplace such as temperature, lighting, cleanliness and sanitary conveniences.

Electricity Safety, Quality & Continuity Regulations 2002

The Electricity Safety, Quality & Continuity Regulations 2002 defines the duties of any party supplying electricity to a premises with regard to matters such as supply, equipment, protection and provision of earthing.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 defines the duties of an employer to ensure and maintain a safe working environment with respect to any electrical installation within a premises.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998

The Gas Safety (Installations and Use) Regulations 1998 require that any person who installs, services, maintains, removes, or repairs gas fittings must be competent. It covers not only materials, workmanship, safety precautions and testing of gas fittings but also the safe installation of all aspects of gas-fired appliance installations