April 03, 2002

    With a view to provide barrier free environment in the public buildings for the disabled persons, the Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation have issued a Public Notice proposing amendments in the Unified Building Bye-Laws, 1983, pertaining to National Capital Territory of Delhi.

    "These bye-laws are applicable to all building, recreation areas and facilities used by public. It does not apply to private domestic residences", the Notice specifies.

    Any person having objections or suggestions may send the same in writing to the Under Secretary, Delhi Division, Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi – 110011 within one month. The person making objections/suggestions should also give his name and address, the Notice stipulates.

    The Notice seeks to identify the disabilities, which include impairments that confine individuals to wheelchairs and "impairments that cause individual to walk with difficulty or insecurity" and "individuals using braces or crutches, amputees, arthritics, spastics and those with pulmonary and cardiac ills". The Notice also takes into account hearing disabilities – "that might make an individual insecure in public areas because he is unable to communicate or hear warning signals" – and sight disabilities – "total blindness or impairments affecting sight to the extent that the individual, functioning in public areas, is insecure or exposed to danger."

    The Notice specifies that "every building should have at least one access to main entrance/exit to the disabled which shall be indicated by proper signage. This entrance shall be approached through a ramp together with stepped entry."

    The Notice further lays down that the access path from plot entry and surface parking to building entrance will have even surface without any step. Slope, if any shall not have gradient greater than 5 per cent. Selection of floor material shall be made suitably to attract or to guide visually impaired persons.

    For parking of vehicles of disabled persons, surface parking for two Equivalent Car Spaces (ECS) shall be provided near entrance for the physically handicapped persons with maximum travel distance of three meter from building entrance. The information stating that the space is reserved for wheelchair users shall be conspicuously displayed. Guiding floor materials shall be provided or a device which guides visually impaired persons with audible signals or other devices which serves the same purpose shall be provided, the Notice adds.

    The Notice stipulates that the buildings will have to provide specified facilities such as approach to plinth level, corridor connecting the entrance/exit for the handicapped, stair-ways, lift, toilet and drinking water. Braille signage shall be provided at the above-specified facilities. It further states that ramp shall be provided with non-slip material to enter the building. Guiding floor materials or devices that emit sound shall be provided to guide visually impaired persons in the corridor connecting the entrance and exit for the handicapped. Stairways with open riser and provision of nosing are not permitted in such building.

    Whenever lift is required as per bye-laws, provisions of at least one lift shall be made for the wheelchair user with the specified cage dimensions of lift recommended for passenger lift. The braille signage will be posted outside the lifts.

    The Notice lays down that "one special W.C. in a set of toilet shall be provided for the use of handicapped with essential provision of washbasin near the entrance for the handicapped."

    An alternative to immediate evacuation of a building via staircases and/or lifts is the movement of disabled persons to areas of safety within a building. If possible, they could remain there until the fire is controlled and extinguished or until rescued by fire fighters. It is useful to have the provision of a refuge area, usually at the fire-protected stair landing on each floor that can safely hold one or two wheelchairs, the Notice indicates.