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Good Design Guide
Universal Design - designing accessible built environments
Auckland City is committed to a 100 per cent accessible Auckland. The purpose of this Good Design Guide is to assist those involved in
designing the built environment to understand how the principles of universal design create quality environments that are fully accessible
to everyone.
What is universal design?
Universal design is about designing built environments that are safe and accessible for everyone, irrespective of age and ability. At
some time in life, through accident, illness, or old age, everyone will experience impairment. Accessible built environments are those that
meet the access requirements of all people, from those with limited strength or stamina, balance, hand function and vision impairments, to
people recovering from an accident or operation, using a pushchair or wheelchair, carrying small children or a heavy load.
Why is universal design important?
- Our existing built environment (both public and private), as well as our transport system, does not meet the needs of those with
functional impairments, including older people. Currently 20 per cent of the population between the ages of 16 and 64 have an impairment,
and this rises to 50 per cent of people over the age of 65. By 2050, 25 per cent of people will be over 65.
- The standards for universal design set out by the New Zealand Building Code are based on minimum requirements. This disadvantages some
members of the community, as these standards do not always meet everyone's needs.
- People avoid buildings where they feel unsafe and the facilities are difficult to use. Inaccessible buildings exclude potential customers
from using or purchasing goods and services and reduce employment opportunities.
- If everyone is to fully participate in everyday activities we must aim for best practice. In doing so, we can create quality environments
that are useable, safe and enjoyable for all. Access is a basic human right.
Design Guidelines
Universal Design relies on the three fundamental elements of an accessible route - approachability or route to the building; accessibility
into and around the building; and usability of facilities inside the building. Together they make up the 'accessible journey'. If one element is
missing, the accessible journey fails.
Some areas where the journey often fails include the street boundary or car parks to the building, ramps and steps without handrails, lack of
signage, slippery floors and heavy doors.
This guide highlights some of these elements, demonstrating how the accessibility and useability of a facility can be greatly enhanced without
additional costs.
Universal design needs to be considered at the beginning of the design process.
Best practice
Footpaths
Where a developer provides footpaths within a site these need to have a minimum unobstructed width of 1.8 metres to meet requirements. A
minimum 1.8 metre footpath (ideally more) allows people using wheelchairs, mobility scooters, guide dogs and pushchairs to comfortably pass
others.
Surface finishes
Slip resistant materials that exceed minimum Building Code requirements are needed on all ground surfaces. Smooth or highly polished surfaces
pose a slip hazard for everyone, particularly when wet.
Entrances
Building entrances should be easily identifiable, directly accessible from the street for all users, covered and well lit. Ideally all entrances
should be part of the Accessible Route, then no-one is disadvantaged by having to seek an alternative entrance.
Doors
Automatic opening entrance doors are preferred. Hinged doors need to be easy to open and close. All non-fire doors should operate with a
maximum force of 38N / 4Kg for external and 22N / 2Kg for internal doors and open both ways where practical. As we age, our strength reduces.
Spring closures on doors are frequently and unnecessarily set at too high a force. Hinged doors opening both ways allows them to be pushed,
rather than pulled, from both directions.
Doors should have a minimum opening width of 760mm, but 810mm is preferred. A 810mm wide door creates an accessible environment for all. It
also raises amenity by creating a sense of spaciousness.
All glass doors and walls need to be highly visible. A 20mm opaque band is inadequate. A highly colour contrasted 100mm minimum wide feature
should run the full width of the glass. Enlarged coloured logos are one solution. The leading edges of glass doors also need colour contrasted
protective strips to prevent injury. Serious injuries can result from people not seeing glass doors and walls. Reflections and shadowing make
frosted panels or narrow bands on glass hard or impossible to see, especially with ageing eyesight. Ideally, discernible patterning over most
of the surface works best.
Signs
All signs should be strongly graphically based, with careful thought given to their height and location, lettering size, type, and colour
contrast. Braille designations are needed on lift buttons. Graphically based signs can be easily understood by everyone, including those with
vision impairments and language difficulties.
Circulation spaces
Entrance lobbies need to be large enough to allow free circulation of wheelchairs and pushchairs. Corridors need a clear width of at least
1500mm, and at least 1800mm on major circulation routes. Lifts should have a minimum 1800mm of unobstructed space in front of doors for manoeuvring
and turning. Circulation spaces at least 1800mm wide are not only more accessible but have other benefits such as: adding to the amenity and
saleability of a project; allowing furniture to be moved in and out of a building with greater ease; and allowing ease of access for emergency
crews.
Handles
Lever door handles and taps are preferable to knob varieties. Door handles should be about 1000mm above ground level, horizontally aligned with
light switches. No one is disadvantaged by levers. People with reduced hand strength and function find them easier to operate than knobs. Aligning
light switches makes these easier to locate.
Stairs/Steps/Ramps
Steps should be avoided where possible. If they are necessary, a ramp or other alternative access needs to be provided directly beside the steps.
Steps are not only a tripping hazard, but a barrier to accessibility that can often be avoided through good design.
Ramps and steps need handrails on both sides and tactile and visual cues such as colour contrasted nosing. Ramps with a 1 in 14 gradient or
shallower are desirable. Handrails on only one side disadvantage people who have the use of only one arm or have a one-sided weakness. Steps are
an injury hazard if their nosing is not strongly contrasted with the tread.
All stairs, steps and ramps should be well lit, with light thrown towards and not down the steps, thus preventing shadows. The rise and edge of
steps can be difficult to see and are a potential trip hazard unless clearly visible.
Counters
Reception counters require at least one area set at a height accessible by a wheelchair user. Two-height provision at counters and facilities
like drinking fountains accommodates children and shorter people, as well as wheelchair users.
Toilets
Accessible toilet facilities should be provided as the preferred option for all toilets. Facilities should be well signed with directional as
well as locational signage. No one is denied access to a unisex accessible toilet facility. They are especially popular with parents of small
children.
Handbasins and urinals should be provided at varying heights. Two-height provision accommodates children and shorter people, as well as
wheelchair users. This public bathroom recognises our range of heights by providing a lower basin.
Universal Design in the home
Many of these best practice examples are equally applicable in the home. Incorporating universal design principles into residential buildings
enables people to stay in their homes, despite changes in circumstances, such as decreased mobility, or an elderly relative moving in. Integrating
universal design principles at the design stage enables the dwelling to be 'future proofed' so it can be adapted at any later stage by the occupant
to meet their changed needs. This applies equally to apartment buildings and single family suburban homes. The common sense nature of universal
design for homes also has the advantage of making a house more desirable for the market place through increasing general useability and spaciousness.
These are some of the key features that should be incorporated at the design stage to ensure a dwelling is able to be adapted into an accessible
dwelling:
- A house should have at least one step-free entrance.
- A ground floor toilet and sizeable bathroom.
- Extra nogs and studs, particularly around toilets and showers, for retrofitting hand rails.
- Power points placed 500mm-1200mm above the floor to minimise bending and 500mm from corners.
- As with commercial and public buildings, handrails on both sides of stairs and steps.
- Light switches placed parallel with door handles so they are easy to locate.
- Lever taps and door handles for ease of use.
- Wider doorways, to more readily accommodate wheelchairs and walking aids.
- Kitchen benches at two different heights, to accommodate standing and sitting users.
- Living areas wide enough to accommodate both furniture and the turning circle of a wheelchair.
Examples of good and bad design
 |
 |
These glass doors and walls
are difficult to see. It would be
easy to walk into the edges of
the open doors. |
These doors display good use
of colour contrasted strips on
the glass surface and on the
leading edge of each door. |
 |
 |
The lack of contrasting on
these steps makes change of
levels difficult to see. The
slippery surface and lack of
handrails also makes them
hazardous for people with
poor balance. |
These steps are well
identified with patterned
nosing and warning tactiles |
|
 |
These lift buttons have raised,
indented and Braille
designations. |
|
