Accessibility guidelines to be published in Ireland in the coming weeks / months
There have been very few national guidelines, regulations or standards published on accessibility in 2010, but all this is about to change. The following is a brief update on upcoming guidelines and regulations:
- Part M of the Building Regulations – The Department of Environment intends to publish the revised Part M of the Building Regulations in the coming weeks. As soon as this is launched O’Herlihy Access Consultancy will review the requirements and provide a summary of same.
- Building for Everyone – The Centre for Excellence in Universal Design has recently gone to consultation in relation to on nine Universal Design booklets which will replace the existing ‘Building for Everyone’. It is hoped that the nine booklets which cover external environments, sanitary accommodation, facilities, planning etc will be published in the near future.
- Section 29 of the Disability Act 2005 requires that heritage sites, to which the public has access, are accessible, as far as practicable, to persons with disabilities not later than the 31st December 2007. The NDA intend to launch a Code of Practice to meet requirements of Section 29 of the Disability Act in the near future and this will become a Statutory Instrument to meet the requirements of Section 29.
- The Architectural Heritage Advisory Unit (AHAU) of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government have been working on guidelines entitled “ACCESS – improving the accessibility of historic buildings and sites”. It is envisaged that these guidelines will be published in the near future and this will assist in the refurbishment of existing protected structures and heritage sites.
- The Local Government Management Services Board are currently finialising guidelines on how to prepare a Disability Access Certificate and they hope to launch these guidelines before the end of 2010. The guidelines will assist architects, engineers and fire consultants who are preparing and submitting Disability Access Certificates applications to the Building Control Authorities.
- If you would like further information in relation any of the above guidelines or regulation, please do not hesitate to contact one of our team on 01-4151285 or e-mail [email protected].
