Equal Access Pty Ltd Accredited Disability Access Consultants was formed by Bruce Bromley in response to a growing recognition, that whilst businesses were being urged to respond to their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act, that the majority of assistance available was focused almost entirely upon the needs of the individual with a disability without an understanding of the impacts and practicalities for businesses and building designers/ consultants.

We specialise in providing practical, sensible advice on disability access issues, including the Disability Discrimination Act, Building Code of Australia and Suite of Australian Standards, to a variety of organisations in both the public and private sectors.

The DDA, BCA & Australian Standards are highly complex and subject to constant change. Litigation over property access and compliance is increasing at an astounding rate. Property and business owners are subject to substantial and often unexpected liability.

A high percentage of accessible (disabled) parking spaces do not comply with the applicable Australian Standards.

On a daily basis I see installations that are non complying and from my experience this is usually due to Designs being unaware of the existence of AS 2890.1 Parking Facilities Part 1: Off-street car parking standard.

TOPICS COVERED

• Overview of current standards.
• Typical issues.
• Overview of new standards.
• Examples of poorly designed parking spaces.

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Equal Access were recently commissioned by the City of Stonnington to prepare a comprehensive mobility map of the Glenferrie Road Retail Precinct located between Dandenong Road and High Street.

Items identified include:

• Accessible Parking
• Accessible Toilet
• Scooter/ Wheelchair Recharge
• Public Toilet
• Parents Room
• Post Office
• Letter Box
• Public Telephone
• Automatic Teller Machine
• Tram Stop
• Train Station
• Chemist
• Police Station
• Car Parks

This is the first in a series of audits of retail precincts within the City of Stonnington. Once all precincts have been completed they will be combined and inserted into a booklet for distribution. These will also be available for download from the City of Stonnington's website.

Once completed we had discussions with Vision Australia who advised the maps were well laid out, very clear to read and not confusing. Equal Access provided Vision Australia with digital media files to enable them to prepare large print and raised tactile maps for the City of Stonnington.

Equal Access design and prepare Mobility Maps in house and DO NOT out source any of the works with the exception of final printing.

Additional items we can also include if required are gradients, kerbs, Taxi Ranks, Hospitals, Theatres, identify accessible routes, pedestrian crossings, etc.

Planning for ALL Staff Members Egress

Emergency Evacuation is a high priority for ALL people. With the ever increasing likelihood of accidents, fires, flooding and terrorism, emergency evacuation plans need to incorporate all levels of staff abilities.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES AS 3745

The committee has completed the review of public comments received on AS3745 Planning for emergencies which was released for Public Comment between 12 January and 16 March 2007.

The proposed Standard is a major revision of the 2002 edition, and now better differentiates the emergency planning phase and documentation from the emergency planning phase and documentation from the emergency procedures themselves.

It also includes expanded and revised sections on the duties of the emergency planning committee and emergency control organisations (warden structure), provisions for occupants with a disability, education, training and guidance on how to determine the size of the emergency control organisation.

Part of this updated standard will require Personal Evacuation Plans (PEPs) to be prepared for all staff members with a disability.

Publication is expected in the second or third quarter of 2008.

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National Evacuation Chairs

National Evacuation Chairs a division of Equal Access Pty Ltd are distributing the Spencer range of Evacuation Chairs

An Evacuation Chair should be mandated pieces of equipment within any multi level building. People with disability are not the only beneficiaries of planning evacuations with Evacuation Chairs. Pregnant woman, people with medical conditions such as cardio/heart, obesity, asthma, elderly, arthritis and short term injury and the like will all benefit.

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Designed to maximize the maneuverability in cramped spaces and on stairs. Easy transport of personnel to and from stairs and towards the outside of the building.

New Shopping Centre

On a trip down to Frankston I passed a new shopping centre that recently opened early. Again the items I raise are not meant as criticism but for education purposes.

Issues identified include

• Carpark gradients
• TGSI luminance contrast
• path gradients & crossfalls

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Retail Office Development Malvern

This location has some serious issues regarding access.

Issues identified include

• TGSI luminance contrast
• Handrail design
• Non complying Accessible Amenities.

Equal Access Pty Ltd Disability Access Consultants provide free of charge a library of CAD details for use when designing accessible amenity areas to AS1428.1

A full listing of manufacturers and suppliers of products that provide accessibility to the Built Environment are available in the "Specifiers" section of the website. Items listed include Tactile Ground Surface Indicators, Signage, Fittings, Fixtures, Flooring, Lifts & Door Controllers.

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