Accessibility

Better Building Access is Good for Business

A small investment and a little thought could make your business more inviting and accessible for many more customers.

How Welcoming is Your Business

FACTS

Over 15% of the population, and hence up to 15% of your customers have some form of physical disability or mobility restriction which can limit their ability to enter your premises. When you add their accompanying family and friends, approximately 50% of our population are affected by poor access to buildings. These include persons in wheelchairs, users of walkers and canes, seniors, people pushing prams and strollers and delivery companies.

Once barriers to better access are removed, experience shows that businesses benefit from increased customers. Noting that senior citizens represent the fastest growing section of the population, and have seen a dramatic increase in their average income since the early 1980’s, increased customers from this segment of the population can have a significant impact on your bottom line.

When a store or business is accessible it will present a more welcoming and open front to the public. Besides facilitating entry to those with disabilities the building will appear more user friendly and inviting. Accessibility to many stores may be enhanced by improving three fundamental aspects of the store-front; the entrance steps, the door widths and the door handles.

SOLUTIONS

Ramps:
Many older buildings are inaccessible due to two or three steps. In this case, short sections of a ramp or raised sections of side-walk may be used to replace the steps. Ideally, ramps and elevated sidewalks should be constructed at a maximum gradient of 10% with a handrail on at least one side, although steeper ramps may be considered if they are relatively short in length. Small differences in level of 100 mm (4 in.)or less may be improved with short ramps or sidewalkfeathering up to 600 mm in length. The City will permit encroachments of up to 300 mm (12 in.) on City sidewalks for this purpose. For larger ramps, professional advice should be obtained.

Door Openings:
The minimum width of a door opening to accommodate wheelchairs is 860 mm (2'-10"). Sometimes, existing opening widths may be increased by using swing away hinges. In other cases, some remodelling of the entrance may be required. In all cases, the larger the door opening and the fewer obstacles adjacent to the door, the easier it is to enter. In addition, clearances on the latch side of the door will make it easier for wheelchair users to manoeuvre as required to open the door. The following sketch reproduced from the BC Access Handbook shows the current building code requirements for door clearances.

Door Handles:
Lever operated door handles (shown above) are rapidly becoming the standard in North America. In addition to being easily operable by persons with disabilities, they are also easily opened by people carrying shopping bags, parcels and other items.

NEED HELP?

The building inspection and engineering staff would be pleased to respond to any requests for assistance and advice on the practical details for access improvements and discuss any proposed modifications or limited encroachments onto City sidewalks.

For further information on building modifications, contact:
Mr. Will Johnston, Director of Licences & Inspections and Chief Building Official at 604.873.7515 or will.johnston@vancouver.ca

For information on street encroachments contact:
Ms. Eileen Curran, Engineering Services at 604.871.6131 or eileen.curran@vancouver.ca

Further information may be found at the following links:

The Building Access Book, published by the BC Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services

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