In public car parks and car parks in buildings, for every 50 parking spaces there must be at least one parking space for people with disabilities…
That is one of the notable standards in the draft national technical regulation on the construction of facilities ensuring access for people with disabilities, which the Ministry of Construction is seeking comments on.
Construction works that must ensure access for people with disabilities include: apartment buildings and public works: offices of State agencies, medical examination and treatment facilities, education and vocational training facilities, cultural, physical education and sports facilities, hotels, commercial and service facilities; stations, ports, bus stations, roads, pavements and other technical infrastructure works.
The draft regulation requires that public car parks and car parks in buildings have parking spaces for people with disabilities. Based on a total of 5–50 parking spaces, there must be at least one parking space for people with disabilities. If there are more than 300 parking spaces, there must be at least five parking spaces, plus one more space for each additional 100 vehicles.
Parking spaces for people with disabilities must be located near the entrance to the building. For public car parks, parking spaces for people with disabilities must be near pedestrian paths. If buildings have many car parks and many entrances, parking spaces for people with disabilities must be near the entrances.
At bus stops, where there is a change in level, ramps or slopes must be provided, and tactile paving slabs must be laid or contrasting colours used to mark the waiting area so people with disabilities can reach the means of transport. In areas for people with disabilities, there must be signs, directions or warning signs that can be recognised.
In addition, there are many other notable standards in the draft, such as: lift doors must be fitted with automatic opening and closing devices. The opening and closing time must be more than 20 seconds to ensure the safety of people with disabilities. Lifts must be fitted with handrails.
The control panel inside the lift must be installed at a height of no more than 1,200 mm and no less than 900 mm, measured from the lift floor to the centre of the highest control button. The control buttons should have characters or signals that can be felt, as well as a Braille system for people with visual impairments.
Floor indicator signs corresponding to the lift’s position must be illuminated or have an audio announcement system outside and inside the lift. Next to the lift exit door on each floor, Braille must be provided to help people with visual impairments identify the destination and stopping point of the lift.
For example, toilets in public works for people with disabilities must be no less than 5% of the total number of toilets, but no fewer than one. For public toilets, there must be at least one toilet for people with disabilities.
Patient care rooms in medical facilities ensuring access for people with disabilities are regulated as follows: for hospitals, no less than 20% of the total number of patient rooms; for orthopaedic and rehabilitation centres: 100% of rooms; and for nursing centres: no less than 50% of rooms.
Nguyen Le – http://infonet.vn/