Why building inclusivity is necessary: In society, there is a large number of people with disabilities who have the right to live with dignity, like all people. According to current legislation, government bodies must provide such population groups with equal rights, give them the opportunity to move freely while meeting their own needs, for example, visiting shops, pharmacies, government institutions, etc. The presence of such aids as ramps or micro-lifts in institutions of various types is controlled by government bodies. These are important requirements that must be taken into account during the construction of public facilities.
LLC “Mykolaiv Regional Engineering Center” conducts technical expertise with subsequent preparation of reports on the availability of free access to premises for all categories of citizens. Expert documentation is compiled by qualified specialists who own state certificates. Certified experts have sufficient not only theoretical knowledge but also rich practical experience. The report compiled by a specialist will indicate the real state of the internal space of the building in terms of compliance with established norms on inclusivity. Also, experts will definitely provide professional advice on how to quickly eliminate the identified shortcomings.
What is inclusivity of buildings and structures: Starting from April 1, 2019, new DBN (State Building Norms) standards came into effect, in which an indispensable requirement is the presence of ramps and means to ensure unhindered movement of people with disabilities – DBN V.2.2-40: 2018 “Inclusivity of buildings and structures. Basic provisions.” Taking into account these norms, it should be noted that all buildings on the territory of Ukraine, as well as the main infrastructure, must include elements of general accessibility as early as the design stage.
Inspection of premises for accessibility for people with limited mobility helps understand how passable they are for people with physical disabilities. Thanks to this, all existing shortcomings can be identified and eliminated in a short time. As a result, enterprises and public institutions where various services are provided will not only fully comply with established state standards but will also be able to significantly expand the audience of their potential clients.
Only a certified expert with practical experience in conducting such inspections has the right to compile a report on the technical inspection of premises.
The report is especially important for the following enterprises:
- Medical institutions of all types, including rehabilitation facilities (hospitals, clinics, FAPs, sanatoriums, preventoriums, hydrotherapy centers, etc.)
- Pharmacies. On November 30, 2016, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 929, which approved the conditions for obtaining licenses for manufacturing and selling medications. License holders were obliged to provide conditions so that people with limited mobility would have the opportunity to freely visit pharmacy points.
- Educational institutions – both public and commercial. The licensing regulation specifies the basic requirements regarding the availability of means for convenient movement of people with physical disabilities. Educational institutions cannot prepare all the necessary documentation for conducting activities and cannot obtain or extend a license if they do not provide a report on the inclusivity of the building.
- Banks. According to the resolution of the NBU Board on licensing, institutions must have equal conditions for all clients, including those with limited physical abilities. The results of the report are important for timely preparation of necessary documentation for obtaining a license.
- Financial companies, including insurance and leasing companies, credit institutions. The CMU established new licensing conditions for conducting business activities and providing financial services, according to which it is mandatory to provide legislative bodies with relevant reports on the inspection of premises. In the absence of a report, regulatory authorities are obliged to refuse the enterprise’s license issuance or suspend its validity until a report is received.
- This document is also relevant for those enterprises and institutions whose management wishes to ensure the absolute accessibility of buildings for their visitors.
Required documents for inspection:
In order to conduct an inspection and provide reliable results, sufficient information is needed. Customers provide the expert with the following documents:
- legal documentation;
- building passport;
- plans of all available premises;
- report on previous inspection, if available.
Also, it is necessary to conclude a contract for the work. The client should agree with the expert on the date and time when the inspection will take place. Our specialists will arrive at the site on any day convenient for the customer and record the data. The obtained results are compared for compliance with established state norms and standards. If all requirements are met, confirmation of the building’s accessibility for people with limited physical abilities is issued.
What is taken into account during the inspection:
- corridor width, doorway openings allow unhindered movement in a wheelchair;
- at a height of 2.1 meters from the floor, there must be no obstacles;
- decorative items or furniture should not interfere with free movement in the premises;
- it must be as easy as possible to enter the toilet in a wheelchair;
- it is important that all handrails in the premises are made of durable materials;
- mandatory presence of an entrance to the building with a ramp or micro-lift (the ideal option involves the presence of two methods).
An inspection of all premises in the building is mandatory. When preparing the report, measurements are taken, so the employee has all the tools with them. The specialist’s conclusion contains information about the presence or absence of unhindered movement, shortcomings that need to be eliminated. The report reflects all facts that play an important role in obtaining a license.
The expert also necessarily prescribes recommendations for eliminating the identified shortcomings. For example, tactile tiles allow people who have certain visual impairments of various degrees to feel not only safe but also comfortable in public institutions. This type of indicator allows people with visual impairments to move freely and safely.