Accessibility (BP 344)

Accessibility Law

An Act to enhance the mobility of disabled persons by requiring certain buildings, institutions, establishments and public utilities to install facilities and other devices

BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 344

December 7, 1982

When is BP 344 Passed?

February 25, 1983

When is BP 344 Enacted?

1.10 m to 1.30 m

length of wheelchairs

0.60 m to 0.75 m

width of wheelchairs

1.50 m in diameter

a suitable guide in the planning of wheelchair turning spaces

0.70 m to 1.20 m above the floor

The comfortable above the floor reach of persons confined to wheelchairs.

not less than 0.40 m

The comfortable room corner reach of persons confined to wheelchairs.

0.70 m

The comfortable clearance for knee and leg space under tables for wheelchair users.

Accesibility

this principle states that the built environment shall be designed so that it shall be accessible to all people. This means that no criteria shall impede the use of facilities by either the handicapped or non-disabled citizens.

usability

This principle reiterates that The built environment shall be designed so that all persons, whether they be disabled or not, may use and enjoy it.

orientation

This principle states that finding a person's way inside and outside of a building or open space shall be made easy for everyone.

safety

A principle saying that designing for safety insures that people shall be able to move about with less hazards to life and health.

workability and efficiency

This states that the built environment shall be designed to allow the disabled citizens to participate and contribute to developmental goals.

Residential

This shall comprise Group A and partly Group B Buildings as stated in section 701 of PD 1096 or National Building Code

Commercial and Industrial

Section 701 of the National building code states that this shall comprise partly Groups B, C, E, F, G, H, and I Buildings

Educational and Industrial

This shall comprise partly Group C, D, E, and H Buildings as stated in section 701 of PD 1096 or National Building Code

2

Wheel chair seating space is needed for an assembly hall with an accommodation of 4-50.

4

Wheel chair seating space is needed for an assembly hall with an accommodation of 51-300.

6

Wheel chair seating space is needed for an assembly hall with an accommodation of 301-500.

5

Required number of designated seats for disabled persons near exit/entrance doors for Regular buses.

4

Required number of designated seats for disabled persons near the door for First class, premiere and air-conditioned buses.

6

Required number of designated seats per car for disabled persons nearest to the door for Passenger trains.

Secretary of Transportation and Communications

He shall administer and enforce the provisions of the Rules and Regulations of BP 344.

Magna Carta for Disabled Persons

It is the Criminal Liability as stipulated in Section 46 of R.A. 7277

1.20 meters.

Walkways should have a minimum width for accessibility.

not more than 1:20 or 5%

Walkway gradation for accessibility

not less than 2.0 m

Minimum walkway headroom height

handrails

This should be installed at both sides of ramps and stairs and at the outer edges of dropped curbs. If placed at dropped curbs should not be installed beyond the width of any crossing so as not to obstruct pedestrian flow.

0.30 m

Length of long extension of the handrail to be provided at the start and end of ramps and stairs

0.90 m and 0.70 m

Handrail height from finished floor line

no less than 50 mm from the wall

Clearance of handrail attached to the walls

not less than 40 mm

Clearance of handrails on ledges

2.0 meters

Minimum head room for a sign protruding a walkway / route

1.60 M

Maximum height of Signs on walls and doors

1.40 meters

Minimum height of Signs on walls and doors

1.80 m. depth

Minimum depth of Entrances with vestibules

1.20 m

Minimum clear width of Ramps

6:00 m

Maximum length of a ramp

0.80 m

minimum clear width of doors

0.90 M

Preffered Doorknobs and other hardware location - height

1.20 m to 1.30 m

Height of Manual switches above floor

no further than 0.20 M

Manual switches location from the latch side of the door.

1.20 m

minimum clear width of Corridors

1.50 m x 1.50 m

minimum area for Recesses or turnabout spaces for wheelchairs to turn around or to enable another wheelchair to pass

1.70 x 1.80 mts

The minimum area for Accessible water closet stalls

1

minimum number of accessible water closets on each floor level where the total number of water closets per set on that level is 20

2

minimum number of accessible water closets on each floor level where the number of water closets exceed 20

0.45 m

The maximum height of water closets above finished floor line

1.20 mts

maximum height of flush control above finished floor line

0.80 M

Maximum height of lavatories from finished floor line

0.60M

Minimum knee recess of lavatories

through type

type of urinal for accessibility

0.48 M

maximum height of the urinal lip

0.30 m

Width of Tactile Strip to be installed in hazardous areas such as sudden changes in floor levels and at the top and bottom of stairs

1.10 m. x 1.40 m

minimum dimension of Accessible elevators

0.90 m

minimum centerline heights for the topmost buttons of Control panels and emergency system of accessible elevators from finished floor line

1.20

Maximum centerline heights for the topmost buttons of Control panels and emergency system of accessible elevators from finished floor line

Audio-visual alarm systems

This type of alarm systems shall be provided in all fire sections, as defined under P.D. NO. 1185 otherwise known as The Fire Code of the Philippines, of buildings in accordance with the guidelines provided under Section 3.503 of the same.

.90m

Minimum width of dropped curbs and curb cut-out ?

1.20m

Minimum width of walkways?

.90m and .70m

Handrails shall be installed at ___m and ___m above steps or ramps. Handrails for protection at great heights may be installed at 1.0m to 1.06m.

0.30m

A ___m long extension of handrail should be provided at the start and end of ramps and stairs.

30mm to 50mm

Handrails that require full grip should have a dimension of ___?

50mm

Handrails attached to walls should have a clearance no less than ___mm from the wall.

40mm

Handrails on ledges should have a clearance of not less than___?

2.0m

Walkway headroom should not be less than ____m and preferably higher.

max of 1.60m and min of 1.40m

Signs on walls and doors should be located at a maximum height of___ and a min height of ___.

1mm

Signages labeling public rooms and places should have raised symbols, letters or numbers with minimum height of___, braille symbols should be included in signs indicating public places and safety routes.

3.70m

Min. width of accessible parking slots?

1.20m

A walkway from accessible spaces of ___m clear width shall be provided between the front ends of parked cars.

1.80m depth and 1.50m width.

Entrances with vestibules shall be provided a level area with at least ____m depth and a ____m width.

1.20m

Ramps shall have a minimum clear width of ____?

1:12

Max gradient of ramp shall be ____?

6.0m

Maximum length of a ramp should be ___ if the gradient is 1:12.

1.50m

Longer ramps whose gradient is 1:12 shall be provided with landings not less than ____ for every 6.0m lenght of ramp.

1.80m

A level area not less than ___m should be provided at the top and bottom of any ramp.

.70m and .90m

Handrails will be povided on both sides of the ramp at ___ m and ____m from the ramp level.

.10m

Ramps shall be quipped with curbs on both sides with a min. height of ____?

.20m, 1.80m

Any ramp with a rise greater than ____m and leads down towards an area where vehicular traffic is possible, should have a railing across the full width of its lower end, not less than ____ m from the foot of the ramp.

.80m

All doors shall have a minimum clear width of ____?

1.50m x 1.50m

A minimum clear level space of ___m shal be provided before and extending beyond a door. Exception; where a door shall open onto but not into a corridor, the required clear, level space on the corridor side of the door may be a min. of 1.20m corridor width.

0.82m and 1.06m

Door knobs and other hardware should be located between ___m and ___m above the floor; .90m is preferred.

0.30m to 0.40m

Doors along major circulation routes should be provided with kick plates made of durable materials at a height of ____?

25mm

Thresholds shall be kept to a minimum, whenecer necessary, thresholds and sliding door tracks shall have a maximum height of ____ and preferably ramped.

1.20m - 1.30m

Manual switches shall be positioned within ___m to ___m above the floor.

1.50x1.50m, max of 12.00m

Recesses or turnabaout spaces should be provided for wheelchairs to turn around or to enable another wheelchair to pass, these spaces shall have a min area of _____m and shall be spaced at a maximum of _____?

3.50m

Turnabout spaces should also be provided at or within ____m of every dead end.

1.70 x 1.80m

Minimum area of accessible water closet stalls?

1, 2

the min no. of accessible wc on each flr. lvl. or on that part of a flr lvl accessible tothe disabled shall be ___ where the total no. of water closets per set on the level is 20, and ____ where the no. of water clostes exceeds 20.

An equilateral triangle with the vertex pointing upward, and the edges of the triangle should be .30m long

In order to aid visually impaired persons to readily determine wether a washroom is for men or for women, the signage for a mens washroom door shall be ____? Appropriate words and stick figures should still appear on the wshroom doors for the convenience of the fully sighted.

A circle with a .30m diameter

In order to aid visually impaired persons to readily determine wether a washroom is for men or for women, the signage for a womens washroom door shall be ___? Appropriate words and stick figures should still appear on the wshroom doors for the convenience of the fully sighted.

.45m, 1.20m

The max height of water closets should be ____m, flush control should have a maximum height of ___?

.80m

Maximum height of lavatories?

0.60m-0.70m vertical clearance and a .50m depth

Knee recess for lavatories?

.48m

Urinals should have an elongated lip or through type, the maximum height of the lip should be ____?

30.0m

Accessible elevators should be located not more than ____m from the entrance and should be easy to locate with the aid of signs.

1.10m x 1.40m

Min dimension of accessible elevators?

1.50 m. width

Minimum width of Entrances with vestibules