Accessibility Nova Scotia Building Code Joe Rogers Building

Accessibility Nova Scotia Building Code Joe Rogers Building Code Coordinator

Nova Scotia Building Code What is it? How can it affect your buildings. The Nova Scotia Building Code sets the MINIMUM standards for construction in the province. Sets out the technical provisions for the design and construction of new buildings. It also applies to the alteration, change of use and demolition of existing buildings 2

Nova Scotia Building Code What is it? How can it affect your buildings. The Nova Scotia Building Code is a go forward document and does not apply retroactively If the construction met the Code of the day that is fine. No requirement to retrofit because of a change in the Code When construction or alterations take place, the Code generally only applies to the work being done 3

Nova Scotia Building Code Objectives. There are 5 primary objectives of the Nova Scotia Building Code • • • 4 Safety Health Fire and structural protection of building Accessibility for persons with disabilities Environmental

Nova Scotia Building Code Objectives. There are 5 primary objectives of the Nova Scotia Building Code • • • 5 Safety Health Fire and structural protection of building Accessibility for persons with disabilities Environmental

Nova Scotia Building Code Where does it apply? The barrier-free provisions apply to most buildings with the following exempted: • Detached houses, duplex, triplex • High Hazard industrial occupancies • Buildings that are not intended to be occupied on a full-time basis (Electrical substations/telephone exchanges) 6

Nova Scotia Building Code Where does it apply? A barrier-free path of travel shall be provided throughout the entrance storey and within all other normally occupied floor areas A barrier-free path of travel shall be provided between an exterior parking area and the barrier-free entrance Not less than 50% of all entrances shall be barrier-free which leads from the outdoors at sidewalk level or a ramp that leads to a sidewalk 7

Nova Scotia Building Code Entrances 8

Nova Scotia Building Code Ways to comply: Buildings that are required to be barrier-free may be designed to one of the following but not both: 1. Subsection 3. 8. Accessibility, OR 2. CSA B 651 “Accessible Design for the Built Environment” 9

Nova Scotia Building Code What is a barrier-free path of travel? A firm, stable and slip resistant Cross slope no steeper than 1 in 50 and applies to exterior and interior surfaces Be beveled with a maximum slope of 1 in 2 at changes between 6 mm and 13 mm and be provided with sloped floors or ramps at changes greater than 13 mm No opening that will permit the passage of a 13 mm diameter sphere and have any elongated openings oriented perpendicular to travel 10

Nova Scotia Building Code What is a barrier-free path of travel? 11

Nova Scotia Building Code What is a barrier-free path of travel? A barrier-free path of travel: • 1100 mm wide for exterior • 920 mm wide for the interior • 800 mm wide for doors 12

Nova Scotia Building Code Furniture In general furniture isn’t something that is covered by the Code A counter more than 2 m long at which the public is served must have a section not less than 760 mm long which is barrier-free. 13

Nova Scotia Building Code Counters Requirements • • 14 Surface not more than 865 high Knee space that is not less than 685 mm high Not less than 485 mm deep Not less than 760 mm wide

Nova Scotia Building Code Other furniture 15

Nova Scotia Building Code Parking The Code mandates some minimums for parking spaces. 2 to 15 16 to 45 46 to 100 101 to 200 1 space 2 spaces 3 spaces 4 spaces Located 50 m MAX from the entrance 16

Nova Scotia Building Code Power Door Operators Power door operators are mandated for libraries where they are 500 m 2 or larger including vestibule doors if provided. Requirements: Located on the barrier-free path of travel Marked with the International Symbol of Access Located clear of the door swing no more than 1. 5 m from the door Operable from a height between 150 mm and 300 mm and between 900 mm and 1100 mm above the floor • Operable by touching or approaching any part of the surface with a fist, arm or foot • • 17

Nova Scotia Building Code Power Door Operators Operable with fist or leg 1500 mm max 900 mm to 1100 mm above ff 150 mm to 300 mm above ff 150 mm above ff 18

Nova Scotia Building Code Cane-detectable Guards Cane-detectable guards shall be installed on the hinged side of powerassisted doors that swing into a barrier-free path of travel 19

Nova Scotia Building Code Doorways and doors Where power door operators are not used, the door handle must be located between 900 mm and 1100 mm and must be operable with one hand in a closed fist position without requiring tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist and with a force of not more than 22 N. 20

Nova Scotia Building Code Washroom Stalls • Be not less than 1 500 mm wide by 1 500 mm deep • Have a clear floor space of 1 500 mm by 1 500 mm in front of the accessible stall • Doors must provide a clear opening of not less than 850 mm wide when open and swing outward, or have at least 800 mm by 1 350 mm clear space if the door swings in 21

Nova Scotia Building Code Washroom Stalls 22

Nova Scotia Building Code Washroom Stalls • Requires L shaped grab bars not less than 760 mm long in each direction • Horizontal portion mounted 750 to 850 above the floor and the vertical portion mounted 150 mm in front of the water closet • Horizontal grab bars behind the water closet are required to be 600 mm long and centred or two grab bars at least 300 mm long on either side of the flush valve 23

Nova Scotia Building Code Washroom Stalls 24

Nova Scotia Building Code Non Building Code items to consider Consider using colour contrast • Between wall and floor finishes • Between doors/frames and walls • Set into floors to assist in wayfinding • Along curbs Colours to avoid include red/black, yellow/grey, yellow/white, red/green, black/violet and blue/green Too many colours or large scale patterns can cause confusion 25

Nova Scotia Building Code Non Building Code items to consider Heights of shelves, card catalogues, book drops etc. Height adjustable furniture Maintaining clearances between tables, chairs and other furnishings Accessible gates rather than turnstiles If computer workstations are installed, assistive technology such as large display and screen reader to increase accessibility 26

Nova Scotia Building Code Non Building Code items to consider As discussed earlier, the Building Code requires a power door operator only at some entrances. Consider using them to public washrooms or universal/family washrooms Do you have meeting rooms or other areas of assembly? 27

Nova Scotia Building Code Non Building Code items to consider Glass doors can be problematic for those with low vision. Providing an 50 mm wide opaque strip for the width of the door can assist in persons with low vision recognizing the door. 28

QUESTIONS? 29