HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-187-91 THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
REPORT
Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee File# go? 4Y
Gate: Monday, July 22 , 1991 Res. #
By-Law#
Report#:RD-i 7 -91 File #:
Subject: WHEELCHAIR ACCESS - BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and
Administration Committee recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report PD-187-91 be received for information.
1. BACKGROUND:
1. 1 At a regular meeting on June 24, 1991, Council directed staff to
review the matter of wheelchair access and Building Code
requirements .
2 . COMMENT:
2 . 1 Wheelchair access is regulated by the "barrier free" design
provisions in the Building Code. These set out the design
requirements so that a building and its facilities can be
approached, entered, and used by persons with physical and sensory
disabilities .
2 .2 These requirements apply to all new buildings with some exceptions
such as, houses, including semi detached houses, duplexes,
triplexes, townhouses, rowhouses and boarding houses as well as
high hazard industrial buildings and buildings not intended to be
occupied on a daily or full time basis .
2 . 3 Every new building other than above is required to have at least
one entrance intended for general use by the public at sidewalk
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REPORT NO. : PD-187-91 PAGE 2
level or to a ramp leading to a sidewalk.
2 .4 Where an existing building is proposed for expansion, or renovation
for alternative uses, the Building Code is applicable only to those
parts of the building that are subject to the proposed works and
"barrier free access" may or may not be required depending on the
size, scale and nature of the proposed works. However, if the
proposed works include wheelchair ramp and access, the design of
such must comply with the Building Code.
2 .5 There is no provision in the Building Code to require property
owner to retrofit wheelchair ramps to existing buildings if there
is no extension or renovation involved. If the property owner
choose to do so, building permit is not required nor the design of
the wheelchair ramp requires compliance with the design criteria
of the Building Code. Notwithstanding, staff always encourage the
owner to comply for the purpose of ensuring the ramp slope would
not exceed 1 in 12 feet as any increase in gradient above the said
standard may present difficulty for a disabled person with upper
body mobility to manage.
3 . CONCLUSION
"Barrier free access" references are contained in various sections
of the Ontario Building Code. This report provides a summary of
the information contained in the Code as well as advising the
Committee of the general approach used by staff in the
interpretation of the Code.
Respectfully submitted, Recommended for Presentation
to tPe Committee
Franklin Wu Lawren e � . Kotseff
Director of Planning & Development Chief 'nistrative Officer
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*Attach
15 July 1991
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