BP 344 - ACCESSIBILITY LAW

Implementing Rules & Regulations (IRR) Amendments

Minimum Requirements for Accessibility
BP 344 passed into law on February 25, 1983, latest IRR amendment

A. OUTSIDE AND AROUND BUILDING

DROPPED CURBS
 Dropped sidewalks should be provided at pedestrian crossings; at the end of walkways of a private street/
access road; & in changes in level walkways.
 Dropped sidewalks at crossings shall have a width corresponding/ equal to the width of the crossing.
But should NOT be less than 0.90 m wide.
 Dropped curbs shall be ramped towards adjoining curbs w/ a gradient NOT steeper than 1:12.
 Dropped curbs shall be slope towards the road w/ a maximum cross gradient of 1:20 to prevent water
collecting at the walkway.
 Lowest point of dropped curb NOT more than 25 mm above the road/ gutter.

Perspective of Dropped Sidewalk

0.90m - Minimum width or
Same width as crossings

Variation of Dropped
Curb at Corner
Plan of Dropped Sidewalk

CURB CUT-OUT
 Curb cut-outs should only be allowed when it will not obstruct a walkway or in any way lessen the width
of a walkway.
 The minimum width of a curb cut-out should be 0.90 m.
 Curb cut-outs should have a gradient not more than 1:12.

PLANTING STRIP 1:12 MAX. GRADIENT

FOR STREET FURNITURE 0.90 m MIN. WIDTH
WALKWAYS & PASSAGEWAYS
 Walkways should be kept as level as possible and provided with slip-resistant material.
 Minimum width : 1.20 meters
 Maximum longitudinal gradient : 1:20 or 5%
 Maximum cross gradient : 1:100 or 1%

Sidewalk/
Walkways

 Avoid locating gratings within walkways.

 If located within walkways,
Grating openings should NOT be larger than 13 mm x 13mm
Grating shall not project more than 6.5 mm above the walkway.

6.5

 For long walkways, provide turning spaces or rest stops,

Min. clearances for turning space : 1500 mm x 1500 mm
Max. Gap bet. Turning spaces : 12 meters

Rest stops on busy /

lengthy Sidewalk/
Walkway
 Guide the person with visual impairment, sidewalks/walkways should as much as possible follow
straightforward routes with right angle turns.

WALKWAY + PASSAGES
 Sidewalk/walkway headroom should not be less than 2.00 m and preferably higher.
 No obstructions (plants, trees, columns, bollards, etc.) shall reduce these clearances to less than required.

Sidewalk/ Walkway
Headroom
1200 mm WIDTH

HANDRAILS & GRAB BARS

 Handrails shall be installed at 0.90 m and 0.70 m.
 For protection at great heights, handrail mounting height may be increased to 1.0 m to 1.06 m.
 Handrail should be installed on both sides of ramps and stairs and at the outer edges of dropped curbs.
 The handrails must extend beyond the start and end of ramps by 300 mm.
 Handrail width : 30-50 mm
 Handrail clearance:
- 50 mm from wall, if handrail is horizontally mounted
- 40 mm from ledge, if handrail is vertically mounted

Easy to Grasp Design

OPEN SPACES
 Open spaces are particularly disorienting for the blind.
 To aid the blind, walkways must be given defined edges thru texture (e.g. grass verges, planters w/ dwarf
wall, or any other texture that can define the path).

SIGNAGES
 Signs should be readable by people in wheelchairs & people w/ visual impairments:
- Simple & easy to understand
- Uses contrasting colors & contrasting gray values
- Use international symbols doe access to designate routes and facilities that are accessible
 Signs on wall and doors
- Maximum height : 1.60 m
- Minimum height : 1.40 m

 Signs shall incorporate graphic, text, & Braille

 Signs and labels for public rooms, areas, and places should have tactile symbols, letters or numbers that
should be embossed with a minimum height of 1 mm

CROSSINGS
In order to reduce the exposure time to vehicular traffic, all crossings at grade shall:
 Be as perpendicular as possible to the carriageway.
 Be located at the narrowest, most convenient part of the carriageway for mid-block crossings.
 Have a median/island or central refuge of at least 1.5 m in depth, preferably 200 mm, provided as a
pedestrian refuge/ midcrossing shelter, where the width of road to be crossed exceeds 10.0 m.
 Pedestrian crossings shall not be located at street corners but at a minimum distance of 2000 mm from the
corner.
 Locate crossings close to, if not exactly along, the pedestrian desire line.
 Provide tactile blocks in the immediate vicinity of crossings as an aid to the blind.
- The tactile surface has to be sufficiently high to be felt through the sole of the shoe but not too high
to cause pedestrians to trip, or to affect the mobility of wheelchair users.
Note: Brushed or grooved concrete finishes are NOT an acceptable substitute for tactile strips.

TYPE PURPOSES DESCRIPTIVE TEXT

Warning tactile blocks Indication of potential hazard ahead GRID PATTERN
Indication of possible change in
Positional tactile blocks STAGGERED
walking direction
Directional tactile blocks Indication of intended safe path STRIPS

Tactile Floor Surfaces

Sample Usage of Tactile Surfaces

 To compute for the crossing period:
- Assume a walking speed : 0.90m/ sec.
- Absolute minimum to cross : 6 seconds
 The most beneficial form of crossing for PWDs is the light controlled crossing with synchronized
audible signals.

PARKING
 Accessible Parking Slot Requirement
Where parking spaces are required to be provided, the number of accessible parking lots for vehicles
driven by persons with disabilities or vehicles with passengers with disabilities shall be in accordance with
Table B.1.1 below:
ACCESSIBLE PARKING SLOT REQUIREMENT
TOTAL NUMBER OF REQUIRED NUMBER OF
PARKING SLOT ACCESSIBLE PARKING SLOTS
1 - 25 1
26 - 50 2
51 - 75 3
76 - 100 4
101 - 150 5
151 - 200 6
201 - 300 7
301 - 400 8
401 - 500 9
501 - 1000 2% of total spaces
20+ (1 for each 100/ a fraction
1001 & over
thereof over 1000)
The building management should impose appropriate sanctions for the unauthorized use of the reserved
parking slots for vehicles of PWDs.
 Accessible parking slots shall be located nearest to accessible main entrances.
 Whenever and wherever possible, accessible parking slots should be perpendicular or to an angle to the
road or circulation aisles.
 Accessible parking slots shall have:
A minimum width of 3.70 m and a length of 5.00 m.
A walkway with a minimum clear width of 1.20 m. provided between the front ends of parked cars.

Accessible Parking Slot (plan) Accessible Parking Slot (3D view)

Accessible Parking Slot

(Showing upright/
pole mounted signage)
 Parking slots for persons with disabilities shall never be located at ramped or sloping areas.
 For multi-storey indoor parking structures, accessible parking slots shall be located right next to accessible
elevators, or as close as possible to accessible pedestrian entrances.
 In buildings with multiple accessible entrances with adjacent parking, accessible parking slots shall be
dispersed and located closest to the accessible entrances.
 For all accessible parking slots, provide the following signage:
Pole mounted parking signage, 600 mm x 600 mm in size and mounted at a minimum clear height
of 2.00 m from the parking floor.
Pavement sign painted or marked on the designated lot complying with the following:
- a square with dimensions of at least 1.00 m but not more than 1.50 m;
- be located in the center of the accessible parking slot;
- The International Symbol of Access shall be composed of a white symbolized figure of a
person in a wheelchair with a square background in UN Blue Color. The symbolized figure
shall always face to the right.
Note: An intercom may be installed at the vicinity of the accessible parking slot to enable persons
with disabilities to call the building management for assistance.

INSIDE BUILDINGS & STRUCTURES

ENTRANCES
 Entrances should be accessible from arrival and departure points
 In case of changes in elevations bet. the sidewalk and the entrance, a ramp must be provided
 If there are elevators, there must be an entrance where the elevators are accessible

 Entrances with vestibules shall be provided with a level area with at least a 1.80 m. depth and a 1.50 m.
width.
Vestibule : a space before the entrance door; an anteroom/ foyer leading into a larger space

Entrances w/
Vestibules
RAMPS
 Changes in level require a ramp, except when served by an elevator or any other mechanical device
 Minimum clear width : 1.20 m
 Maximum gradient or slope : 1:12

 Maximum length of 6.00 m., if the gradient is 1:12

 Accessible ramps with a total length longer than 6.00 m shall be provided with intermediate landings
with a minimum length of 1.50 m.
 Level area not less than 1.80 m at the top and bottom of any ramp.

Ramp dimensions

 Handrails on both sides of the ramp at 700 mm and 900 mm from ramp FFL/ the floor of the ramp.
 300 mm long extension of the handrail shall be provided at the top and bottom of ramps.
 Ramps shall be equipped with curbs on both sides with a minimum height of 100 mm.

Curb height at ramp

 Any ramp with a rise greater than 200 mm and leads down towards a vehicular traffic areas, should
have a railing across the full width of its lower end, not less than 1.80 meters from the foot of the ramp.

Ramps & vehicular

traffic
DOORS
 All doors shall have a minimum clear width of 710 mm.
 Clear openings shall be measured from the face of a fully open door at 90 degrees and the door jamb.

Plan of Sliding Door Plan of Swing Door

 For storage rooms, closets & accessible toilet stalls, doors should SWING OUT.

 Latching/ non-latching hardware should not require wrist action/ fine finger manipulation
 Protection should be provided from doors that swing into corridors.
 Door hardware mounting height:
- 0.82 m to 1.06 m from FFL
- 0.90 m is preferred
DOOR KNOBS, VERTICAL
LATCHES DOOR PULL

 Vertical pull handles, centered at 1.06 m above the floor, are preferred to horizontal pull bars for swing
doors or doors with locking devices.
 Doors along major circulation routes should be provided with kick plates made of durable materials at a
height of 300 mm to 400 mm.
THRESHOLDS
 Thresholds, if necessary: 25 mm maximum height, preferably ramped.

SWITCHES
 Manual switches:
Mounting height: 1.20-1.30 m from FFL
Should NOT be farther than 200 mm from latch side of door

0.20 m MAXIMUM FROM SIDE

OF THE DOOR

1.20 - 1.30 m
from FFL

CORRIDORS
 Minimum width of corridors : 1.20 m.
 Provide turnabout spaces w/ a minimum area of 1.50 m x 1.50 m spaced at a maximum of 12.00 m.
 Turnabout spaces should also be provided at a dead end/ within 3.50 m of every dead end

3.50m MAX.

WASHROOMS + TOILETS
 PWD toilet stall minimum dimensions : 1.70 m x 1.80 m
 Minimum number of PWD toilet stalls (per gender):
- 1 if the number of water closets is 20 or less
- 2 if the number of water closets is more than 20
 Maximum height of water closet seat : 0.45 m
 Maximum height of flush control : 1.20 m
 Signage design
- For men’s toilets : equilateral triangle pointing upward, 300 mm per side
- For women’s toilets : circular, 300 mm diameter
1.70 m MIN.

1.90 m

 Maximum height of lavatories : 0.80 m

- Provide a knee recess space underneath, 0.60 - 0.70 m high & at least 0.50 m deep
 Urinals should have an elongated lip. The maximum height of the lip should be 0.48 m

STAIRS
 Tread must be slip-resistant
 Tread surfaces shall be of slip-resistant material; nosings shall be slip resistant to further minimize
slipping
 Slanted nosings are preferred than protruding nosings/open stringers
 The nosings should be mark w/ a color & gray value w/c is in high contrast to the gray value of the rest of
the stairs

 A tactile strip 0.30 m wide shall be installed

before hazardous areas such as sudden changes
in floor levels & at the top & bottom of stairs

ELEVATORS
 Accessible elevators should be located not more than 30 m from the entrance
 Accessible elevators shall have a minimum dimension of 1.10 m x 1.40 m (inside clear dimensions of the
elevator car)

SLIP RESISTANT MATERIALS

 Slip resistant materials shall have a Coefficient of Friction of 0.6 for level surfaces and 0.8 for sloping
surfaces (ASTM).
 If carpets or carpet tiles are used on a floor surface:
- maximum pile thickness shall be 13 mm
 Centerline heights for the topmost buttons shall be bet. 0.90 m - 1.20 m from the floor
 Button Sizes at elevator control panels shall have a minimum diameter of 20 mm & should have a
depression depth of 1 mm

SAFETY
FENCING FOR ROADWORKS
 All excavations, whether on the road/ footway must be adequately protected
- The height of the rail/ fence should be at least 1.00 m from the adjacent surface
- The railing should incorporate a tapping rail to assist the blind, & this should NOT be greater than
0.35 m above adjacent surface

TEXTURED
SYMBOLS ON
PLAN
(EMBOSSED)

LEGENDS ALSO IN BRAILLE

- The fence should be strong enough to offer resistance should a blind person walk into it
- Gaps should not occur bet. adjoining fence lengths