Revised Accessibility Code Kicks in 1st April
2008
From April next year, building owners will not only have to
consider barrier free features within their buildings, but between
buildings and other other open spaces and structures like
bus-stops.
The barrier-free accessibility code, revised for the third time and
renamed Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment, was
unveiled today by Minister of State for National Development Grace
Fu.
Geraldine Soh reports.
Features to allow for a seamless connection between buildings and
other structures is currently not required under the code.
But if building owners want their new plans approved next year,
they had better think again.
The move to remove kerbs, steps and other obstacles is intended to
ensure 'full connectivity' among public facilities, says Ms Grace
Fu.
But what about existing buildings?
When the existing buildings come in for major renovation we will
want them to comply with the code. What we're also doing is
encourage them, through the Accessiblity Fund to voluntarily comply
with the code.
40 million dollars has been set aside for this purpose over the
next five years.
So far, only 5 buildings including Thomson Plaza have applied for
and received grants to upgrade their buildings.
The aim is to hit 15 buildings by year's end.
But it's the buildings built before 1990 that the Building and
Construction Authority is focusing its efforts on.
In particular, those with high pedestrain traffic in Orchard Road,
Shenton Way and Bras Basah which number about 40 percent of all
buildings there.
Mr Fu says the BCA is actively approaching building owners of Lucky
Plaza, Keppel Tower and Albert Complex for instance to cajole them
into retrofitting their buildings.
938 LIVE understands Lucky Plaza, built in 1978, is considering
building ramps to its side entrances but have yet to come up with
the full design plan or call a tender.
While BCA could come down hard on such buildings if they refused to
comply, Ms Fu said that may not be the best option.
I think it's a bit of a harsh measure if we're to require all
building owners to do it at one go. It's an issue of costs and
sometimes there're physical constraint like if you need to build a
ramp, if there's no space around, it's just hard with the existing
structure to comply so we need to give them time.
Government agencies aren't spared either.
We've identified buildings with high traffic like the CPF building.
We expect many elderly would go there so we want them to also be
barrier free quickly we're looking at a 3 to 5-year time frame.
