Public feedback sought for Accessibility Code review

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Key changes to the Accessibility Code are being proposed and the public is invited to give their feedback on the proposals from today till end of April.

The draft Code will be available for review from the Building and Construction Authority's (BCA) website.

The Accessibility Code Review Committee (convened by BCA) is proposing five changes to the Code.

1. Among them is to make it mandatory for buildings frequented by the public to have family-friendly features, such as child-friendly toilets and lactation rooms for nursing mothers.
2. The committee is also proposing features such as more toilet cubicles and urinals that are suitable for ambulant disabled users in selected buildings.
3. Another proposal is the provision of hearing enhancement systems that enable audio signals to be transmitted to persons with hearing disabilities.
4. The committee also proposes Braille and tactile information for public toilet signs, staircases and ramps.
5. Another proposed change is wider accessible routes, corridors and paths in buildings frequented by the public.

The BCA said it will also consult other bodies such as government agencies, voluntary welfare organisations, industry players and groups with interests in accessibility and universal design.

The new Code is expected to be implemented in the first quarter of 2014.

BCA said it will give a grace period of at least six months to the industry so that it will have enough time to consider the new requirements while planning for new building projects.