Access statements, DDA compliance
Access Statements and Assessments
Access Consultancy Services
Centurion Fire provide professional access consultancy services as part of your fire strategy, fire risk assessment fire audit or as a stand alone Access Statement.
Access audits of buildings, proposals and public spaces
Part M compliance
BS 8300: 2001 amended advice and best practice guidelines
Design appraisals of new build and refurbishments
Design and access statements to accompany local authority applications
Heritage Lottery Fund applications
Clients reasonable duties in relation to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA)
DDA came into effect on the 4th of December 2006. The Act introduces a "general duty" on public bodies to promote disability equality.
The Acts states that public bodies shall:
- Promote equality of opportunity between disabled people and other people
- Eliminate harassment of disabled people
- Take steps to meet the needs of disabled people EVEN if this requires more favourable treatment
- Promote positive attitudes towards disabled people
- Encourage participation by disabled people in public
- Encourage participation of disabled people in public life
- The DDA 2005 also makes other provision regarding the definition of disability, access to private members clubs and clarification of other associated matters.
Public Authorities
What does this mean in reality? The range of public bodies is not actually specified but definitely includes Local Authorities. This may be helpful in the processing of planning applications.
Centurion Fire has acted for a number organisations whereby their proposed DDA access requirements may not have been fully understood by the Planning Authority. Once a full access statement has been provided with justification, and measures as appropriate have been given, then Planning Authorities have fully accepted all applications that involve works specifically for disabled users. Often this is combined within a full fire strategy or as and added extra to a fire risk assessment.
CENTURION FIRE promote "GOOD DESIGN IS INCLUSIVE DESIGN" - able to be used by all, safely and without undue effort or inconvenience.