Accessibility In Ontario

On December 27, 2013, Ontario Regulation 368/13 was filed to amend the new 2012 Building Code, O.Reg. 332/12.

The effective date of the amendment is January 1, 2015. 

The amended requirements will substantially enhance accessibility in newly constructed buildings and existing buildings that are to be extensively renovated. They maintain Ontario’s leadership role in requirements for barrier-free design.

In 2005, the government committed to the development of five accessibility standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.  These amendments to the Building Code work together with the Design of Public Spaces standard, introduced in 2012, to finalize the government’s commitment to an accessibility standard for the built environment.

Five accessibility standards are already in regulation under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act: Customer Service, Information and Communications, Employment, Transportation, and Design of Public Spaces. For more information on Accessibility Standards, please visit www.ontario.ca/AccessOn.

Requirements apply to most new construction and extensive renovations. Existing buildings, where no work is planned, are not affected by these new requirements. Houses, including semi-detached houses, townhouses, and duplexes, are not affected by most accessibility requirements, with the exception of smoke alarm requirements. 

Ontario’s Building Code requires a barrier-free path of travel throughout most occupancies and building types.  The Building Code also sets a number of requirements related to common access and circulation throughout buildings. These include requirements related to building entrances, minimum doorway and corridor widths, ramp dimensions, passing and rest spaces, and turning spaces.

New amendments update these requirements in a number of ways.  Key changes include:

• Requirements for power door operators to be provided at the entrance door and entry vestibule of most buildings
• Requirements for power door operators at the door to amenity rooms – such as party rooms or movie rooms for building residents – in multi-unit residential buildings
• Updated door width, hallway passing space and curb ramp dimensions
• New requirements for tactile walking surface indicators at the top of stairs and at platform edges, which help alert pedestrians with low vision that they are entering an area of potential hazard.

AODA

 Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
 Passed unanimously in May 2005 by Ontario’s Legislative Assembly, it become law June 13, 2005
 First legislation in Canada to develop, implement and enforce mandatory accessibility standards
 Aims to break down barriers to accessibility, allowing for an inclusive Ontario by 2025

WHY DO WE HAVE IT

 More then 1.85 million Ontarians, or 15.5% of the population, were reported as having a disability in 2006

 Although the rights of persons with disabilities is protected under the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms and the Ontario humans right code, this act provides a way to remove and prevent existing barriers that impede on those rights “Accessibility turns legal rights into practical, everyday realities” – Charles Beer


Standards

The AODA has identified five key areas in which accessibility standards will be set  Each of these areas has a Standards development committee, made up of people from the disability, government, and business communities  The five areas in which standards will be set are 1. Customer Service 2. Transportation 3. Information and Communications 4. Employment 5. Built Environment


Doors and Doorways Ontario Building Code

 Clear width of at least 850 mm

 Door hardware: not require tight grasping and twisting of the wrist

 Operation: for exterior doors, open with a force of not more than 22 N (5 lb), or 38 N (8.5 lb) for exterior doors Canadian Standards

 Clear width of at least 810 mm

 Door hardware: mounted 800 to 1200 mm from the floor and not require tight grasping and twisting of the wrist

 Operation: a force of more than 22 N (5 lb) for interior doors to open and 38 N (8.5 lb) for exterior door


Door and Doorways

Ontario Building Code
Power door controls • No face dimension less than 100 mm wide • Located between 1000 mm - 1100 mm from ground  • At least 600 mm beyond door swing
Canadian Standards
Power door controls • Be located along route of travel • Clear of door swing • Be at a height of 800 to 1200 mm from ground • A clear floor space of 750 X 1200 mm in front • Dimensions at least 22 X 75 mm