Standards Development

Scope

This document describes functional requirements and recommendations for an accessible and usable built environment, following a "Universal Design“/"Design for All” approach which will facilitate equitable and safe use for a wide range of users, including persons with disabilities. This document also describes performance requirements as applicable for an accessible and usable built environment.

The requirements and recommendations given in this document are applicable across the full spectrum of the built environment.

These requirements and recommendations for an accessible and usable built environment are relevant to design, construction, refurbishment or adaptation, and maintenance, including outdoor pedestrian and urban areas.

NOTE 1   ‘Design for All’ and ‘Universal Design’ share a similar inclusive design philosophy. “Universal Design” means the design of products, environments, programmes and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. “Universal Design” does not exclude assistive devices for particular groups of persons with disabilities where this is needed.

NOTE 2   Terms such as "design for all", "universal design", "accessible design", "barrier-free design", "inclusive design" and "transgenerational design" are often used interchangeably with the same meaning.

NOTE 3   This document does not cover management and maintenance issues, but provides basic information in Annex B.

NOTE 4   All figures are provided as examples. They are described by their title and key and do not provide additional information. Some figures show negative examples to be avoided; these are identified by the insertion of a red cross on them. A list of all the figures included is this document is given in the informative Annex C.

NOTE 5   In the case of refurbishment or adaptations of existing buildings or infrastructures, a specific study including feasibility determines the extent to which the functional requirements and recommendations can be met.

Purpose

Standardisation request M/587, supporting the implementation of the European Accessibility Act (EAA, Directive (EU) 2019/882) asks explicitly for the revision of EN 17210:2021, “Accessibility and usability of the built environment - Functional requirements”. The revised standard shall be harmonised and “shall describe where needed in more detail the functional solutions linking where feasible to technical solution for accessibility to ensure conformity with Annex III of Directive 2019/882”. This is the reason why CEN/CLC/JTC 11, “Accessibility in the built environment” agreed at its 2023-04-26 and 2023-05-03 meeting to change the title to “Accessibility and usability of the built environment – Requirements and recommendations”, and the scope accordingly, in order to accommodate the possible inclusion of functional requirements, if needed, to complement the functional requirements already defined (see DECISION 2/2023 of CEN/CLC/JTC 11).

The revision will only affect the areas covered by Annex III of the EAA, i.e. the accessibility of the following areas of the built environment intended for public access, in which a service covered by the EAA is provided and which is under the responsibility of the service provider:

1. use of related outdoor areas and facilities;
2. approaches to buildings;
3. use of entrances;
4. use of paths in horizontal circulation;
5. use of paths in vertical circulation;
6. use of rooms by the public;
7. use of equipment and facilities used in the provision of the service;
8. use of toilets and sanitary facilities;
9. use of exits, evacuation routes and concepts for emergency planning;
10. communication and orientation via more than one sensory channel;
11. use of facilities and buildings for their foreseeable purpose;
12. protection from hazards in the environment indoors and outdoors.