BUILDINGCODECHECKLIST

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?PyroskyBUILDINGCODECHECKLIST

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ACCESSIBILITY2025InternationalBankforReconstructionandDevelopment/

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pubrights@Graphicdesign:ULTRAdesigns,

Inc.Cover,insideandbackcoverphotos:?

FGTrade/Insidebackcoverphoto:?

fotografixx/3Tableof

ContentsAcknowledgments5Listof

Acronyms61.

Overview82.

Introduction103.

Objectives15Guidance:

How

to

Use

the

Building

Code

Checklist

for

UniversalAccessibility

17Key

Concepts

in

UniversalAccessibilityComponents

in

Building

Regulations

226.BuildingCodeChecklistforUniversal

Accessibility26AppendixA:ExamplesofImplementationPolicy42AppendixB:Glossaryof

Terms574 BUILDINGCODECHECKLISTFORSTRUCTURAL

RESILIENCEPhoto:

?mediaphotos/5AcknowledgmentsThischecklistwasdevelopedjointlybytwothematicareasofworksbytheGlobalFacilityforDisasterReductionandRecovery(GFDRR)namely,BuildingRegulationforResilience

(BRR)andInclusiveDisasterRiskManagementandGenderEquality.ItwasinitiallypreparedbyO’HerlihyAccessConsultancy,undertheleadershipofEoinO’HerlihyandClodaghDodd,withsupportfromVicenteGarcíaMoreno,EstebanBaezRodriguez,ZandaleeSlabbert,andXimenaPonceAndaur,buildingonpreliminaryresearchcarriedoutbyAditiKhodke(Consultant,WorldBank)andMariaJesusFerreiraTrujillo(Analyst,WorldBank),andfinalizedbyAndresBalcazardelaCruz(Consultant,WorldBank)andBarbaraMinguezGarcia(Consultant,WorldBank),underthe

guidance

of

Keiko

Sakoda

(Senior

Disaster

Risk

Management

Specialist,

World

Bank),

AnaCamposGarcia(LeadDisasterRiskManagementSpecialist,WorldBank),ZoeElenaTrohanis(LeadDisasterRiskManagementSpecialist,WorldBank),andMirthaLilianaEscobar(SeniorDisasterRiskManagementSpecialist,WorldBank).KatherineCoates(Consultant,WorldBank)andSimoneBalog-Way(Consultant,WorldBank)providedtechnical

inputs.Theteamisgratefulforthevaluabletechnicaladviceprovidedbyglobalexperts:ColetteFransolet(ChiefUniversalAccessConsultant,InclusiveDesign),KimberlyPaarlberg(SeniorStaffArchitect,InternationalCodeCouncil),MarniePeters(President,AccessSimplified),Mei-YeeManOram(AssociateDirector,Arup),SubhashChandraVashishth(Co-FounderandDirector,CentreforAccessibilityinBuiltEnvironmentFoundation),andMarshaMazz(Director,AccessibilityCodesandStandards,AccessibilityServicesProgram,UnitedSpinalAssociation).Helpfulpeerreviewcomments

were

provided

by

Jian

Vun

(Senior

Disaster

Risk

Management

Specialist,

World

Bank),YukoArai(SeniorUrbanSpecialist,WorldBank),andSwatiSachdeva(UrbanSpecialist,WorldBank)through

the

peer

review

process

chaired

by

Niels

B.

Holm-Nielsen

(Practice

Manager,

World

Bank).TheteamwouldliketoextenditsappreciationtotheWorldBankGlobalCorporateSolutionsTranslationandInterpretationServicesforeditorialassistance,andUltraDesign,Inc.forgraphicdesign.6BUILDINGCODECHECKLISTFORSTRUCTURAL

RESILIENCEListof

AcronymsBCABuildingControlAuthority

(Singapore)BRCABuildingRegulatoryCapacityAssessment

2.0BRRBuildingRegulationfor

ResilienceDRMDisasterRisk

ManagementGFDRRGlobalFacilityforDisasterReductionand

RecoveryLRVLightReflectance

ValueICTInformationandCommunications

TechnologyISOInternationalOrganizationfor

StandardizationLHACLeagueofHistoricalandAccessibleCities

(Europe)TWSITactileWalkingSurface

IndicatorsUDiUniversalDesign

IndexUNUnited

NationsUNCRPDUnited

Nations

Convention

on

the

Rights

of

Persons

with

DisabilitiesUNICEFUnitedNationsChildren’s

FundUNWTOUnitedNationsWorldTourism

OrganizationWCWaterCloset(toiletortoilet

room)WHOWorldHealth

Organization7ListofFiguresand

TablesFigure1.ScopeofthedifferentBRR

tools9Figure2.InternationalprogresstowardUniversal

Accessibility13Figure

3.Stepstobetakeninasystematicreviewofcodeprovisionsforuniversalaccessibility18Figure4.FundamentalUniversalAccessibilityComponentsand

Subcomponents23Figure5.TypesofpolicytoadvanceUniversalAccessibilityandexamplesofgood

practices44Figure6.TheAccessibilityFundin

Singapore45Figure7.TheVirginiaLiveableHomesTaxCredit(LHTC)

program46Figure8.Criteriaforsubsidizedhousingloansin

Japan46Figure9.Housingreforms,MoradiaeAccessoprogram,Riode

Janeiro47Figure10.BPASSaccessibilitypassofGermanyandTheNetherlands,andHousing

PerformanceIndicatorSystemof

Japan48Figure11.SingaporeBCA’sUniversalDesign

Index49Figure12.India’scomicbookforchildren:Priya,theAccessibility

Warrior51Figure13.Photo-DigestofTenBasicFeaturesofAccessibility,

India52Figure14.DetailfromUNICEF’sToolkitonAccessibilityin

Emergencies53Figure

15.NewUrbanAgendaandConventionofRightsofPersonswithDisabilities(UNCRPD)53Figure16.DetailsfromLHAC

checklist54Figure17.UNWTOReopeningTourismforTravelerswithDisabilities’

report55Figure18.ChangingPlaces

initiative56Figure19.“Findyourfriendlybuilding”app,

Singapore57Figure20.“babymetro”app,

Japan57Figure21.“AccessibleZagreb”app,

Croatia58Figure22.TheSugamyaBharatApp,

India58Figure23.AccessibleEthiopia,AddisAbaba

guide58Table1.ThreewaystointegrateUniversalAccessibilityinbuilding

regulations21Table2.ChecklistfortheReview

ofUniversalAccessibilityProvisionsinBuildingRegulations278BUILDINGCODECHECKLISTFORSTRUCTURAL

RESILIENCE1.

OVERVIEW1.

OverviewRapidurbanizationandpopulationgrowtharedrivingtheconstructionofnewbuildings,withglobalbuildingstocksexpectedtodoubleinthenext15to20years.1Whilesuchtrendswillrepresentsignificantdevelopmentadvancesandoffereconomicgrowthopportunities,concernremainsregardingtheresilienceandsafetyofbothnewandagingbuildingstocks,increasedenergyandwaterconsumption,andaccessibilityoftheexistingandevolvingbuiltenvironmentandinfrastructure.Thisincreaseindevelopmentwillresultingreaterexposuretoclimateanddisasterrisksduetotheevolvingimpactsofclimatechange,dependingonwhereurbanizationgrowthoccurs,andthestandardsofconstruction.Additionalvulnerabilitiescanbecompoundedinunregulatedandinformalsettlementswherebuildingsareconstructedonriskysites,withhighdensity,usingsubstandardbuildingmaterials,and

failingtoimplementsafedesignandconstructionpractices.Thecombinationofurbanizationandclimatechangeposessignificantchallengesforcountriesandcitiestoformacomprehensivesetofregulatoryandpolicy

instrumentstoguideamoreresilient,sustainable,andaccessiblebuilt

environment.TheWorldBank’sDisasterRiskManagement(DRM)engagementssupport

countries1GlobalAllianceforBuildingsandConstruction,2022GlobalStatusReportforBuildingsandConstruction:/resources/publication/2022-global-status-report-buildings-and-construction

/en/publication/building-regulation-resilience-0/en/building-regulation-for-resilience/en/publication/building-regulatory-capacity-assessment-brca-20-methodology234todesignandimplementadiverserangeofinvestmentsforriskreductionandpreparedness.Amongvarious

approaches,improvingthebuildingregulatoryframeworkandimplementationcapacityprovestobeoneofthemostcost-effectivemeansofreducingunderlyingclimateanddisasterrisks,incombinationwithinvestmentsforphysicalstructuralimprovementsandretrofits.2Inthiscontext,theGlobalFacilityforDisasterReductionandRecovery(GFDRR)’sglobalthematicareaBuildingRegulationfor

Resilience(BRR)

aimstopromote

resilient,green,healthy,andinclusivebuiltenvironmentsthroughenhancedregulatoryframeworksandimplementation

capacities.TheBRRofferstechnicalsupportandadvisoryservicestoassistgovernmentsthroughanalysisofexistingregulatoryframeworksandimplementationcapacitytoidentifypolicyreformsmosturgentlyneeded,andrelevantinvestmentactivities,underpinnedbyknowledgeofglobalgood

practices.3Tofacilitatesuchprocess,theBRRofferspracticaltoolsashighlightedinFigure1.WhiletheBuildingRegulatoryCapacityAssessment

(BRCA2.0)4isamethodologytoanalyzeacountry’sexistingregulatoryframeworkandimplementationcapacitywithaview

towardChapter29Chapter11.

OVERVIEWChapter1distillingasetoftargetedrecommendationsforcountriesforpriorityactions,asetofBuildingCodeChecklistsisapracticaltooltofacilitateassessmentofcoverageanddepthofbuildingcodeprovisions,focusingonfourmajorelements:structuralresilience,firesafety,greenbuildings,anduniversalaccessibility(thisdocument).AsetofBuildingCodeChecklistshelpscountries’governmentsandcodedevelopmentbodies(orprofessionalscommissionedbygovernments)toassesstheirowncodesagainstconsolidatedchecklistsreferringtoglobalgoodexamplesandtherebyidentifypotentialareasforfurther

elaboration.TheBuildingCodeChecklistforUniversalAccessibilityprovidesasystematicapproachtoreviewbuildingcodeprovisions,withafocusonuniversalaccessibilityinthebuiltenvironmentandensureconsiderationforpersonswithdifferentabilitiesandofallages(theelderly,pregnantwomen,andchildren)duringthedesign,constructionandoperationprocesses.Itisavaluableresourceforbuildingprofessionalsseekingtocreateinclusive,safe,andaccessiblespacesforall

individuals.Legislation(Mandatory)BuildingActGuidanceInformationAlternativeSolutionsDemonstrateCompliancewithPerformance

CriteriaCited

InformationBuildingRegulatoryCapacity

Assessment(BRCA):Atoolto

reviewtheoverallregulatoryframeworkBuildingCodeChecklists:Asetoftoolstoreviewtheprovisionsofabuildingcode,focusingonfour

majortopicsstructuralresiliencefire

safetygreenbuildingsuniversalaccessibilitySource:

Figure

adapted

and

modified

from

the

original

figure

by

Building

and

maintaining

New

Zealand’s

homes

and

buildings.Figure1.Scopeofthedifferent

BRRtoolsAcceptableSolutionsVerificationMethodsBuilding

CodeObjective,FunctionalRequirements,Performance

Criteria102.

Introduction2.1ImportanceofInclusion

inBuilding

RegulationsInclusiveaccessinthebuiltenvironmentisnotjustamatterofcompliancebutasocietalimperative.Withtheglobalpopulationlivingwithdifferentkindsofabilitiesandneedsandtheseniorpopulationexpectedtorisesharply,accessibleenvironmentsarecrucialforpromotingequityandequality.

Universalaccessibilityinbuildingdesignenablespeopleofallagesandabilitiestoleadindependentlives,thusintegratingadiverseworkforceintotheeconomyandenrichingthe

fabricofsociety.Almost60percentoftheworld’spopulationwillliveincitiesby2070.5Theseurbanpopulationsarediverse,encompassingindividualswithdifferenttypesof

impairments,5WorldCitiesReport2022:

/wcr/

andthebuiltenvironmentshouldmeettheirvarious

needs.2.2DiverseNeedsandAccessibility

ChallengesFullyunderstandingtheneedsofpeoplewithvariousabilities,theelderly,childrenandtheircaregivers,andthosewithtemporarydisabilities,iscrucialtocreatingauniversallyaccessibleenvironment.Byacknowledging

thebarriersthesegroupsface,wecanworktowardamoreinclusiveworldwhereeveryindividualhastheopportunitytoparticipatefullyandequallyin

society.Personswithdisabilities:AccordingtotheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)’sGlobalreportonhealthequityforpersons

with11Chapter22.

INTRODUCTIONdisabilities(2022),6

16percentoftheworld’spopulation,roughly1.3billionpeople,livewithsomeformofdisability.This

numberislikelytogrowforreasonsthatincludeconflicts,disasters,forceddisplacements,andaging.7Personswithdisabilitiesfacehigherratesofmultidimensionalpovertythanpersonswithoutdisabilities.8Theyencounterattitudinal,institutional,informationalandenvironmentalbarriersthathindertheirfullandeffectiveaccessandparticipationinsocietyonanequalbasiswith

others.Personswithtemporarydisabilities:Someimpairmentscanbeencounteredbyanyindividualduringtheir

lifespan.AccordingtotheWHO,almostallpersonswillexperienceeitheratemporary

orapermanentdisabilityatsometimeintheirlife.9Anypersonmayhave

atemporarydisabilityduetoaphysicalorpsychologicalconditionthatcausesshort-termimpairments.Personswithtemporarydisabilitiesincludethosewithbrokenlimbs,concussions,temporaryhearing/sightloss,temporarynervedamageandany

other6Globalreportonhealthequityforpersonswithdisabilities:

https://www.who.int/publications/i/

item/9789240063600WorldBankGPURLGuidanceNoteonDisabilityInclusion:/curated/

en/437451528442789278/pdf/Disability-inclusion-and-accountability-framework.pdfPinilla-Roncancio,M.andAlkire,S.(2017).‘Howpoorarepeoplewithdisabilitiesaroundtheglobe?Amultidimensionalperspective’,OPHIResearchinProgress48a,OxfordPovertyandHumanDevelopmentInitiative(OPHI),UniversityofOxford:

.uk/publication/RP-48a789WHODisability:

https://www.who.int/health-topics/disability#tab=tab_110UNDP:Ageing,olderpersonsandthe2030agendaforsustainabledevelopment:/

development/desa/dspd/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/08/Ageing-Older-Persons-and-2030-Agenda_

Issues-Brief-low-resolution-.pdf11Ageinganddisability|UnitedNationsEnable:

/issues/disability/disability-issues/ageing-and-disability12WorldBank

Data13StrategicNoteonUNICEF’s

WorkforChildreninUrbanSettings:/media/133771/file/14WorldBankData.Fertilityrates:

/indicator/SP.DYN.TFRT.IN?name_desc=falseshort-termimpairmentsorfunctionallimitationsfollowinganaccident,traumaticincident,surgeryormedical

treatment.Seniorpopulation:Meanwhile,by2030,oneinsixpeopleor16percentoftheglobalpopulation,willbe60yearsorover,resultinginanincreasednumberandproportionofolderpersonsinthetotalglobalpopulation:aprojectedgrowthof56percentfrom901millionto1.4billion.10Itiscurrentlyestimatedthatover46percentofpersonsovertheageof60experiencemoderatetoseveredisability,accordingtotheUnited

Nations.11Childrenandcareproviders:

Furthermore,approximately25percentoftheworld’spopulationisbelowtheageof

15.12In2020,UNICEFestimatedthat1.18billionchildrenliveinurbanareas.13Thenumberofbirthsworldwideiscurrentlyestimatedat2.3perwomen,meaningthattheaveragewomanwillbepregnantatleasttwiceduringherlifetime.14Pregnantwomenwillencountertemporarymobilitychallenges,andcaregiverswillbenefitgreatlyfrom

an12BUILDINGCODECHECKLISTFORUNIVERSAL

ACCESSIBILITY2.

INTRODUCTIONaccessiblebuiltenvironmentwhilecarryingsmallbabiesand

children.2.3Defining

UniversalAccessibilityUniversalAccessibilityisadesignphilosophythataimstomakeenvironmentsusableforasbroadagroupofpeopleaspossible,regardlessofageorability.Itisaboutcreatinganinclusiveworldwhichallowseveryonetoparticipatewithoutbarriers.Whiletheterm“universalaccessibility”iswidelyused,thereisnocommonlyagreeddefinition,andvariationsareusedbydifferentprofessionalsandinstitutionsindifferentcontexts.IntheWorldBank’s

EnvironmentalandSocialFramework,universalaccessisdescribedas“unimpededaccessforpeopleofallagesandabilities,which

shouldbeincorporatedintoprojectdesignfornewfacilitiesandreviewedforexisting

facilities”.15TheWorldBankdefinestheconceptofuniversalaccessasapplying“bothtothebuiltenvironment(forexample,schools,communitywater,sanitationfacilities,busterminals,andpublicplaygrounds)andvirtualenvironments(forexample,smartvillages/cityinterfaces,onlinelearning,governmentportalstoaccesssocialbenefits),anditalsoappliestothedesignanddeliveryofservices(forexample,skillsdevelopmentprograms,cash

transfers).”1615WorldBank.EnvironmentalandSocialFramework:/en/837721522762050108/

environmental-and-social-framework.pdf

and/curated/

en/573841530208492785/Environment-and-Social-Framework-ESF-Good-Practice-Note-on-Disability-English.

pdf16WorldBank.DisabilityInclusionandAccountabilityFramework:/en/

publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/437451528442789278/disability-inclusion-and-accountability-

framework17Source:CenterforUniversalDesign,NorthCarolinaState

University.18Source:DesignforAll

Foundation.Whilethischecklistusesthatdefinition,itrecognizestheappropriateuseofalternativeterminologyandconcepts,suchasuniversaldesign(usablebyallpeople,tothegreatestextentpossible,withouttheneedforadaptation)17

anddesignforall(interventionsintoenvironments,productsandserviceswhichaimtoensurethatanyone,includingfuturegenerations,regardlessofage,gender,capacitiesorculturalbackground,canenjoyequalopportunitiestoparticipateinsocial,economic,culturalandleisure

activities).182.4GlobalEffortsfor

UniversalAccessibilityThemovementtowarduniversalaccessibilityhasbeenshapedbyvariousglobalefforts,respondingtotheneedsofadiversepopulation,includingpersonsofdifferentagesandabilities.Itshistoryrevealstheinfluenceofsocietalchanges.Thisevolutionismarkedbykeylegislation,designprinciples,

andinternationalconventions,coalescingasasetofcomprehensiveguidelinesthatunderscorethenecessitytocreateandmaintainanaccessiblebuiltenvironmentforallusers.Theseeffortsrecognizethechallengesposedbyexistinginfrastructuresandtheimportanceofadaptingthemtomeetuniversalaccessibilitystandards,asoutlinedinvariousinternationalandnational

examples.13Chapter22.

INTRODUCTIONHistorically,buildingcodeprovisionforuniversalaccessibilityaroseprimarilyfromtheneedsofpersonswithdisabilitieswhofaceddiscriminationandbias.People

withdiverseabilitiesandaccessneedsmustnavigatebuildingsandfacilities.Inmanycountries,theirsharedneedsgaverisetoa

movementinsociety,particularlyfollowingWorldWarIandII,whenalargenumberofpeople

withsomekindofdisabilitywereexpectingtorejoinsocietyafterreceivingrehabilitation19.Over

the19

/25941048/years,accessibilityconsiderationshaveevolvedandexpandedtoaccommodatethewiderneedsofdifferentusergroups,suchas,butnotlimitedto,peoplewithlimitedmobility,lowvisualcapacity,hearingimpairments,elderlypersons,peoplewithcognitiveimpairments,pregnantwomen,caretakersofminors,childrenandseniors.Significantadvanceshavebeen

madetoestablishuniversalaccessibilityandequalityrecommendations,legislationandrightsforall,asshowninthetimelineinFigure

2.Figure2.InternationalprogresstowardUniversal

Accessibility1950EuropeanConventionfortheProtectionofHumanRightsand

FundamentalFreedoms.2006UnitedNationsConventionon

theRightsofPersonswithDisabilities(UNCRPD).2018WorldBankGroup’sCommitmentsonDisability-InclusiveDevelopment.1982–1992TheUnited

NationsDecadeofPeoplewith

Disabilities2015SustainableDevelopmentGoals

(SGDs)1961 1990First

recognition

of Americans

within

the

US

by

the (ADA).AmericanNationalStandards

Institute.1993UN

Standardaccessible

design Disabilities

Act Ruleson

theEqualizationofOpportunities

forPersonswithDisabilities.1995PrinciplesofUniversalDesignformulatedat

theUniversityofNorthCarolinaCentreforUniversal

Design.2009Councilof

EuropepublishestheRecommendationtomember

statesonachievingUniversal

Design.2021ISO21542

-AccessibilityandUsabilityoftheBuilt

Environment.2022WorldBank’sDisabilityInclusionandAccountabilityFramework.