Access Audits
Why Do You Need An Access Audit ?
The Equality Act 2010 came into force on October 1st 2010 and carries forward the past requirements of the The Disability Discrimination Act which made it illegal to discriminate against a disabled person for reasons related to his or her disability.
This covered the fields of employment, service provision, transport and education. The DDA required employers, service providers and education providers to make reasonable adjustments to avoid discrimination.
The Equality Act 2010 brought together all anti-discrimination legislation into one Act and covers
disability, race, gender, religious, sex and age discrimination but the requirements remain much the same, though there are different requirements depending on whether you are an employer, service provider or an educational establishment. Having an access audit is often a requirement of an application for Lottery, National Heritage and other public funding.
We provide audits of the built environment, though we can put you in touch with employment specialists if that is more appropriate to your needs. We can help product manufacturers determine if the product meets the requirements of Part M or BS 8300.
Please also note that we cannot cannot certify that something is 'DDA compliant', and that this is in fact not possible and anyone branding a product this way is making a false claim
What Is an Access Audit
The purpose of an Access Audit is to establish how well a building performs in relation to access and ease of use by a wide range of potential users, including people with physical mobility and sensory impairments. It will identify where the building falls short of the requirements of current guidance such as BS8300 and Part M of the Building Regulations.
The audit will then set out an Access Action Plan, enabling incorporation of reasonable adjustments on future refurbishment, regular maintenance and assist budget planning of any substantial capital costs.
We will identify reasonable adjustments and any recommended work will be prioritised into absolutely essential work so as to remove major obstacles or comply with legislation. In most cases this can be achieved through work of a comparatively minor nature or adjustment to working practice or management, at low cost.
Why Choose us?
We have a wealth of experience in this field and unlike many of our competitors our Access
Consultants are all practicing Building Control
Surveyors, and many have been Access Officer for Local Authorities.
Our staff have carrired out hundreds of Access Audits throughout thier careers so can bring
that experience and fully explain the practical implications of what we recommend.
We will outline where you fall short of current Building Regulations , but unlike many of our competitors, recognise that this is just guidance. We will focus on cost effective solutions rather than quoting chapter and verse
You rest assured that we will help you to make the reasonable adjustments that are needed to help you stay the right side
What our Clients say
I met Geoff from Wilkinson Construction Consultants to gain a better understanding of building regs and DDA requirements. I found him extremely knowledgeable and determined to ensure I had the answers I needed. Geoff's follow up gave me far more insight to the potentials open to me in the future.
Grant Westfield Ltd
May 2010