Nigerian Association of the Blind FCT Chapter ( NAB FCT) on Thursday organized a virtual meeting on the review of National Building Code 2006. It is part of the advocacy moves arising from the accessibility audit conducted by the group last year. The project is supported by Disability Rights Fund(DRF).
Obinna Ekujereonye, the Chairman of NAB FCT in his opening said that the meeting is an attempt to bring together key stakeholders to see ways in which their findings from the accessibility audit would be addressed.
The meeting witnessed the presence of key actors from different cluster of disability, NGOs in FCT, Theophilus Odaudu( DRF), Abdulmumuni Ujah(Chairman, JONAPWD FCT), Lawrence Idemudia (Deaf Inclusion Initiative), Lois Auta, (Cedar seeds Foundation), Comrade Musa M. Musa Centre for Citizens With Disabilities (CCD), Barrister Ikem Uchegbunam (JONAPWD FCT vice Chairman), Ruth Ali( Blind Cluster), Chris Agbo ( ED, The Qualitative Magazine), Idris ( DRAC), Peace Oriaku( CCD), Barrister Kassim( Blind Cluster), Afam Kasim(The Albino Foundation(TAF)), Okoye Vincent Chinedu( TAF), Ononiwu Gift Nkechi (Physical Cluster), Onyemaechi Constance( TAF/Cedar seeds Foundation) and many others.
Unfortunately, the key stakeholders like Ministry of Works, housing, COREN and other relevant stakeholders who received invitation to be part of the meeting didn’t show up.
Ekomobong Udo-Affah, Co-founder and Design Director, Universal Design Initiative for Africans (UDIA) excellently reviewed the National Building Code 2006. The highlight of his presentation was the sections where the words “Disability” “Handicapped” “Physically Challenged” were mentioned and the classification of group use which provision were made to accommodate persons with disabilities especially persons with physical disabilities and the aged.
The National Building Code captured in the groups some buildings like Assembly, event centres, churches, mosques, schools, business centres, shopping malls, residential estates, retail stores, fuel stations, shops, markets, hospitals and correctional centres.
The architectural design requirements that National Building Code prescribed here includes Accessible toilets, and other sanitary such as lavatories, water closets, mirror, and towels fixtures. Egress that is provisions for existing the building for persons with mobility impairment. Elevators/lifts and ramps where necessary.
The Building Code excluded some groups of building from these requirements. Such buildings are factories, storage facilities, Markets/Places under doubtful use classification and Utility and miscellaneous.
He also spoke about principle of Universal Design. He described Universal Design as the best to be adopted because it accommodates everyone with or without disability. The Universal Design should be Equitable in use, flexibility in use, simple and intuitive in use, have perceptible information, tolerance error, low physical effort, considers size and space for approach and use.
He made some recommendations which he believes should be incorporated into the National Building Code:
a. The use of right language to describe persons with disabilities in the National Building Code, the use of Physically Challenged, Handicapped to describe persons with disabilities was wrong.
b. Allocate at least 5% of the car parts space for PWDs in our malls, offices, event centres, churches etc.
c. Sidewalks should be designed in accordance with Universal Design . It should be built to accommodate at least two wheelchairs users at a time.
d. Kerb cut should have tactile surfacing to assist pedestrians who are blind.
e. Ramps should have a gradient not exceeding 1 in 20, with a maximum rise of 450mm between landings and a corresponding maximum ramp length of 9000mm. Ramps should not have very lengthy distances else they become too tiring for people to use, even though they may have the regular landings and rest areas. The maximum ramp length should be 9 meters. Avoid curved ramps, they are problematic for wheelchair
users, elders with strollers etc.
f. External steps should always be provided side by side with external ramps to offer users a choice and to provide routes that are usable by all. Each step edge should have a non-slip applied nosing or contrasting strip to visually highlight the step edge thereby preventing instances of accidents caused by slippery edges.
g. There should be handrails along ramps or steps to offer essential support to people with limited mobility. It should be provided to both sides of the ramp or steps and should be continuous to the full length of the flight and around intermediate landings. Materials used that enable a firm and comfortable grip. Metal can be uncomfortable, especially when cold or wet, and are better if nylon of plastic coated. Alternately a good quality, non￾splintering hardwood can be used. All surfaces must be anti-glare and slip resistance
h. There should be tactile paving to aid access routes and provide warning and guidance to people with visual difficulties. Tactile paving surfaces provide guidance and others indicate the presence of a potential hazard such as an approaching change in level or the absence of a Kerb at a road crossing, on walkways and staircases.
I. It is important that lifts/elevators are provided in public buildings with features that are adequate to cater for the user needs of people living with disabilities
J. The Use of signage is very effective for the communication of relevant information to people living with auditory impairments within the built environment. Signage helps in wayfinding for everyone, it guides building users to get around spaces independently without necessarily seeking for direction from others.
k. There should be spaces in offices, bedrooms etc, reception desks should be in a heights that different users should be taken into consideration. Light switches, air condition sockets and other forms of power outlets, door handles, should be positioned in consideration of people irregular heights like children, stunted adults, and wheelchair users.
Counters should be positioned to consider wheelchair users and door handles should be made to easy while opening.
Recommendations to accommodate Persons with low vision or visually impaired;
Acoustics: Managing the sound that emanates from building materials within space. When there is uncontrolled reverberation of noise within a building it can confuse a person with a visual impairment.
Proper Signage, Light-weight doors, Positioning of light switches and fan regulators at 1050mm (i.e. at about the abdomen level of an average adult, lever arm door handles, skid resistant floors, wider lobbies, if possible, with wall mounted rails along long lobbies. Sitting area should be provided within along long lobbies or walkway for people with physical impairments and elderly people.
People with Neurological impairments require simple designs with flexible use.
In public buildings like banks, revolving doors should be removed, and regular swing security doors be used to replace
them.
Accessible toilets and Urinals providing options for other users, securely fitted with grab rails.
Avoid jottings or protrusions from the walls.
He concluded by advising persons with disabilities to develop a detailed document/tool kit or reference guide like the 1990 American Disability Act (ADA), and the 2017 South African Human rights Commission Disability Toolkit to present
a comprehensive guideline and monitoring framework on the inclusion of persons with disability to be referred to from
the National Building Code.
NAB FCT unveiled a book which documented the accessibility audit report conducted by the group in 2019.
