We Welcome Part M Proposals

Apart from the Disability Discrimination Act, one of the most covered topics in the first ten editions of Stepping Out has been Part M, the section of the UK building regulations, which sets down minimum standards for disabled access in the built environment. A couple of issues ago, we reported that we believed that Part M was out of step with other legislation and standards. As such we welcomed the Government's decision to order a far reaching review. Recommendations, resulting from the review process, have now been made public. In this article, we will look at the proposed amendments effecting the choice and design of platform lifts.

Responsibility for the UK building regulations rests with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). Their proposals aim to bring Part M in line with BS 8300, the British Standard code of practice covering the design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people. The proposed amendments will also support the aims of the DDA.

One of the most welcome recommendations is that the new regulation will not include any definition of disability, just a requirement that reasonable provision is made to ensure that buildings are accessible and useable by all those people who could be expected to use it. This could include not only wheelchair users, but people with sensory impairments or learning difficulties, people of short stature, elderly people and parents with babies.

Section three of the amended Part M covers horizontal and vertical circulation in buildings other than dwellings. The objective being for people to be able to move about conveniently, and without discomfort, to make use of the facilities. It covers all aspects of the buildings design, including entrance halls and reception areas, doors, corridors and lobbies and the means of vertical circulation - lifts, stairs and ramps. It is important to note that the objective relates not only to physically impaired, but equally to those with sensory impairments.

As a division of Otis, the world's largest manufacturer of lifts and escalators, we are, naturally enough, most interested in the proposals surrounding lifts, in particular platform lifts. We are extremely pleased that the general circumstances, allowing the use of platform lifts remain pretty much unchanged. In circumstances where the installation of a conventional passenger lift, or the provision of a ramp is not practicable, the use of a platform lift may be considered to effect a change in levels.

Where the proposed amendments do differ, however, is that for the first time Part M will contain a definitive specification for the platform size. The proposal states that the minimum clear dimensions of the platform are 1050mm wide and 1250mm long. This is in line with BS 8300. Our Companion Prestige platform lift has a minimum platform size of 1100 by 1400mm. This is the minimum permissible size for the lift car on a conventional passenger lift. Many of our competitors, however, only offer lift platforms, which are 1000mm wide and would, therefore, not comply with the revised Part M. All other aspects of the lift's design need to comply with BS6440, which is a specific code of practice for powered lifting platforms for use by disabled people.

The use of platform stair lifts, which travel up the string of the stair, such as Our Companion Premier model, will continue to be acceptable. There will be, however, more restrictions placed upon the installations. For instance, a platform stair lift should only be considered for conversions or alterations where it is not practical to install a conventional passenger or platform lift. As is stated in BS 8300, a stairlift should only be installed on a stairway that is not intended to be used as a means of escape. If this is unavoidable, the clear flight width for means of escape must be maintained between the stair lift carriage rail and the hand rail opposite. When parked, the lift must not obstruct the clear width of the stairway.

As an organisation, concerned with making the environment equally accessible to all, we are delighted that the amended Part M, will soon become law. We are particularly pleased that, at last, there would seem to be consistency between it and the relevant British Standard code of practice.