oSIST prEN 17210:2025

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2025
Dostopnost in uporabnost grajenega okolja - Zahteve in priporočila
Accessibility and usability of the built environment - Requirements and recommendations
Zugänglichkeit und Nutzbarkeit der gebauten Umwelt - Anforderungen und
Empfehlungen
Accessibilité et convivialité de l'environnement bâti - Exigences et recommandations
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 17210
ICS:
91.040.01 Stavbe na splošno Buildings in general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD DRAFT
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
August 2025
ICS
English version
Accessibility and usability of the built environment -
Requirements and recommendations
Accessibilité et convivialité de l'environnement bâti - Zugänglichkeit und Nutzbarkeit der gebauten Umwelt -
Exigences et recommandations Anforderungen und Empfehlungen
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/CLC/JTC 11.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN and CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal
Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any
alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN and CENELEC in three official versions (English, French, German). A
version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN and CENELEC member into its own language
and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN and CENELEC members are the national standards bodies and national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and United Kingdom.

Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification
of any relevant patent rights of which they are aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN/CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means
Ref. No. prEN 17210:2025 E
reserved worldwide for CEN national Members and for
CENELEC Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 4
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms and definitions . 8
4 Legal and policy background and associated benefits . 17
5 Diversity of users and design considerations . 22
6 Wayfinding . 38
7 Access in the outdoor environment . 54
8 Arrival and departure areas – Parking areas . 87
9 Horizontal circulation in buildings . 94
10 Vertical circulation in buildings and outdoors . 125
11 Specific indoor and outdoor areas, equipment and provisions . 150
12 Sanitary accommodation . 164
13 User interface, controls and switches. 186
14 Fire safety for all - Evacuation and emergency exits . 193
15 Environmental conditions in buildings . 200
16 Accommodation . 211
17 Cultural, leisure and sport buildings . 222
18 Administrative, service and employment buildings . 243
19 Outdoor and urban areas . 258
20 Transport facilities . 265
Annex A (normative) Basic requirements for an objective assessment and
implementation . 280
A.1 Introduction . 280
A.2 Scope . 280
A.3 Structure . 280
A.4 Use of related outdoor areas and facilities . 282
A.5 Approaches to buildings . 283
A.6 Use of entrances . 286
A.7 Use of paths in horizontal circulation . 288
A.8 Use of paths in vertical circulation . 290
A.9 Use of rooms by the public . 294
A.10 Use of equipment and facilities used in the provision of the service . 296
A.11 Use of toilets and sanitary facilities . 297
A.12 Use of exits, evacuation routes and concepts for emergency planning . 299
A.13 Communication and orientation via more than one sensory channel . 301
A.14 Use of facilities and buildings for their foreseeable purpose . 303
A.15 Protection from hazards in the environment indoors and outdoors . 304
A.16 Built environments comprising stationary ICT . 305
Annex B (informative) Fire safety for all in buildings and assisted evacuation . 315
B.1 Fire safety, protection and evacuation for all . 315
B.2 Assisted evacuation and rescue from buildings — Rescue techniques. 316
B.3 Management of fire evacuation lifts in buildings . 316
B.4 Evacuation skills and self-protection from fire in buildings . 317
Annex C (informative) Management and maintenance issues . 318
C.1 General . 318
C.2 Outdoor issues . 318
C.3 Internal issues . 318
C.4 Maintenance issues . 319
C.5 Communication issues . 319
C.6 Policy issues . 320
Annex D (informative) List of figures . 321
Annex E (informative) A-deviations . 326
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the
essential requirements of Directive (EU) 2019/882 aimed to be covered. 328
Table ZA.1 — Correspondence between this European Standard and request M/587 . 328
Bibliography . 329
European foreword
This document (prEN 17210:2025) has been prepared by the Joint Technical Committee
CEN-CENELEC/JTC 11 “Accessibility in the built environment”, the secretariat of which is held by UNE.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document has been prepared under Standardisation Request M/587 given to CEN-CENELEC and
ETSI by the European Commission and the European Free Trade Association in support of. The Standing
Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its Member States.
The most significant changes with respect to the previous edition are the following ones:
• The title has been amended in order not to be limited only to functional requirements.
• The European foreword has been updated.
• The references to the applicable Standardisation Request (M/587) have been amended in the
European foreword and in the title.
• The scope has been amended in order not to be limited only to functional requirements. A sentence
informs that the document provides a description of performance requirement of and accessible and
usable built environment.
• The definition of ‘accessibility’, 3.1, has been amended to align with the one given in ISO 9241-
112:2017. Also, the definition of ‘Hazards’ has been added.
• This revision includes a new normative Annex A describing complementary requirements of the
accessible built environment for an easier objective assessment. The previous annexes have been
renamed accordingly.
• A new informative Annex ZA has been included.
This document has been prepared under a standardisation request addressed to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI
by the European Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these
requests for its Member States.
For the relationship with EU Legislation, see informative Annex Z, which is an integral part of this
document."
NOTE Annex ZA in CEN and Annex ZZ in CENELEC; hereinafter, “Annex Z
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
This document has been developed in response to Standardisation Request M/587 of the European
Commission, providing a standard for procurement of an accessible and usable built environment. The
main goals of this document are to contribute to the implementation of the European Accessibility Act
(Directive (EU) 2019/882 on the accessibility requirements for products and services) and of the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in Europe.
The functional requirements and recommendations in this document are formulated with qualitative
terms and describe the objectives which have to be reached, based on the diversity that a wide range of
users presents (goals for protection) and can be used as criteria for awarding public contracts (in support
of the Public Procurement Directives) as well as for other purposes, i.e. for accessibility legislation. This
document does not prescribe or describe how these functional requirements should be met and thus it is
not intended that this document will conflict with national accessibility standards.
This document specifies a range of functional accessibility and usability requirements and
recommendations for many of the elements of construction, assembly, interior settings, components and
fittings, which comprise the built environment. These functional accessibility requirements relate to the
constructional aspects of outdoor pedestrian and urban areas, approaches and access to buildings, indoor
circulation and use of facilities within buildings, egress from buildings in the normal course of events, and
evacuation in the event of an emergency.
The functional accessibility and usability requirements in this document are based on the widest range
of user needs and target groups as identified in Phase I of Mandate M/420. These requirements support
the diversity of all persons and a life-course perspective, i.e. persons with physical impairments, persons
with sensory impairments, persons with allergies, persons with learning difficulties/cognitive
impairments and persons with mental-ill-health, persons with age-related conditions, but also persons
in different stages of life, as children, adults and older persons.
This document also specifies the functional accessibility and usability requirements and
recommendations to enable the use of wheeled mobility devices in the built environment. The type of
wheeled mobility devices to be facilitated, and consequently the amount of space to be allocated, may be
determined by national standards or regulations and/or a procuring body may specify the provision of
space for larger electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters in certain types of buildings.
For the purpose of this document, the term ’accessibility’ refers to both ‘accessibility and usability’.
For specific building uses (see Clauses 16 to 20), such as accommodation, cultural, leisure and sport use,
administrative, service and employment buildings, and outdoor and urban areas and transport facilities,
the basic functional accessibility requirements are supplemented by key requirements and
recommendations supported by other related standards or guidance documents.
The new normative Annex A included in the present document describes complementary requirements
of the accessible built environment for an easier objective assessment. Annex A applies explicitly to the
built environment in which any of the services indicated in A.2 is provided and which is under the
responsibility of the service provider.
This document is based to a great extent on ISO 21542:2011 Building construction – Accessibility and
usability of the built environment (under revision) and where not sufficient, supplemented with
references to alternative and/or complementary documents (identified in Phase I of Mandate M/420).
This document is intended to assist primarily public procurers and also architects, engineers, facility
managers, ergonomists and other stakeholders in their respective areas of work, enabling them to
require, specify, design and assess conformity related to the accessibility of the built environment, using
a common framework and a common language, thus ensuring accessibility for all.
As a general structure, explanations on the motives for the requirements and recommendations given in
this document are given in previous short informative ‘Rationale’, understood as a background.
The technical performance criteria to fulfil the functional requirements given in this document, based on
classes, detailed dimensions, etc. are exemplified by CEN/TR 17621:2021, “Accessibility and usability of
the built environment – Technical performance criteria and specifications”, and may also be determined by
national building regulations, national standards, or any other national guidance.
CEN/TR 17622:2021, “Accessibility and usability of the built environment – Conformity assessment”,
provides criteria to assess conformity of the built environment with the functional requirements and
recommendations described in the present document.
1 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.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 54-23, Fire detection and fire alarm systems — Part 23: Fire alarm dev ices — Visual alarm devices
EN 81-20, Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Lifts for the transport of persons and
goods — Part 20: Passenger and goods passenger lifts
EN 81-40:2020, Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Special lifts for the transport of
persons and goods — Part 40: Stairlifts and inclined lifting platforms intended for persons with impaired
mobility
EN 81-41:2024, Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Special lifts for the transport of
persons and goods — Part 41: Vertical lifting platforms intended for use by persons with impaired mobility
EN 81-70:2021+A1:2022, Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Particular
applications for passenger and goods passenger lifts — Part 70: Accessibility to lifts for persons including
persons with disability
EN 81-72, Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts — Particular applications for passenger
and goods passenger lifts — Part 72: Firefighters lifts
EN 115-1:2017, Safety of escalators and moving walks — Part 1: Construction and installation
EN 12183, Manual wheelchairs — Requirements and test methods
EN 12184, Electrically powered wheelchairs, scooters and their chargers — Requirements and test methods
EN 13200-1, Spectator facilities — Part 1: General characteristics for spectator viewing area
EN 16005, Power operated pedestrian doorsets - safety in use - requirements and test methods
EN 16165:2021, Determination of slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces — Methods of evaluation
EN 301549:2026, Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services
EN 60118-4:2015 , Electroacoustics — Hearing aids — Part 4: Induction-loop systems for hearing aid
purposes — System performance requirements (IEC 60118-4)
CEN/TS 15209:2021, Tactile paving surface indicators produced from concrete, clay and stone
CEN/TR 15894, Building hardware — Door fittings for use by children, elderly and disabled people in
domestic and public buildings — A guide for specifiers
ISO 23599:2019, Assistive products for blind and vision-impaired persons — Tactile walking surface
indicators
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
accessibility
extent to which products, systems, services, environments and facilities can be used by people from a
population with the widest range of user needs, characteristics and capabilities to achieve identified goals
in identified contexts of use.
Note 1 to entry: Context of use includes direct use or use supported by assistive technologies.”
Note 2 to entry: The identified goals of an accessible built environment are for people to independently and safely
gain access to, enter, use and exit this environment.
[SOURCE: ISO 9241‑112:2017, 3.15, modified by the addition of note 2]
3.2
accessible format
use of different presentations to make information accessible by the use of another sensory ability, e.g.
visual information presented in audio and tactile formats; audio information presented in visual formats

Impacted by EN IEC 60118-4:2015/A1:2018, Electroacoustics — Hearing aids — Part 4: Induction-loop systems for
hearing aid purposes — System performance requirements (IEC 60118-4)
3.3
access statement
report that provides a framework to demonstrate how accessibility for all users is delivered in a
development and how design for all solutions have been adopted
3.4
area of rescue assistance
evacuation temporary refuge
building space directly adjoining, and visible from, a main vertical evacuation route, robustly and reliably
protected from heat, smoke and flame during and after a fire, where people requiring assistance can
temporarily wait with confidence for further information, instructions, and rescue assistance, without
obstructing or interfering with the evacuation of other building users
Note 1 to entry: “Robust” means structurally hardened and resistant to mechanical damage during the fire and for
a period of time afterwards, i.e. the cooling phase.
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.3]
3.5
assistance dogs
dog specifically trained to perform tasks to increase independence and to mitigate limitations of a person
with a disability and permanently paired with this person
Note 1 to entry: In some countries an assistance dog Is referred to as a service dog.
Note 2 to entry: Other animals can be used, but in this EN we use only “assistance dog”.
[SOURCE: CEN/TC 452 Approved Preliminary Work Item]
3.6
assisted evacuation
activity during an emergency when a designated person or persons provide(s) assistance to another
person to leave a building or a specific part of the built environment and to reach a ‘place of safety’
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.4, modified]
3.7
assistive product
product especially produced or generally available, for preventing, compensating for, monitoring,
relieving or neutralizing impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions
EXAMPLE Devices, equipment, instruments, technology and software.
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.5]
3.8
assistive technology
assistive device
piece of equipment, product, system, hardware, software or service that is used to increase, maintain or
improve functional capabilities of persons with disabilities
Note 1 to entry: This can be acquired commercially off-the-shelf, modified or customized. The term includes
technical aids for persons with disabilities. Assistive devices do not eliminate an impairment but may lessen the
difficulty a person has in carrying out a task or activity in specific environments.
[SOURCE: CEN-CENELEC Guide 6:2014, 3.3, modified]
3.9
attention pattern
design of Tactile Walking Surface Indicator, calling attention to a hazard only, or to hazards and decision
points
Note 1 to entry: Attention patterns can be installed in the vicinity of pedestrian crossings, at-grade kerbs, railway
platforms, stairs, ramps, escalators, travellators, elevators, etc.
[SOURCE: ISO 23999:2012, 2.1, modified]
3.10
audio description
verbal narration that conveys the visual description of a presentation or performance
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.7]
3.11
bariatric patients
patients with large body weight requiring additional space and equipment to enable handling in health
care settings
3.12
built environment
external and internal environments and any element, component or fitting that is commissioned,
designed, constructed and managed for use by people
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.10, modified]
3.13
changing places toilet
room or facility with a toilet, hoist, basin, adult-sized changing bench and optional shower, for use by
people with complex and multiple impairments who require the help of assistants
[SOURCE: BS 8300-2:2018, 18.6 modified]
3.14
circulation space
unobstructed space available for people, including persons using mobility devices, to access, move
around in, and exit from any part of the built environment
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.11, modified]
3.15
contraflow
emergency access by fire fighters or rescue teams into a building and towards a fire, while people
are still moving away from the fire and evacuating the building
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.14]
3.16
disorientation
permanent or temporary inability of people to orient themselves with regard to space, time and context
in either the built environment or virtual environment
Note 1 to entry: Acute disorientation brought on by the use of alcohol, “social” drugs and some medicines, or
dramatic alterations in a person's circumstances, e.g. involvement in a fire incident, is not uncommon. Long term
progressive disorientation is a symptom of a variety of psychological and/or neurological disorders.
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.15]
3.17
evacuation lift
lift designed to be used for the evacuation of persons with difficulty in using stairs, in automatic mode or
under the direction of building management, trained evacuation assistant or rescue services
2)
[SOURCE: EN 81-76:— , 3.3]
3.18
fire compartment
enclosed space, which may be subdivided, separated from adjoining spaces by fire barriers
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2017, 3.120]
3.19
fire engineering strategy
coherent and purposeful arrangement of fire prevention, fire protection and fire management measures
which is developed in order to attain specified fire engineering design objectives
Note 1 to entry: Some “fire safety objectives” may be required by national legislation/regulations.
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.22]
3.20
fire prevention
measures intended to reduce the risk of an outbreak of fire in a building or outdoor built environment
Note 1 to entry: Fire prevention includes such secondary activities as fire research and education of the public
concerning fire hazards.
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.23 modified]

2) Under preparation. Stage at the time of publication: prEN 81-76:2019.
3.21
fire resistance
ability of an element of building construction, component or structure, to fulfil for a stated period of time
the required stability, integrity, thermal insulation and/or other expected duty specified, in a standard
fire resistance test
[SOURCE: ISO 8421-2:1987, 1,24 and ISO 15541:2016, 3.1, modified]
3.22
fire resisting door
door, that is designed to resist the passage of heat, smoke and flame for a specified time during a fire
3.23
footpath
path for the exclusive use of pedestrians and users of mobility devices, which is not adjacent to a
carriageway (road)
3.24
footway
part of the highway adjacent to the carriageway (road) on which the pedestrians and users of mobility
devices have exclusive access
3.25
functional requirements
type and level of functionality that is required by the widest range of users of a facility
[SOURCE: ISO 15686-10:2010, 3.12, modified]
3.26
going
horizontal distance between two consecutive nosings, measured on the centre line
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.27]
3.27
going
horizontal distance between the start and finish of a flight of a ramp
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.28]
3.28
guiding pattern
design of tactile walking surface indicators to indicate a route from one place to another
Note 1 to entry: Guiding patterns can be used alone or in combination with attention pattern (3.8).
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.29 modified]
3.29
handrail
component of a stair or of a ramp or other building components that provides guidance, balance and support
[SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2017, 5.2.73 and ISO 21542:2011, 3.31]
3.30
hazard
source of potential harm.
[SOURCE: ISO 31073:2022, Risk Management – Vocabulary, modified]
3.31
hearing enhancement system
piece of equipment, product system, hardware, software or service that is used to increase, maintain or
improve listening capabilities of persons with hearing impairments
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.32, modified]
3.32
kerb ramp
construction, in the form of an inclined plane, that makes it possible to pass from road level to a footway
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.36, modified]
3.33
landing
level platform, structure at the end of a flight of stairs or a ramp, or at the entrance to a lift car or to a
lifting platform
[SOURCE: ISO 6701-1:2017, 3.3.5.23 and ISO 21542:2011, 3.38, modified]
3.34
levelling accuracy

vertical distance between car sill and landing sill during loading or unloading of the car
[SOURCE: EN 81-20:2020, 3.25]
3.35
lifting platform
device, permanently installed, to serve predefined landings, comprising a guided platform, whose
characteristics are primarily intended to permit the access of persons with impaired mobility
[SOURCE: prEN 81-41:2016; 3.19]
3.36
luminance
intensity of light emitted or reflected in a given direction from a surface element divided by the apparent
area of the element in the same direction.
Note 1 to entry: The SI unit for luminance is candela per square metre (cd/m ).
[SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2017; 3.7.3.59 and. ISO 21542:2011, 3.43, modified]
3.37
main entrance
entrance or, if there is more than one with equal status, the entrances that people would normally expect
to approach and to enter in order to use the building or other facility
3.38
moving walk
power-driven installation for the conveyance of persons in which the user carrying surface remains
parallel to its direction of motion and is uninterrupted
Note 1 to entry: Moving walks are machines - even when they are out of operation – and should not be used as a
fixed access.
[SOURCE: EN 115-1:2017, 3.1.19]
3.39
multiple senses
principle of multiple senses
principle of considering various sensory abilities in design decisions to support and enable users to
perceive information (e.g. seeing, hearing, touch)
3.40
nosing
front edge of a tread or landing that can be rounded, chamfered or otherwise shaped
[SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2017, 3.3.5.30 and ISO 21542:2011, 3.46]
3.41
obstacle-free route
link between two or more public areas that can be navigated independently by persons with disabilities
and reduced mobility
Note 1 to entry: This term is used in The Railway Interoperability Directive 2008/57/EC] and therefore defined in
the TSI PRM standards series (see Clause 20 Transport facilities).
[SOURCE: EN 16587:2017, 3.1, modified]
3.42
pedestrian
includes a person walking and a person using a wheelchair or other wheeled mobility device that is
suitable for use on a footway or footpath
3.43
place of relative safety
location of comparative safety which includes any place that puts an effective barrier (normally 30
minutes fire resistance) between the person escaping and a fire
3.44
place of safety
location beyond a perimeter which is a safe distance from the building and where necessary medical care
and attention can be provided, or organized, within one hour of injury and where people can be identified
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.48]
3.45
ramp
inclined construction that provides access between two levels
[SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2017, 3.3.5.33]
3.46
rise
vertical distance between the horizontal upper surfaces of two consecutive treads, or between a tread
and a floor, or a tread and a landing
[SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2017, 3.7.2.56]
3.47
riser
vertical component of a step between a tread or a landing and the tread or landing above or below it
[SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2017, 3.3.5.27]
3.48
shared space
street or place designed for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers of motor-operated vehicles to co-use without
conventional separation between them
3.49
stopping accuracy
vertical distance between car sill and landing sill at the moment when a car is stopped by the control
system at its destination floor and the doors reach their fully open position
[SOURCE: EN 81-20:2020, 3.58]
3.50
Tactile Walking Surface Indicator
TWSI
standardized walking surface design used to provide information to blind or partially sighted persons
Note 1 to entry: A TWSI has a specific meaning conveyed by the profile design, for instance an attention pattern or
a guiding pattern.
[SOURCE: ISO 23599:2016, 2.16, modified]
3.51
tread
horizontal component of a step
3.52
unobstructed width
available width for passage through a door opening, clear of all obstructions below 900 mm, measured
when the door is opened 90°, or when a sliding or folding door is opened to its fullest extent
[SOURCE: ISO 21542:2011, 3.60]
3.53
Universal Design
UD
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
Note 1 to entry: ‘Universal Design’ does not exclude the need of assistive devices for particular groups or persons
with disabilities where relevant.
Note 2 to entry: Terms such as “Universal Design”, “accessible design”, “Design for All”, “barrier-free design”,
“inclusive design” and “transgenerational design” are often used interchangeably with the same meaning.
[SOURCE: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Art. 2 [17], modified —
Note 2 to entry has been added]
3.54
usability
extent to which a product, a service and the built environment can be used by specified users to achieve
specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use
[SOURCE: ISO 9241-11:2018, 3.1 and EN 17161:2019, 3.11]
3.55
user
person who interacts with a system, product, service or environment
[SOURCE: EN 17161:2019, 3.12 and ISO/TR 22411:2008, 3.3, modified]
3.56
visual contrast
perception of a difference, visually, between one surface or element of a building and an adjacent surface
or element
3.57
vision impairment
visual impairment
permanent reduction of visual perception ranging from partial sight/low vision to blindness depending
on the residual functional sight
Note 1 to entry: In relation to accessibility requirements, “partially sighted persons” means persons, who primarily
use their (residual) sight, and “blind persons” means persons, who primarily rely on audible and tactile input,
although they might also have a certain amount of visual perception.
3.58
walkability
extent to which the built environment is friendly to the presence of people who are walking or using a
mobility device
3.59
wayfinding
features in a building or outdoor built environment that facilitate orientation (knowing where you are in
an environment) and navigation (planning and following a route from one place to another)
3.60
wheeled mobility device
wheeled device to enable or assist the mobility of a person
Note 1 to entry: Wheeled mobility devices include manual and electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters, wheeled
walkers, rollators, prams, pushchairs and buggies, etc.
Note 2 to entry: Wheelchairs and mobility scooters range in size, weight, and design and require different amounts
of space to be used in the built environment. Larger scooters are traditionally used outdoor but may also be used in
large public use buildings such as shopping centres, entertainment and leisure complexes, exhibition centres, large
museums and so on. The space required will include space to manoeuvre and turn.
Note 3 to entry: It is not intended that wheeled mobility devices will include devices primarily for leisure use such
as play scooters, hoverboards, segways.
Note 4 to entry: The type of wheeled mobility devices catered for may be determined by national standards and
regulations.
4 Legal and policy background and associated benefits
4.1 European legal background
Accessibility to the built environment is essential for persons with disabilities and older persons to be
able to exercise their rights and participate fully in society. In the international and legally binding UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), accessibility is referred to as one of the
general principles (Article 3). In particular, Article 9 addresses, among others, accessibility in the built
environment, transportation, and information and communication, making specific reference to the role
of standards to achieve its goals. Both the European Union (EU) and all its Member States have ratified
the Convention and, as a consequence, need to comply with those requirements.
The Communication COM (2003) 650 "Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities, a European
Action Plan", which aims to achieve a sustainable and operational approach to disability issues in the
enlarged Europe, identified as one of the four concrete priorities "accessibility to the public built
environment to improve participation in the work place and integration into the economy and society".
The Council RESOLUTION of 15 July 2003 on “Promoting the Employment and Social Integration of
People with Disabilities” (2003/C 175/01) requests to "remove barriers impeding the participation of
people with disabilities in social life and, in particular, in working life, and prevent the setting up of new
barriers through the promotion of ‘Design for All’".
The Communication from the European Commission COM(2010) 636 on an European Disability Strategy
2010-2020: “A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe” states that accessibility is a precondition
for participation in society and in the economy and proposes to use legislative and other instruments,
such as standardization, to optimize the accessibility of inter alia the built environment.
In addition, Article 19 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) provides for
measures against discrimination inter alia on the grounds of disability. The Equal Treatment in
Employment Directive (2000/78) makes mandatory the principle of reasonable accommodation for
employees with disabilities in employment and training.
According to the Public Procurement Directives (2014/24/EU) “for all procurement which is intended for
use by natural persons, whether general public or staff of the contracting authority or entity, the technical
specifications are, except in duly justified cases, to be drawn up so as to take into account accessibility
criteria for persons with disabilities or design for all users”. It is also possible to integrate social
considerations and specifically the use of ‘Design for All’ and accessibility requirements in the award
criteria of the contract documentation for public bids. Several Member States are already using these
possibilities.
In March 2021, the European Commission adopted the Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities
2021-2030, “Union of equality – Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030”. The Strategy
2021-2030 highlights that accessibility to the built and
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