With knobs on

摘要

As any architect knows, door schedules can be a nightmare, and the recent regulations on accessibility have only added to the likelihood of a restless night. Even the authors of the two key documents governing specification acknowledge that there are contradictions and discrepancies in them. While making a mistake on one door would be frustrating enough, taking the wrong decisions across a whole door schedule and finding it condemned by the access officer as not 'fit for purpose' has implications on cost, programme and, ultimately, liability. Architects can find themselves trying to satisfy the criteria of both Approved Document M and the rights to access of the Disability Discrimination Act embodied in BS8300. But there are discrepancies between the two, on the figures for contrast and reflectivity of ironmongery to its surroundings and on door closer strength, for example, which affect the ability of the ambulant disabled to use them. Help is at hand, however. Last month, the Centre for Accessible Environments and RIBA Enterprises produced the third in their series of Specifiers' Handbooks for Inclusive Design, this time on architectural ironmongery. The handbook is an attempt to give clear guidance to designers when specifying ironmongery products for public buildings and the workplace, and takes account of the discrepancies between the ADM and BS8300. It also preempts the amendments to the BS (due out later this summer), which will bring it into line with the ADM.