Building Audits

A building accessibility audit is an assessment of a building's compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC) and the Disability Access to Premises Standards (DAPS) with the aim of identifying barriers that may limit accessibility for people with disabilities. It is typically conducted by an access consultant who has expertise in the field of accessibility.

An accessibility audit is a good idea for new builds during the design stage as it helps to ensure that the building will meet the necessary accessibility standards from the beginning, reducing the need for costly retrofits in the future. Additionally, for existing buildings, an accessibility audit can help identify areas where improvements can be made to make the building more accessible and compliant with the NCC and DAPS. This can include the installation of ramps, automatic doors, and accessible toilets, or the modification of doorways and other areas to make them wheelchair accessible.

Examples of why an access audit is a good idea include:

• Auditing a new building during the design stage can ensure that it meets the necessary accessibility standards from the beginning, reducing the need for costly retrofits in the future.

• An accessibility audit can help identify areas where improvements can be made to make an existing building more accessible and compliant with the NCC and DAPS.

• Conducting an accessibility audit can identify areas where a building may be non-compliant with the NCC and DAPS, which can help the building owner to avoid penalties or legal action.

• It can help to ensure that people with disabilities have access to the building and can use it safely and comfortably.

In conclusion, Building accessibility audit is an assessment of a building's compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC) and the Disability Access to Premises Standards (DAPS) with the aim of identifying barriers that may limit accessibility for people with disabilities. It is an essential aspect of ensuring that buildings are accessible to all, and it is a good idea to conduct an accessibility audit during the design stage of new builds, as well as for existing buildings. The audit can help identify areas where improvements can be made to make the building more accessible and compliant with the NCC and DAPS. This can include the installation of ramps, automatic doors, and accessible toilets, or the modification of doorways and other areas to make them wheelchair accessible. It can also help building owners to avoid penalties or legal action for non-compliance with the NCC and DAPS. By conducting a building accessibility audit, it ensures that people with disabilities have access to the building and can use it safely and comfortably.