“Accessibility” Requirements for

Persons with Disabilities

Overview: This guide outlines when buildings and occupancies must be accessible to persons with
disabilities and provides a number of illustrations from the “Building Access Handbook” as examples
of the British Columbia Building Code (BCBC) requirements. This guide does not include an
exhaustive list but is meant to highlight typical requirements. The BCBC Sections 3.7 and 3.8 should
be consulted for details and requirements for specific occupancies and situations.

“Accessibility” Required For:

New Buildings
The requirements for persons with disabilities apply to all storeys of buildings of new construction. See
“Exemptions Include” below.
Additions
The requirements for persons with disabilities apply to vertical additions of 1 storey over 600 m2 in floor
area or two or more storeys regardless of floor area.
The requirements for persons with disabilities apply to horizontal additions unless the enlarged building is
exempt as described below under “Exemptions Include”.
Alterations, Renovations and Changes in Occupancy (i.e: conversion of a retail store to a restaurant)
The requirements for persons with disabilities shall apply where persons with disabilities could
reasonably be expected to be employed in or use such an occupancy or building. The Building Code
permits exceptions in cases where providing access is unusually difficult.

Exemptions Include:
• The storey next above or below the accessible storey in a building or suite not more than two
storeys in building height provided the floor area is less than 600 m2 (and for suites <600 m2 in
area), it does not contain facilities integral to the principle function of the accessible storey and
does not contain an assembly major occupancy over 100 m2.
• Dwelling units, row houses, boarding and lodging houses (Group C).
• Apartment buildings except for the main entry and elevators (Group C).
• Retail stores with a floor space less than 50 m2 (Group E).
• Heavy industrial occupancies (Group F-1).

Access is Required:
• From the street to either the main entrance or a clearly marked alternate entrance.
• To all areas where work functions can reasonably be expected to be performed by persons with
disabilities.
• To all public areas and facilities available to the public (ie, bank tellers and hairdressing sinks).
• To counters serving the public and intended as a work surface for extended business transactions
with a knee space (minimum 760 mm (30”) wide by 865 mm (34”) high), (see counter detail).
• To an “accessible” toilet room.
• To an exit at grade or onto a ramp that leads to grade.

If you have any questions or require clarification, please contact a commercial plans reviewer at our office at
250-755-4429. Additional guidelines and forms are available on the City of Nanaimo web site www.nanaimo.ca
under Department, Building Inspections, Publications and Forms or at our office, at 411 Dunsmuir Street.
This guideline should not be used as a substitute for existing building codes and other regulations. The building
owner is responsible for compliance with all codes, bylaws, and other regulations whether or not described in this
guideline.
Revised: 2015-Mar-05 Building Inspections Forms and Handouts
G:\DSDSystem\Handouts\Building\Commercial\AccessibilityForPersonsWithDisabilities.docx Page 1 of 4
 Guide to Building Code Parameters for
“Accessible” Washroom Design
This guide provides visual references only.
Refer to the 2012 BC Building Code for complete written requirements.

685
(27”)

800 mm minimum

800 mm minimum

Clear Doorway Width

Revised: 2015-Mar-05 Building Inspections Forms and Handouts

G:\DSDSystem\Handouts\Building\Commercial\AccessibilityForPersonsWithDisabilities.docx Page 2 of 4
 Guide to Building Code Parameters for
Ramp Design

This is a brief guide only; refer to the BC Building Code for the complete requirements.

RAMP OPTIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES – INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR:

Maximum
Ramp Slope Minimum Ramp Maximum Minimum Landing Size Handrails
Landing Comments
Height to Length Ratio Width (mm) Length Width x Length (mm) Required
Intervals
slopes less than this are
> 1 in 20 to 1 in 16 1500 None 12 m 1500 x 1500 both sides
not considered a ramp

> 1 in 16 to 1 in 12 1500 None 9m 1500 x 1500 both sides

ramps repeated
890 to 940
> 1 in 12 to 1 in 10 6m - ramp width x 1500 both sides sequentially in series
between handrails
prohibited
known as “curb cuts”
curb cuts repeated
> 1 in 10 to 1 in 8 1500 600 mm - 1500 x 1500 not required
sequentially in series
prohibited

RAMP OPTIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES – INTERIOR WIDE PASSAGE:

Passageway Width (mm) Minimum Ramp Width (mm)

up to and including 6,000 915 between handrails

1 ramp option 1500

> 600

2 separate ramps
915 between handrails
option

ADDITIONAL NOTES TO ABOVE TABLES:

1. Ramps may need to be wider to accommodate minimum egress/exit widths.
2. Handrails must be mounted 865mm to 965mm above the ramp surface. Guards 1070mm high may be required.
3. Where the ramp is 1500mm wide, handrails may project a maximum 100mm from each side of the ramp into this
width (total width reduction 200mm).
4. At least one handrail must have 300mm horizontal extensions beyond both top and bottom of the ramp slope.
5. If there is a vertical drop of more than 75mm at the side of the ramp, a 75mm high curb must be provided at the
side of the ramp or alternatively flanking walls, railings, or other such barriers must be provided such that the gap
from the ramp surface to the underside of such barriers is a maximum 75mm.
6. Ramp surface must be slip-resistant and must not have gratings which permit passage of a 13mm spherical
object. Gratings with elongated openings must have them oriented approximately perpendicular to the direction
of travel.
7. Ramp must be free of obstruction to a height of 1980mm (2100mm if to be used by ambulatory persons).
8. Persons who have suffered a stroke, have partial paralysis, or who are unstable on their feet may be unaware of
a changing floor plane, thereby experiencing instability when encountering a shallow ramp or sloping floor; stairs
in addition to ramps should be considered.

Revised: 2015-Mar-05 Building Inspections Forms and Handouts

G:\DSDSystem\Handouts\Building\Commercial\AccessibilityForPersonsWithDisabilities.docx Page 3 of 4
 Guide to Building Code Parameters for “Accessible”
Doors, Counters, Stairs, Handrails & Tactile Warning Strip Design
This guide provides visual references only.
Refer to the 2012 BC Building Code for complete written requirements.

Revised: 2015-Mar-05 Building Inspections Forms and Handouts

G:\DSDSystem\Handouts\Building\Commercial\AccessibilityForPersonsWithDisabilities.docx Page 4 of 4