Access

An accessible path of travel shall be provided:

• from the street and private parking area to at least one main entrance
• from the main entrance to all suite entry doors unless prohibited by the terrain or unusual characteristics of the site
• from the main entrance to the elevator
• from the main entrance to each type of common amenity area (e.g. containing recreational, storage and laundry facilities)

Door assemblies¹ in the accessible path of travel shall:

• provide a clear opening of not less than 850 millimetres (mm) if there is only one door leaf
• have the active leaf providing a clear opening of not less than 850 mm (in a doorway with multiple leaves)
• be operable by devices which do not require tight grasping or twisting of the wrist as the only mean of operation (excluding doors not intended for resident access such as maintenance rooms) when a force of not more than 38 Newtons² (N) for exterior doors and not more than 22 N for interior doors is applied at the handle
• have a push plate or latch releasing device except for locations where greater pressures are required to ensure proper building function, and
• have a closing period (if equipped with a closer) of not less than 3 seconds measured from the door in an open position of 70 degrees to the doorway to a point 75 mm from the closed position measured from the leading edge of the latch side of the door.

Building entrances in accessible paths of travel shall:

• provide protection from the rain
• have doors that are power-operated, functioning for passage in both directions

Doorways in accessible paths of travel shall:

• Have a clear and level area
• when the door swing is towards this area, not less than 1500 mm long by a width equal to the door assembly width plus not less than 600 mm clear space beside the latching jamb of the door
• when the door swing is away from this area, not less than 1220 mm long by a width equal to the door assembly width plus not less than 300 mm clear space beside the latching jamb of the door
• when sliding doors are power-operated or when power-operated doors swing away from the area, of not less than 1100 mm long by the width of the door assembly

Doors installed in series shall be separated by a space not less than 1220 mm plus the width of any door swinging into the separating space

Doorway thresholds in accessible paths of travel, where not flush with the floor, shall be not more than 13 mm above the floor and shall be bevelled

Where any main entrance does not provide access, a sign shall be installed as far ahead of any wheelchair obstruction is practical so as to indicate clearly the location of the accessible main entrance

If a walkway or pedestrian bridge connects accessible storeys in different buildings, the path of travel from one storey to the other storey by means of the walkway or bridge shall be accessible

The minimum width of an accessible pathway shall be not less than 1220 mm

Corridors shall provide a clear area not less than 1500 x 1500 mm adjacent to the elevator entrance and at intervals of 10 m or less, whenever the corridor exceeds 10 m measured from the elevator entrance to the end of the corridor

Suite Doors and Doorways

Suite entry doors shall provide a clear opening of not less than 850 mm

Doorways for common living areas, including a minimum of one accessible bathroom and one accessible bedroom, within suites shall provide a clear opening width of not less than 800 mm

Doors shall be operable by devices which do not require tight grasping or twisting of the wrist as the only means of operation

Doors shall operate when a force of not more than 22 N is applied at the handle, push plate or latch releasing device

Door assemblies for suite entry and common living areas, including a minimum of one accessible bathroom and one accessible bedroom, shall have a clear and level area:

• when the door swing is away from this area, not less than 1220 mm long by a width equal to the door assembly width plus not less than 300 mm clear space beside the latching jamb of the door
• when the door swing is toward this area, not less than 1500 mm long by a width equal to the door assembly width plus not less than 600 mm clear space beside the latching jamb of the door

Bathrooms

There shall be at least one bathroom with enough floor space to be ‘minimally accessible’ and shall meet the following space requirements:

• Clear dimension from the front edge of the toilet to the facing wall shall be a minimum of 800 mm.
• Space from the front edge of the bathtub to the centre of the toilet shall be a minimum of 508 mm (20”).
• Clear floor area in front of the sink/lavatory shall be a minimum of 760 mm wide by 1220 mm deep centred on the sink/lavatory.

Reinforcement shall be provided in wall assemblies adjacent to a toilet and bathtub or shower to accommodate the future installation of vertical, horizontal or diagonal grab bars or towel bars and such reinforcement shall provide sufficient support to the bars such they will resist a vertical or horizontal load of not less than 1.3 kiloNewton³ (kN).

Grab bars that are installed shall resist a load not less than 1.3 kN applied vertically or horizontally

Kitchen

There shall be continuous counter space between the stove and sink

All kitchen faucets within dwelling units and common amenity spaces shall be operable by devices which do not require tight grasping, or twisting of the wrist as the only means of operation

Outlets / Switches / Other Environmental Controls

Controls for the operation of building services or safety devices, including electrical switches, thermostats and intercom switches, intended to be operated by the occupant and located in or adjacent to an accessible path of travel as well as within a suite shall be accessible to a person in a wheelchair, operable with one hand, and shall be no higher than 1200 mm above the floor

Electrical, cable and phone outlets intended to be used by the occupant and located in or adjacent to an accessible path of travel as well as within a suite shall be no lower than 455 mm above the floor

Telephone jacks shall be no farther than 200mm from an electrical outlet in the accessible bedroom

All switch types shall be operable with a closed fist (such as rocker switches)

Wiring for a visual alarm shall be tied into the fire alarm system for the future installation of such in the living room and the accessible bedroom

Patios and Balconies (future work)

Decks, balconies or patios provided for use by occupants of a dwelling unit shall be accessible to persons using wheelchairs by a design that does not compromise the water resistance of the building envelope.

For decks, balconies or patios directly accessed from and for the exclusive use of the occupants of a dwelling unit, access may be provided by a design that can be adapted in the future.