Access Audits - Understanding the Strengths and Weaknesses of Building Performance

Access Audits can provide you with vital data on how your building performs in terms of access. Can people access your building easily and make the most of the service you provide? If not then you could be losing out both in terms of legalisation compliance and also customer satisfaction.

Accessing Buildings

There are a number of regulations that deal with the safe and easy access of buildings. One of the most important is the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). This act aims to ensure that all public service buildings can offer easy access for people of all types of mobility.

Complying with the provisions of the DDA and other legislation is the responsibility of the service provider. This means you need to use every resource at your disposal to analyse your business premises and ensure they are accessing for all of your employees and visitors.

Access Audits

The purpose of Access Audits is to help you establish the strengths and weaknesses of building performance in terms of ease of accessibility. This will include the building itself and also any grounds attached (such as car parks, outdoor seating areas etc.). This will ensure that your building can be access by a wide selection of users including those people who may have a physical or sensory disability.

• It is essential that you make use of Access Audits. These audits will help you to meet the requirements of the DDA and any other relevant legislation.

• Access Audits will look at the overall organisation and management of your buildings and the service you provide. You will be provided with a report that will assist you when planning how you can best achieve maximum accessibility for your potential users.

• Access Audits will be an integral part of your business Disabled Access Action Plan. This plan will help you to break down any adjustment you may need to make into reasonable stages.

• This means you will not have to spend a lot of time and money making intrusive adjustments or refurbishments all at once.

• Instead the Access Audits will identify which steps need to be taken immediately and which you can roll over to your regular refurbishment and maintenance schedule.

• Access Audits will assist you in identifying what you need to do to comply and also how you can best fit this into your budget and overall operational plan.

Access Audits Reports

Access Audits reports will be an important document for your business. This will record your building and establish clearly how well it can be accessed and used by employees and visitors. The report will highlight any good or bad practice and identify areas that need improvement. This can form the basis of your refurbishment plans for the future.

Another benefit of Access Audits reports is that they can suggest solutions to the problems you may have with access. This can be very helpful if you are not sure where to get started.