Cafés and local shops will soon also have to be adapted for wheelchair users: “Not feasible everywhere” | inland

Flemish ministers Bart Somers (Open Vld) and Zuhal Demir (N-VA) announced the stricter standards today. It is striking that they will also apply to small buildings such as cafes, restaurants and convenience stores. But sports centres, doctors’ offices, nurseries, pharmacies and town halls with a surface area of ​​less than 150 square meters will also fall under the regulation.

From an initial estimate based on files from 13 local authorities, this would concern a 7,000 Flemish building permit that would only be issued in the new system if the building plans comply with the accessibility rules.

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From now on, the owner of the building must not only provide a wheelchair-accessible door, as in current legislation. Corridors must also be sufficiently wide, thresholds must be removed and people in wheelchairs must be given space to open doors independently. The rules will not only apply to visitor areas of companies, but also to staff areas.

In principle, future permits will only be issued if the owner of the building takes all obligations into account. Architects will have to be systematically aware of the rules in the future. And only in exceptional cases would it be possible to deviate from the framework, such as for small practice rooms in one’s own home or in historic buildings.

The regulations will be amended during this legislature, the ministers say.

NOOZO – Flemish Advisory Council on Disability responds with satisfaction to the announcement of stricter accessibility rules for small public spaces, but believes that the plans are too focused on accessibility for wheelchair users. “Other groups of people with disabilities (such as blind and partially sighted people) also have accessibility needs. Even though you can’t plan that as much, there are clear European standards to follow,” says spokesperson Reinhart Niesten.

The association also speaks of a “missed opportunity” because there is also a shortage of accessible homes. “At the moment, there is a lot of focus on the sustainability of buildings in new construction and renovations. As far as we are concerned, accessibility and adaptable building are also part of this.”

The self-employed organization Unizo also reacts critically to the proposal and calls it “not feasible everywhere”. which is practically possible,” says Unizo. “By applying all regulations rigidly everywhere, doing business in some buildings with smaller surfaces becomes difficult or impossible.” The independent organization therefore advocates an incentive policy that supports the necessary investments: “Let’s not overdo ourselves with rules that make some buildings simply unsuitable for business. The locations in the cores in particular are at risk of becoming the victims of this.”

NAV architects’ association welcomes the tightening of accessibility rules for small public buildings, as announced by the Flemish government today. But the appointment of an accredited expert to screen building plans before the government grants a permit is “overkill”, says chairman Dirk Mattheeuws. “Architects are already responsible and liable for the designs they draw up. If a design does not comply with current legislation, this can be regarded as a concept error with all the consequences for the architect.”

According to Architectenvereniging NAV, the new building standards will in any case have an impact on the price of major renovations and new construction projects.