Upgrading older buildings for basic accessibility

An accessible entrance is one of the basic accessibility features that will meet the needs of persons with disabilities.

By BCA

Singapore’s progress towards being an inclusive society depends on having a friendly and accessible built environment for all. With Singapore’s proportion of the elderly population expected to reach 21% by 2025, the demand for accessible buildings by the elderly as well as persons with disabilities will only increase.

Existing inaccessible commercial and institutional buildings with planned A&A works must also be upgraded with minimum basic accessibility features, such as an accessible route at entrance level leading to the accessible toilet and lift lobby.

Over the past three decades, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has championed the principles of universal design and accessibility through the Code on Accessibility. While almost 100% of public sector buildings such as HDBs, community centres and polyclinics feature basic accessibility features, there still remains older commercial and institutional buildings that are inaccessible or challenging to persons with disabilities. These include offices, shopping centres, recreational clubs, amusement centres and health institutions which are frequented by the general public.

To bolster efforts in achieving essential accessibility for all buildings, amendments in the Building Control Act passed on 6 March 2020 will now require commercial and institutional buildings to also carry out basic accessibility upgrading if any Additions and Alterations (A&A) works are carried out in any parts of their building. Smaller buildings with a gross floor area of 500 m2and below are exempted from this requirement.

An accessible toilet at entrance level or at the specific location of the A&A works will be part of the new minimum basic accessibility features requirements for existing inaccessible commercial and institutional buildings.

Under the new rules, building owners who undertake any A&A works would be required to also upgrade their buildings with the following minimum basic accessibility features at the same or later time:

1. An accessible entrance;

2. An accessible route at entrance level leading to the accessible toilet and lift lobby; and

3. An accessible toilet at entrance level or at the specific location of the A&A works

These essential basic accessibility features will allow persons with disabilities, including the elderly, to easily access buildings, move along an accessible route and have an accessible toilet for use.

BCA has consulted industry stakeholdersin coming up with these amendments and they are supportive of these changes. The industry will be given sufficient notice ahead of the implementation of the new requirements, which will take place progressively from the second half of 2021.

Accessibility funding before 2021

Prior to the implementation of the basic accessibility legislation in the second half of 2021, building owners of eligible buildings who voluntarily undertake accessibility upgrading works may apply for the Accessibility Fund, which is administered by BCA.

The Accessibility Fund was established to help building owners co-fund voluntary accessibility upgrading works in private buildings built before 1990. Each development is eligible for up to two applications and could obtain a grant of up to S$300,000 per development.

Interested parties may reach out to BCA via the BCA Accessibility Fund Enquiry Form.

Read about other amendments to the Building Control Act, including the Periodic Façade Inspection (PFI) Regime.