DDA Disability Discrimination Act, DDA Disability Discrimination Act works to protect people with disabilities. This act came into effect in 1995. The act is the civil rights law that helps to combat the discrimination. This act is in force in United Kingdom including Ireland & Scotland.
DDA definition of physical feature, Anything on the premises arising from a building’s design or construction or the approach to, exit from or access to such a building: fixtures, fittings, furnishings, equipment or materials and any other physical element or the quality of land in the premises whether temporary or permanent.
Entrances & Exits, The access (Entry & Exit) should be wide enough for the users. Wheelchair users generally need at least 750mm clear opening width (space available between the door frame & the door in the open position). If doorways do not meet this specification, you may need to have the doorway widened if there is no alternative way in.
The recommended width is for DDA compliant access gates is 900~940mm
DDA Compliance, Indicates whether a particular product is capable of allowing use by a disabled person. Previously this related to The Disability Discrimination Act, 1995. The applicable Act (except in Northern Ireland) is now The Equality Act 2010.
The standard width of lanes is 500 – 660mm. This dimension is critical to ensure that two users cannot enter through the turnstiles `side by side’ thereby gaining unauthorized access. While as the DDA compliant wheelchair accessible Lanes is 900 – 940mm thereby allows passage for wheelchair users and those with other impairments or who are in need of assistance.
Most the modern buildings and shopping malls have DDA Disability Discrimination Act enabled paths for turnstiles so that proper location is made available to physically challenged pedestrians. In general for wider entrances at metro stations etc one path is always dedicated DDA Disability Discrimination Act enabled entrance with a symbol showing wheelchair.