Hea06 - Accessibility – Above Green

Minimum standard for residential buildings. (credits dependent on building type)

Aim

To recognise and encourage effective measures that promote safe and secure use, and access to and from the building.

Assessment criteria

The following is required to demonstrate compliance:

One credit - Safe access

Dedicated cycle lanes are provided which meet the following minimum width dimensions:

1.a

Where pedestrian and cycle routes are shared, the minimum total width of the combined path is 3.0m

1.b

Where the cycle lane is segregated from both the pedestrian route and carriageway, the minimum width of the cycle path is 2.0m and the pedestrian path is 1.5m

1.c

Where the cycle route forms a part of the carriageway, the minimum width of the lane is 1.5m.

Dedicated cycle paths provide direct access from the site entrances to any cycle storage provided, without the need to deviate from the cycle path and, if relevant, connect to off-site cycle paths (or other appropriate safe route) where these run adjacent to the development’s site boundary.

Footpaths on site provide direct access from the site entrances to the building entrances and connect to public footpaths off-site (where existing), providing practical and convenient access to local transport nodes and other off-site amenities (where existing).

Where provided, drop-off areas are designed off, or adjoining, the access road and provide direct access to pedestrian footpaths, therefore avoiding the need for the pedestrian to cross vehicle access routes.

Dedicated pedestrian crossings are provided where pedestrian routes cross vehicle access routes, and appropriate traffic calming measures are in place to slow traffic down at these crossing points.

For large developments with a high number of public users or visitors, pedestrian footpaths must be signposted to other local amenities and public transport nodes off-site (where existing).

The lighting for access roads, pedestrian routes and cycle lanes is compliant with the external lighting criteria defined in Hea 01 Visual comfort, i.e. in accordance with the national best practice road lighting guide.

Where vehicle delivery access and drop-off areas form part of the assessed development, the following apply:

Delivery areas are not directly accessed through general parking areas and do not cross or share pedestrian and cyclist routes, and other outside amenity areas accessible to building users and the general public.

There is a dedicated parking or waiting area for goods vehicles with appropriate separation from the manoeuvring area and staff and visitor car parking.

Parking and turning areas are designed for simple manoeuvring according to the type of delivery vehicle likely to access the site, thus avoiding the need for repeated shunting.

There is a dedicated space for the storage of refuse skips and pallets away from the delivery vehicle manoeuvring area and staff or visitor car parking (if appropriate given the building type or function).

Inclusive and accessible design (all buildings except residential)

One credit

The building is designed to be fit for purpose, appropriate and accessible by all potential users.

An access strategy is developed in line with Checklist A3. The access strategy addresses, as a minimum, access to and throughout the development for all users, with particular emphasis on the following:

13.a

Disabled users; addressing and proposing design solutions that remove obstacles that define disability

13.b

People of different age groups, genders, ethnicity and fitness levels

13.c

Parents with children (where appropriate to building use or type).

Facilities are provided for future building occupants and users (see Compliance notes) including, where relevant, facilities that can be shared and are accessible to members of the public or community without gaining uncontrolled access to other parts of the building (unless security processes and procedures prohibit this).

Inclusive and accessible design (residential only)

Two credits

Where there are national best practice standards or local legislation in place that cover (as a minimum) the Lifetime Homes checklist requirements (see Checklist A4), the assessed development must ensure compliance with these standards or legislation.

Where the country of assessment does not have a compliant local standard the developer or designer must confirm (using Checklist A4) that the assessed development meets all of the Lifetime Homes criteria.

Checklists and tables

None.

Compliance notes

Ref	Terms	Description
Shell and core (non-residential and residential institutions only)
CN1	Applicable assessment criteria	Both options: All criteria relevant to the building type and function apply. Refer to Appendix D – Shell and core project assessments for a more detailed description of the shell and core assessment options.
Residential - Partially fitted and fully fitted
CN2	Applicable assessment criteria - Single dwellings	Safe access: criteria 1 to 11 Both options: These criteria are not applicable. Inclusive and accessible design (non-residential only): criteria 12 to 14 Both options: These criteria are not applicable. Inclusive and accessible design (residential only): criteria 15to 16 Both options: All criteria relevant to the building type and function apply. Refer to Appendix E – Applicability of BREEAM New Construction to single and multiple dwellings, partially and fully fitted for a more detailed description of residential assessment options.
CN2.1	Applicable assessment criteria - Multiple dwellings	Safe access: criteria 1 to 11 Both options: All criteria relevant to the building type and function apply. Inclusive and accessible design (non-residential only): criteria 12 to 14 Both options: These criteria are not applicable. Inclusive and accessible design (non-residential only): criteria 15 to 16 Both options: All criteria relevant to the building type and function apply. Refer to Appendix E – Applicability of BREEAM New Construction to single and multiple dwellings, partially and fully fitted for a more detailed description of residential assessment options.
General
CN3	Development does not have any external site areas. See criteria 1 to 11 .	The safe access criteria apply only to developments that have areas external to the assessed building and within the boundary of the assessed development (regardless of whether or not that external area is or will be the responsibility of the future building occupant). This includes external parking areas. If the assessed building does not have any external areas and access to the building is direct from the public highway or footpath, i.e. there is no on site vehicle access and parking areas, then the criteria concerning safe access are not applicable. In such instances the two available credits must be assessed and awarded based on compliance with the Inclusive and accessible design criteria.
CN3.1	Covered parking area. See criteria 2 to 11 .	Where the assessed building has no external areas but does have a covered parking facility, and cyclists or pedestrians or delivery vehicles access the building via this area, then the relevant safe access criteria apply and this area must be assessed against those criteria.
CN3.2	Delivery access through parking areas (smaller sites and deliveries). See criteria 2 to 11 (apart from 8 ).	Criterion 8 (delivery access through general parking areas) can be relaxed for smaller sites if it can be confirmed that the building is of an operational type and size which is likely to mean that all deliveries to the building will be made by small vans and not heavy goods vehicles.
CN3.3	No vehicle delivery and manoeuvring areas. See criteria 2 to 7 .	The criteria concerning vehicle delivery access are not applicable where dedicated delivery access and drop-off areas do not form part of the assessed development.
CN3.4	Dedicated footpaths from car parking spaces	Where it is not practical to provide dedicated footpaths from each parking space within a car park, it is expected that design teams take every practical measure to ensure the safety of pedestrians. In general terms, as a minimum, a safe pedestrian route should be provided from the pedestrian exit of the car park to the building entrance. For larger car parks it would be beneficial to provide footpaths at regular intervals across it, to aid safe access from the car to the building entrance, and the design team should demonstrate that they have achieved this as far as is practical.
CN3.5	Shared facilities	No criteria have been set in this respect as the types of space or facilities will vary according to the building size, type, use and consultation feedback. Typical facilities that could be shared with others might include: Sports facilities Meeting and conference rooms Amenity space for staff or visitors (internal or external).
CN3.6	Existing facilities	Where existing facilities are present on site that comply with the shared facilities assessment criteria (including the involvement of users and the community in the consultation stage), the credits can be awarded. These facilities could be within an existing building that does not form part of the assessment, provided the building is accessible to all relevant building users.
CN3.7	Potential users of shared facilities	Potential users of shared facilities are identified as appropriate and can include all or any of the following (if relevant to the building type and use): Extra-curricular users and uses Local authority or other provider of local community services Local residents Adult education Volunteer groups Local businesses Operators or members of clubs and community groups.

Methodology

None.

Evidence

Criteria

Interim design stage

Final Post-construction stage

1–11

Design drawings (including a scaled site plan), or relevant sections of the specification highlighting all necessary compliant features and dimensions. Where applicable, confirmation that the minimum requirements as set out in the Approved standards and weightings list are met.

Assessor’s building or site inspection and photographic evidence confirming compliance or ‘as-built’ site plan and design details.

12–14

The access strategy.

Design drawings, or relevant section or clauses of the building specification or contract.

BREEAM Assessor’s site inspection report and photographic evidence.

15–16

A completed Checklist A4 indicating commitment to comply with all applicable points from 1–16, signed by the developer. Drawings or a copy of the specification confirming compliance with items in Checklist A4.

A completed as-built Checklist A4 indicating compliance with all applicable points from 1–16. BREEAM Assessor’s site inspection report and photographic evidence or as-built drawings.

Additional information

Relevant definitions

External site areas: Areas external to the assessed building, but within the development’s site boundary, which contain vehicle or pedestrian access roads or pathways to the building, parking, unloading and drop-off areas.

Other information

None.