Application

Application of
of Universal
Universal Design
Design Towards
Towards
World Class Cities
Prof Dato Ar Dr Asiah Abdul Rahim
Date: 24th November 2011
Venue: Berjaya Times Square
Kulliyyah Of Architecture
and Environmental Design,
International Islamic University Malaysia,
Jalan Gombak, 53100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel. : 03-6196 5225 Fax : 03-6196 4864
EMAIL: ar_asiah@yahoo.Com

IIUM Involvement in Access Audit In

Built Environment for 2010 & 2011
PBT Melaka
DBKL 4 workshops
IIUM
Majlis Perbandaran Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
Perbadanan Putrajaya
Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara, Sarawak

Access Audit Workshop In Built

Environment
Jointly organized with Jabatan Standards Malaysia
&
KAED Universal Design Unit, IIUM

Access Audit Workshop in IIUM 14th-16th July 2011

Access Audit Workshop in IIUM 14th-16th July 2011

Access Audit Workshop in IIUM 14th-16th July 2011

Access Audit Workshop in IIUM 14th-16th July 2011

Access Audit Workshop in IIUM 14th-16th July 2011

Access Audit Workshop in IIUM 14th-16th July 2011

Access Audit Workshop in Majlis Perbandaran Seremban

4th - 6th September 2011

Universal Design Product Competition 2011

KAED, IIUM

International Conference on Universal

Design in Built Environment
2011

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Sustainable Design for Accessibility should be considered
in all of our physical development in order to make our cities
world class. Accessibility is in the built environment is increasingly
relevant to Malaysia, not only to prepare for the ageing
population, the disabled but also the whole population at large.
According to UN, about 10% of each country population
constitutes the disabled people. According to Department of
Welfare, the total population of disabled is about 313,685.The
main purpose of this paper is to disseminate the participants the
concept of universal design, bad and good practices as well as
providing deeper understanding regarding the existing Malaysian
Standards and the future direction, and other related documents
including ISO Standards for disabled.

2.0 UNIVERSAL DESIGN CONCEPT

http://www.oki.com/en/csr/csract/customer/ud.html

2.1 RELATED CONCEPTS TO UNIVERSAL DESIGN

i) Barrier Free Design
Design for all, not limited to certain types of people.
ii) Architecture For All
Creating accessible environments and useful products that can
function for the highest number of people-of all ages, sizes and
different skills.
iii) Inclusive Design
Design of products, information and safer environments for all by
reducing the rate of accidents.

2.2 PRINCIPLES OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN

i) Equitable Use
The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
ii) Flexibility in Use
The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
iii) Simple and Intuitive Use
Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the users experience,
knowledge, language skills or current concentration level.
iv) Perceptible Information
The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of
ambient conditions or the users sensory abilities.
v) Tolerance for Error
The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or
unintended actions.
vi) Low Physical Effort
The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with minimum of fatigue.
vii) Size and Space for Approach and Use
Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation and use
regardless of users body size, posture or mobility.

2.3 ELEMENTS OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN

Universal design design of environments and products access to
buildings, horizontal circulation, vertical circulation, mechanical
circulation, sanitary circulation, indoor public facilities, outdoor public
facilities, amenities etc
Built environment: building typology, school, office, waterfront
development, parks
i) Vertical circulation (change of level): stairs, ramps, lifts, escalators
ii) Horizontal circulation: access routes, step ramps, corridors,
walkalators, bridges, crossings etc
Assistive products railings, grab rails, fittings
Communication and information signage, alarms, notices, digital,
switches, flashing lights, alarms

2.4 UNIVERSAL DESIGN IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Figure: Schematics Diagram of
Universal Design Application in
the Built Environment . (Source:
Asiah Abdul Rahim, 2010)

Structure

Internal Space
Vertical

circulation

product
Horizontal circulation

Private /inside building

Public/outside building

(Source: Asiah Abdul Rahim, 2010)

2.5 UNIVERSAL DESIGN CONSIDERATION

Existing Building

New Building

Clients
Brief

Design
Process

Pre
Construction
Process

Universal Design Consideration

Post
Construction

Post
Occupancy

Access Audit in Building

2.6 UNIVERSAL DESIGN INDEX

i) Connectivity
The degree to which the development is designed in a holistic manner.
ii) Accessibility
The availability and convenience of provisions.
iii) Usability
The provision of signage and way finding cues at main circulation spaces & leading to
public transport nodes and facilities.
iv) Safety
The degree to which walking surfaces are made safe and secure with attention to details.
v) Integrated Design
The demonstration of total design approach for targeted user groups.
vi) Operations And Maintenance
The degree which the organization is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive
built environment through the establishment of corporate policy.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN INDEX TABLE

Item

Percentage (100%)

Range of
Percentage

Index

Connectivity

15%

10-20%

Accessibility

25%

21-40%

Usability

20%

41-60%

Safety

20%

61-80%

Integrated Design

10%

81-100%

Operation and
Maintenance

10%

The Home and Living - Building community through accessibility Designing

for the life of a family

The Universal Design Pyramid

demonstrate the bottom
up methodology of universal
design.
Source: Universal Design Pyramid
(Goldsmith, 2000)

3.0 Malaysian Standards MS 1184 (2002)

a)
b)
c)
d)

e)
f)

These requirements are applicable to all buildings that disabled persons may use as members
of the general public, as visitors or for purposes of employment. Residential buildings will be
covered in another standard. Building types to which the recommendations of the code may
be applied include:
Offices, banks, post offices, shops, departmental stores, supermarkets, hotels and other
administrative and commercial building;
Rail, road, sea and air travel buildings and associated concourses, car-parking building and
factories;
Hospitals, medical centres, clinics and other health and welfare buildings;
Restaurants, concert halls, theatres, cinemas, conference buildings, community buildings,
swimming pools, sports buildings and other refreshment, entertainment and recreation
buildings;
Religious buildings; and
Schools, hostels, colleges, universities, zoos, museums, art galleries, libraries, etc.

3.1 MALAYSIAN STANDARDS MS 1331 (2003)

The Malaysian Standard specifies the basic

requirement for the provision and design of outdoor
facilities so as to permit access for people with
disabilities.
Footpath, lighting, step ramps, stairs, handrails,
guiding blocks, pedestrian crossings, parking,
circulation spaces

3.2 PERSONS WITH DISABLE ACT 2008

Part IV - Promotion and development of the quality of life and
wellbeing of persons with disabilities (chapter 1 - accessibility)
i) Access to public facilities, amenities and services and buildings
ii) Access to public transport facilities
iii) Access to education
iv) Access to employment
v) Access to information, communication and technology
vi) Access to cultural life
vii) Access to recreation , leisure and sport

3.3 UNIFORM BUILDING BY-LAW (UBBL) 34 A

In exercise of the power conferred by section 133 of the Street, Drainage and Building
Act 1974, the State Authority makes the following by-laws;
These by-laws may be cited as the Uniform Building (Amendment) By-laws
(UBBL)1991.
By-laws 2 of the UBBL 1984, which is this By-laws is referred to as the principal Bylaws is amended by inserting immediately after interpretation detached building
the following interpretation: disable persons means people; with a physical,
hearing or sight impairment which affects their mobility or their use of buildings.

3.4 MS 2015:2006 PUBLIC TOILET, PART 1

The main objective of the Malaysian Standard is to

assist in the provision of clean, hygienic, safe and
convenient-to-use public toilet facilities of
appropriate design and quality and to give guidance
on the basic care and maintenance of the facilities.
(pg 1, MS 2015:part 1, 2006)

3.5 MALAYSIAN STANDARD CODES OF PRACTICE &

OTHER RELATED ACT/GUIDELINE DOCUMENTS

Town and country planning act 1976 (Act 172) include amended act 1995
(Act A 933)
Federal Territory (Planning) Act 1982 (Act 267)
Street, drainage and building act,1974 (Akta133)
Uniform building by- law, 1984
Guideline of Building Requirement for Disable by Local Government
Department, 1999.
Building Requirement for Disable by JPBD, 2000.
Malaysia standard, MS 1183:1991; Code of Practice for mean of escape for
disabled persons to Public Building
Malaysia standard, MS 1184:2002; Code of Practice for the disabled
persons to inside Public Building
Malaysia standard, MS 1331:2003; Code of Practice for the disabled
persons to outside Public Building
Designing a barrier free city, Interim report of Kuala Lumpur Local Plan
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2008

4.0 PHYSICAL BARRIERS FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS

Staircases (no handrails and high risers)
Lifts (high button panels, not maintained lifts and small lifts)
Toilets (narrow entrance, no grab bars, no space to maneuver,
high mirror)
Accessible parking (far from entrance, insufficient space for
unloading wheelchair, no disabled parking permits)
Public transportation (lack regular bus service to cater
wheelchair users)
Indoor problems (high switches, high service counters, no lift
for buildings higher than 4 storey)
Outdoor (no curb cuts on walkways, poor signage)

4.1 PHYSICAL BARRIERS FOR DEAF AND HARD OF

HEARING PERSON
Hard to get disaster warning/alerting system
Hard to communicate when travelling especially in airports
and highways.
Constraints in lift service (flashing lights, emergency buttons)
Difficulties in building entrance, information counters

PHYSICAL BARRIERS

PHYSICAL BARRIERS

5.0 CASE STUDY: UNITED KINGDOM

Pedestrian Friendly walkway

Clear intersection between junctions.

Comfortable multi-purpose walkway

Open space design with consideration of

PWDs facilities

CASE STUDY: SINGAPORE

Clear signage for the PWD

Correct use of gradient for the ramp

Correct use of warning block

Height of the public phone complying

to the standards

Comfortable width of walkway within local

neighbourhood.

Suitable finishes help in providing good and

safe outdoor environment

CASE STUDY: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

(KLCC)

Ramp facility with consideration of Malaysian Standards, provided

facing towards the main entrance of Suria KLCC

Ramp facility with consideration

of Malaysian Standards

Suitable floor finishes to compliment the ramp

towards the water front

Suitable finishes help in providing good and safe outdoor

environment

Comfortable multi-purpose walkway with Pedestrian Friendly

user for the PWDs

Correct use of gradient for the ramp for the

outdoor usage

Clear signage provided at the public toilet for the usage of PWDs

The width of the parking provided for PWDs is accessible and located
near to the elevator

 The new revised MS Standard refer to

Toronto Standard, Singapore
Standard, Japan Standard, Australian
Standard, American Standard, British
Standard etc. Example as shown
below
Vehicular Parking and access (new
clause No. 1.2.5)
In proportion of 5 space to every 100
vehicles.
Should be located nearest to the main
entrance and nearest to an accessible
vertical circulation if located in levels
other than nearer the main entrance.
(Source: British Standards BS83000)

 All Ramps design should:

be provided with landing rest
areas not less than 1200 mm in
length at intervals of not more
than 3000 mm.
be provided on each side thereof
with a handrail.
be provided on the open side
with a kerb not less than 100 mm
Goinghigh
of a
Maximum
Maximum
flight

gradient

rise

10 m

1:20

500 mm

5m

1:15

333 mm

2m

1:12

166 mm

NOTE. For going between 2 m and 10 m, it is acceptable to

interpolate between the maximum gradients, i.e. 1:14 for a 4 m
going or 1:19 for 9 m (see Diagram 3)

Source: Singapore Standard, Chapter 3.

Source: Singapore Standard, Chapter 3.

 Main Entrances
Shall be through the main
entrance of the building.
Directional signs bearing the
symbol shall be displayed at
all other non- accessible
entrances to direct persons
with disabilities to the
accessible entrance.
Entrances and exits used by
the visually impaired persons
should be identified for them
by tactile blocks as shown in
figure.

Source: Japan Standards, pg. 12-13.

 Step Ramps
there is a change of level
of not more than 166 mm
or goings not more than 2
000 mm within a building
a step ramp, constructed
in accordance with Figure
3, may be provided in
place of a pathway or an
internal ramp.

Source: Toronto Guidelines, fig. 5 pg. 5.

Maneuvering spaces at doors

The doorway of a one-way swing
door shall have maneuvering spaces
on both sides for wheelchairs and
the following clear spaces shall be
provided adjacent to the leading
edge of the door as illustrated in
following figure.

(a) on the pull side, a

minimum space of 600 mm;
and
(b) on the push side, a
minimum space of 300 mm.
Where two-way swing
doors or sliding doors are
used, a minimum space of
300 mm adjacent to the
leading edge of the door
shall be provided on each
side of the door.
Source: Singapore Code (pg. 46-55)

 Two Doors in Series.

The minimum space between two hinged doors or pivoted doors in series shall
be 1200 mm plus the width of the door swinging into that space as illustrated.

Source: Singapore Code (pg. 46-55)

Source: Singapore Code (pg. 46-55)

 Stairs

Straight and return stairs should have landings to minimize the

danger in case of a fall.
Handrails should be installed for use especially by people with
walking difficulties, elderly people, and visually impaired people.
Treads and landings should have a non-slip surface.
Nosing should be easily distinguishable by colour. It should not
protrude to cause stumbling.
Tactile warning blocks should be laid at the landing on the top
and bottom of the stairs to ensure they are easily detectable
(tiles are not necessary in landings where handrails continue on
from the steps).

Source: Japan Standards (pg. 55)

Source: Japan Standards (pg. 55)

Source: Canada BC, (pg. 44)

 Escalators and Moving Walks

If normal access by elevators is difficult, wheelchair accessible escalators
should be installed.
Escalators should be located next to the main route of access.
Fixed handrails should be installed at both ends of escalators to improve
safety for elderly and disabled people.
Emergency stop buttons should be installed on a wall surface or post near the
escalator landing.
Users should be alerted by installing tactile tiles or audible information devices
in the escalator landing areas.
Signs and information displays should provide clear directions to escalators.

Source: Japan Standard (pg. 62)

Source: Japan Standard (pg. 62)

Public Transport

[Slides: Joseph Kwan]

Public Taxicabs

[Slides: Joseph Kwan]

PRODUCT EXAMPLES
Tactile mobile device for visual impaired.
Tactile is a future application of electro
tactile technology that engages the sense
of touch by sending digital information as
beats of electricity. There are conductive
pins beneath the multi-touch screen that
sends beats electricity to simulate
physical pressure from the nerves of the
users fingertips. Each pin acts as a pixel
of digital texture that can change
dynamically to allow the blind and visually
impaired people to navigate menus and
other complex features.

(Source: www.tuvie.com)

72

Tactile watch for visual impaired.

The feeling of raised minute and hour
hands with respect to the dots,
positioned around the watch face helps
the visually disabled to know the current
time. Rather than employing a dial, the
watch hands are stimulated directly to
create a tactile experience. The
watchband is made out of flexible rubber
material, which makes it even easier for
the blind people to take on and off.

(Source: www.tuvie.com)

73

Digital piano for hearing impaired.

Beyond Silence concept focuses on
the fact that hearing-impaired people
can sense and feel the vibration of the
music. This concept also helps children
to play the piano by feeling the wave
and vibration of each tune from the
resonance board. The bottom part of
Beyond Silence digital piano concept
has been designed with a diaphragm
to create stronger vibrations and
music waves for other hearingimpaired people to feel on the ground.

(Source: www.tuvie.com)

74

Learning tool for hearing impaired.

Oftentimes deaf children are not able to speak
effectively due to their disability to listen
normally. VV-Talker is an electronic device
designed specifically for those hearing
impaired children. This device works in such a
manner that it impersonates the actions of the
speech, allowing the deaf children to learn via the
vibration of body parts while we are talking.

(Source: www.tuvie.com)

75

ATM Machines
(Source: Joseph Kwan, 2011)

Public Facilities

(Source: Joseph Kwan, 2011)

Wheelchair designs

Mobile phone with large button for

the elderly. There are S.O.S button at
the back that will call a pre-set
emergency numbers and produce loud
warning alarm.

(Source: http://babikenshop.com)

UD
Products

(Source: Joseph Kwan, 2011)

REFERENCES

REFERENCE

Asiah Abdul Rahim (2006):Barrier Free Architecture from Islamic Perspective and Architecture for All;13-15 June 2006,Renaissance Hotel,
Kuala Lumpur.
Asiah Abdul Rahim (2006): Universal Design and Inclusive Design for the built Environment; 9 June 2006, Renaissance Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
Asiah Abdul Rahim (2006): Universal Design and Inclusive Design for the built Environment; 20 May 2006,Johor Bharu, Johor
Asiah Abdul Rahim (2006):Keperluan Pengguna dan Reka Bentuk Bangunan Untuk Warga Tua Malaysia;Universiti Islam Antarabangsa,
Malaysia.
Asiah Abdul Rahim (2005): Inclusive Design/Universal Design For Built Environment; 28 Sept.-1 Oct. 2005, Architects Meeting at Bayview
Beach Resort, Batu Feringgi, Pulau Pinang, Malaysi
Asiah Abdul Rahim (2005): Inclusive And Universal Design: Arcitecture For All; Brunei, 27 July 6 August 2005, Convention On Education
And Professionalism. Toward A Nation with Education, Professionalism & Ethics
Asiah Abdul Rahim (2004): Country plan of Action (Malaysia) on Non-handicapping Environment; 18-22 Feb. 2004, Asia Hotel, Bangkok,
Thailand during Non-handicapping environment workshop for national trainers and policy makers, Bangkok, Thailand.
British Standards
Canada BC
Japan Standards
MS 2015: Public Toilet, Part 1 (2006): Minimum Design Criteria
MS 2015: Public Toilet, Part 2 (2006): Inspection Criteria
MS 2015: Public Toilet, Part 3 (2006): Rating Criteria
MS 2015: Public Toilet, Part 4 (2006): Code of Practice for Maintenance
MS 1184: 2002 (revised) Malaysian Standard: Code of Practice on Access for disabled inside public buildings
MS 1331: 2003 (revised) Malaysian Standard: Code of Practice on access for disabled persons outside public buildings
Singapore Code.
Singapore Standards.
Toronto Guidelines.
Naziaty Mohd Yaacob, Universal Design in Built Environment, Bengkel Modul Latihan Audit Akses Kemudahan Orang Kurang Upaya
Anjuran Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur dan Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat.

Thank You.
Email: ar_asiah@yahoo.com