Through the promulgation and enforcement of the Barrier Free Law, building accessibility and mobility standards are introduced as barrier free standards for designated building facilities. These standards strengthen the accessibility standards based on the Heart Building Law in many areas, including the following:
- (1) Expansion of scope of targeted facilities Skip to headline 2
- (2) Strengthening of standards Back to headline 1 Skip to headline 3
- (3) Compatibility with other accessibility and mobility standards (mainly former provisions of Barrier Free Transport Law) Back to headline 2 Skip to headline 4
- Figure 2 Overview of Regulatory Provisions for Buildings Back to headline 3 Skip to headline 5
- Table 1 Scopes of Designated Buildings and Special Designated Buildings Back to headline 4 Skip to headline 6
- 2.1 Access standards checklist
Back to headline 5
Skip to headline 7
- General standards Skip to paragraph 2-2
- General standards Back to paragraph 2-1 Skip to paragraph 2-3
- Paths for visually impaired people (standards relating to one or more access routes from the road etc. to the facility) Back to paragraph 2-2 Skip to paragraph 2-4
- Access routes (standards relating to one or more access routes to public rooms, toilet cubicles and parking spaces for wheelchair users) Back to paragraph 2-3 Back to paragraph 2-1 Skip to headline 7
- 2.2 Accessibility standards checklist
Back to headline 6
Back to headline 1
- General standards Skip to paragraph 3-2
- General standards Back to paragraph 3-1 Skip to paragraph 3-3
- General standards Back to paragraph 3-2 Skip to paragraph 3-4
- General standards Back to paragraph 3-3 Skip to paragraph 3-5
- Paths for visually impaired people (standards relating to major routes from a street, etc. to a directory facility) Back to paragraph 3-4 Back to paragraph 3-1
(1) Expansion of scope of targeted facilities Skip to headline 2
1) Addition of public corridor to special designated buildings
[Article 5 of Enforcement Order]
A public corridor is newly defined as a special designated building to promote mobility and accessibility in an integrated and continued manner.
2) Addition of guest room of hotel or inn to designated building facilities
[Article 6 of Enforcement Order]
In response to the scandal involving illegal modifications of disabled-friendly guest rooms carried out by a hotel chain, which was uncovered in January this year, a guest room of a hotel or inn is newly defined as a designated building facility, with an obligation for hotels and inns to maintain guest rooms for wheelchair users introduced (hotels with 50 or more guest rooms required to maintain at least one guest room for wheelchair users).
→Upgrading from building accessibility and mobility standards
Reference information :
Addition of directory facilities, etc. to building accessibility and mobility standards [Article 20 of Enforcement Order]
An obligation to establish directory facilities or information desks (= directory facilities or the like) designed to provide layout and other directory information on facilities needed to allow the elderly, disabled and others to gain easy access to and use of a building (elevators and other vertical transport devices, parking spaces for wheelchair users, and the like) is introduced.
(2) Strengthening of standards Back to headline 1 Skip to headline 3
1) Lowering of cut-off floor area for mandatory installation of public toilet
[Article 9 of Enforcement Order]
In line with reality, the minimum total floor area for the applicability of the standards compliance obligation for a public toilet is lowered from 200m² to 50m².
(3) Compatibility with other accessibility and mobility standards (mainly former provisions of Barrier Free Transport Law) Back to headline 2 Skip to headline 4
In light of the establishment of an integrated accessibility and mobility law, efforts are made to ensure the consistency of overall standards as much as possible.
- Consistency of the width and depth of an elevator [Article 18 of Enforcement Order]
- Installation of signage for major facilities designed to improve accessibility and mobility (standardization of pictograms) [Article 19 of Enforcement Order]
- Installation of a rinsing device in toilets (one that accommodates ostomates) [Article 14 of Enforcement Order]
- Rationalization of standards for urination facilities for men (addition of a low-lip wall-mounted urinal as a sample design) [Article 14 of Enforcement Order]
Figure 2 Overview of Regulatory Provisions for Buildings Back to headline 3 Skip to headline 5
Table 1 Scopes of Designated Buildings and Special Designated Buildings Back to headline 4 Skip to headline 6
Designated buildings | Special designated buildings |
---|---|
1. A school | 1. A special education school |
2. A hospital or clinic | 2. A hospital or clinic |
3. A theater, pavilion, movie theater or entertainment hall | 3. A theater, pavilion, movie theater or entertainment hall |
4. A meeting hall or public hall | 4. A meeting hall or public hall |
5. An exhibition hall | 5. An exhibition hall |
6. A wholesale market or a merchandise store, such as a department store or a market | 6. A department store, market or other merchandise store |
7. A hotel or inn | 7. A hotel or inn |
8. An office | 8. A public health center, tax office or any other government office used by the general public |
9. An apartment house, dormitory or boarding house | |
10. A home for the aged, childcare center, welfare home for the physically disabled, or any similar building | 9. A welfare center for the aged, welfare center for the physically disabled, or any similar building (one used mainly by the elderly, the disabled and others only) |
11. A welfare center for the aged, child welfare facility, welfare center for the physically disabled, or any similar building | 10. A welfare center for the aged, child welfare facility, welfare center for the physically disabled, or any similar building |
12. A gymnasium, aquatic center, bowling center or similar sports facility or stadium | 11. A gymnasium (one offered for use by the general public only), aquatic center (one offered for use by the general public only) or bowling center, or a stadium |
13. A museum, art gallery or library | 12. A museum, art gallery or library |
14. A public bathhouse | 13. A public bathhouse |
15. A restaurant, cabaret, specialist restaurant, nightclub, dance hall, or any similar building | 14. A restaurant |
16. A post office, barber, dry cleaning agency, pawnshop, dress rental shop, bank or similar service industry office or store | 15. A post office, barber, dry cleaning agency, pawnshop, dress rental shop, bank or similar service industry office or store |
17. A driving school, cram school, flower arrangement class, “go” board game class, or any similar building | |
18. A factory | |
19. A building constituting a station or stop for land public transport vehicles or landing facility for vessels or aircraft and used by passengers for boarding/disembarkation or waiting | 16. A building constituting a station or stop for land public transport vehicles or landing facility for vessels or aircraft and used by passengers for boarding/disembarkation or waiting |
20. A motor vehicle pull-up or parking facility | 17. A motor vehicle pull-up or parking facility (one offered for use by the general public only) |
21. A public toilet | 18. A public toilet |
22. A public corridor | 19. A public corridor |
2.1 Access standards checklist Back to headline 5 Skip to headline 7
* The expression “Article #”appearing in the “Facilities” column signifies the relevant article number of the Barrier Free Law Enforcement Order
General standards Skip to paragraph 2-2
*1 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications.
- Adjacent to the upper end of a inclining section with an grade of no more than 1/20.
- Adjacent to the upper end of an inclining section with a height not more than 16cm and a grade of no more than 1/12.
- In a garage.
*2 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1497)
- In a garage.
- When there is a handrail continuing from the steps.
*3 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1497)
- Adjacent to upper end of a inclining section with an grade of no more than 1/20.
- Adjacent to the upper end of an inclining section with a height not more than 16cm and a grade of no more than 1/12.
- In a garage.
- When there is a handrail continuing from the inclining section.
General standards Back to paragraph 2-1 Skip to paragraph 2-3
Facilities | Check items | |
---|---|---|
Passageways (Article 16) |
1) Does the floor have a non-slip surface? | |
2) Areas with steps | – | |
– (1) Have handrails been installed ? | ||
– (2) Are the steps easy to distinguish ? | ||
– (3) Are the steps designed to prevent stumbling ? | ||
3) Ramps | – | |
– (1) Have handrails been installed? (Exempt for sections with a grade of no more than 1/12 and a height less than 16cm, or an incline section of no more than 1/20) | ||
– (2) Is the ramp easy to distinguish from the passageway to the front and rear ? | ||
Car parks (Article 17) |
1) Are there parking spaces for wheelchair users (at least one) ? | |
– (1) Is the width at least 350cm ? | ||
– (2) Are the facilities located close to the public rooms ? | ||
Signage (Article 19) |
1) Are appropriate signs informing the availability of an elevator or other vertical transport device, toilet or parking facility provided in prominent places | |
2) Are the signs easy to understand (compliant with JIS Z8210) ? | ||
Directory facilities (Article 20) |
1) Are directory boards or the like showing the locations of elevators or other vertical transport devices, toilets and parking facilities provided (not applicable if these facilities can easily be seen) ? | |
2) Are facilities designed to show the locations of elevators or other vertical transport devices and toilets to visually impaired people through the use of Braille or some other method (e.g. embossed characters or sound) provided ? | ||
3) Are information desks provided ((an alternative measure to 1) and 2)) ? |
Paths for visually impaired people (standards relating to one or more access routes from the road etc. to the facility) Back to paragraph 2-2 Skip to paragraph 2-4
*1 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1497)
- When the building entrance is clearly visible from the reception area and tactile tiles or an audible guidance system provides guidance along the path from the road etc. to the entrance
- When the building entrance is clearly visible from the reception area and tactile tiles or an audible guidance system provides guidance along the path from the road etc. to the entrance.
*2 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1497)
- Adjacent to the upper end of a inclining section with an grade of no more than 1/20.
- Adjacent to the upper end of an inclining section with a height not more than 16cm and a grade not more than 1/12.
- Landing with a handrail continuing from the steps or inclining section.
Access routes (standards relating to one or more access routes to public rooms, toilet cubicles and parking spaces for wheelchair users) Back to paragraph 2-3 Back to paragraph 2-1 Skip to headline 7
*1 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1494)
- When installed in a garage.
2.2 Accessibility standards checklist Back to headline 6 Back to headline 1
* The expression “Article #” appearing in the “Designated facilities” column signifies the relevant article number of the ministerial ordinance for desirable standards based on the Barrier Free Law
General standards Skip to paragraph 3-2
*1 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1489)
- Adjacent to the upper end of a inclining section with an grade of no more than 1/20.
- Adjacent to the upper end of an inclining section with a height not more than 16cm and a grade of no more than 1/12.
- In a garage.
*2 Such a section of the corridor or the like as to lead only to a parking space without a parking facility for wheelchair users, stairs, etc. (Notification No. 1488)
*3 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1489)
- In a garage.
- When there is a handrail continuing from the steps.
*4 In the case of stairs leading only to a parking space without a parking facility for wheelchair users, etc. (Notification No. 1488)
General standards Back to paragraph 3-1 Skip to paragraph 3-3
*1 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1489)
- Adjacent to upper end of a inclining section with an grade of no more than 1/20.
- Adjacent to the upper end of an inclining section with a height not more than 16cm and a grade of no more than 1/12.
- In a garage.
- When there is a handrail continuing from the inclining section.
*2 Such a section of the ramp as to lead only to a parking space without a parking facility for wheelchair users, stairs, etc. (Notification No. 1488).
*3 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1486)
General standards Back to paragraph 3-2 Skip to paragraph 3-4
Designated facilities |
Check items | |
---|---|---|
Elevators or other vertical transport devices with a special structure or mode of use (Article 8) |
1) Elevators: | – |
– (1) Is the elevator a wheelchair lift ? (Stipulated in Ministry of Construction Notification 1413 No.1 Item 7 of 2000) | ||
– (2) Is the cage at least 70cm wide ? | ||
– (3) Is the cage at least 120cm deep ? | ||
2) Escalators: | – | |
– (1) Is the escalator accessible by wheelchair users? (Stipulated in the Proviso to Ministry of Construction Notification 1417 No.1 of 2000) | ||
Toilets (Article 9) |
1) Are there wheelchair accessible toilet cubicles (in principle, at least 2% of toilets on each floor) ? | |
– (1) Are seat-style toilets and handrails appropriately positioned ? | ||
– (2) Is there sufficient space for easy access and use by wheelchair users ? | ||
– (3) Is the entrance and the cubicle for wheelchair users at least 80cm wide ? | ||
– (4) Are doors easy for wheelchair users to pass through, and are there level sections in front of and behind the doors ? | ||
2) Are cubicles equipped with a rinsing device (one that accommodates ostomates) provided (at least one per floor) ? | ||
3) Do all toilets without a cubicle for wheelchair users include a cubicle equipped with handrails and a Western-style toilet seat (not applicable if a toilet featuring a cubicle for wheelchair users is available nearby) ? | ||
4) Are floor-mounted urinals, wall-mounted urinals (those whose lips are 35cm or less from the floor only) or similar urinals provided (at least one per floor) ? | ||
Guest rooms of a hotel or inn (Article 10) |
1) Are a sufficient number of guest rooms for wheel chair users provided as follows: at least the number arrived at by multiplying the total number of guest rooms by 1/50 if there are only up to 200 guest rooms; and at least the number arrived at by multiplying the total number of guest rooms by 1/100 plus 2 if there are more than 200 guest rooms. | – |
– (1) Is the doorway at least 80cm wide ? | ||
– (2) Does the door allow wheelchair users to go through easily and is it accompanied by a flat area before and after it ? | ||
2) Toilet (not applicable if there is an appropriate shared toilet on the same floor) | – | |
– (1) Does the toilet have a cubicle for wheelchair users ? | ||
– (2) Are the cubicle for wheelchair users and its entrance at least 80cm wide ? | ||
– (3) Does the door allow wheelchair users to go through easily and is it accompanied by a flat area before and after it ? | ||
3) Bathroom or like (not applicable if there is an appropriate shared bathroom or the like) | – | |
– (1) Are the bathtub, shower, handrails, etc. properly arranged ? | ||
– (2) Is sufficient space secured to allow a wheelchair user to use the bathroom or the like without any difficulty ? | ||
– (3) Is the entrance at least 80cm wide ? | ||
– (4) Does the door allow wheelchair users to go through easily and is it accompanied by a flat area before and after it ? |
General standards Back to paragraph 3-3 Skip to paragraph 3-5
*1 Such a section of the passageway as to lead only to a parking space without a parking facility for wheelchair users, steps, etc. (Notification No. 1488).
Paths for visually impaired people (standards relating to major routes from a street, etc. to a directory facility) Back to paragraph 3-4 Back to paragraph 3-1
*1 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1489).
- When installed in a garage.
- When the building entrance is clearly visible from the reception area and tactile tiles or an audible guidance system provides guidance along the path from the road etc. to the entrance.
*2 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1489).
- Adjacent to upper end of a inclining section with an grade of no more than 1/20.
- Adjacent to the upper end of an inclining section with a height not more than 16cm and a grade not more than 1/12.