2. Background to Establishment of New Barrier Free Law

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

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

Facilities Check items
Corridors
(Article 11)
1) Does the floor have a non-slip surface ?  
2) Tactile tiles etc. (section adjacent to the upper end of stairs or ramps) *1  
Stairs
(Article 12)
1) Have handrails been installed ? (Excluding landings)  
2) Does the floor have a non-slip surface ?  
3) Are the steps easy to distinguish ?  
4) Are the steps designed to prevent stumbling ?  
5) Tactile tiles etc. (landing section adjacent to the upper end of the stairs) *2  
6) In principle, the main stairs are not circular stairs.  
Ramps
(Article 13)
1) Have handrails been installed ? (Exempt for sections with a grade of no more than 1/12 and a height less than 16cm)  
2) Does the floor have a non-slip surface ?  
3) Is the ramp easy to distinguish from the corridor etc. to the front and rear ?  
4) Tactile tiles etc. (landing section adjacent to the upper end of the incline section) *3  
Toilets
(Article 14)
1) Are there toilet cubicles for wheelchair users (at least one) ?  
 – (1) Are seat-style toilets and handrails appropriately positioned ?  
 – (2) Is there sufficient space for easy access and use by wheelchair users ?  
2) Are cubicles equipped with a rinsing device (one that accommodates ostomates) provided (at least one) ?  
3) 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) ?  
Guest rooms of a hotel or inn
(Article 15)
1) Are guest rooms for wheel chair users provided where there are at least 50 guest rooms altogether (at least one) ?  
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 ?  

*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.

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*2 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1497)

  • In a garage.
  • When there is a handrail continuing from the steps.

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*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.

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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

Facilities Check items
Access routes to the facility
(Article 21)
1) Tactile tiles or audible guidance devices (Exempt when proceeding straight ahead in an entrance enclosure) *1  
2) Are tactile tiles laid next to the road ?  
3) Are tactile tiles laid in the section adjacent to the upper end of steps/incline ? *2  

*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.

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*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.
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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

Facilities Check items
(Article 18 Paragraph 2 Item 1) 1) Are there any stairs or steps ? (Not applicable if a ramp or an elevator or other vertical transport device is installed alongside them)  
Entrances
(Item 2)
1) Are entrances at least 80cm wide ?  
2) Are doors easy for wheelchair users to pass through, and are there level sections in front of and behind the doors ?  
Corridors etc.
(Item 3)
1) Are corridors at least 120cm wide ?  
2) Are there sections with enough space for a wheelchair to turn around at no more than 50m intervals ?  
3) Are doors easy for wheelchair users to pass through, and are there level sections in front of and behind the doors ?  
Ramps
(Item 4)
1) Are ramps at least 120cm wide (at least 90cm when collocated with steps) ?  
2) Is the grade no more than 1/12 (no more than 1/8 when the height is 16cm or less) ?  
3) Are there landings at least 150cm wide positioned every 75cm maximum in ramp height ?  
Elevator and elevator lobbies
(Item 5)
1) Do the elevators stop at every floor? (floors containing public rooms, toilets and parking spaces for wheelchair users, floors above ground level)  
2) Is the entrance to elevator cages and shafts at least 80cm wide ?  
3) Are elevator cages at least 135cm deep ?  
4) Is the elevator lobby level and at least 150cm square ?  
5) Are elevator controls in the elevator cage and lobby easy for wheelchair users to use ?  
6) Are elevator cages equipped with devices that display the intended destination floor and current location ?  
7) Is the elevator lobby equipped with devices that indicate the direction the elevator cage is moving ?  
8) Elevators in buildings of 2,000m2 or more used by the general public:
 – (1) Do they satisfy all conditions above from 1) to 7) ?  
 – (2) Is the cage at least 140cm wide ?  
 – (3) Are elevator cages shaped to allow wheelchairs to turn around ?  
9) Elevators used by the general public or mainly by visually impaired people: *1
 – (1) Do they satisfy all conditions above from 1) to 8) ?  
 – (2) Are elevator cages equipped with audible devices indicating the floor, and that the door is closing ?  
 – (3) Are elevator controls designed for ease of use by visually impaired people through the use of Braille or some other method (e.g. embossed characters or sound) provided inside the cage and in the lobbies ?  
 – (4) Are elevator cages and lobbies equipped with audible devices that indicate the direction the elevator cage is moving ?  
Elevators or escalators with a special structure or form of use
(Item 6)
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 ?  
 – (4) Is the floor area of the elevator cage adequate ? (When there is a need for wheelchairs to change direction in the elevator cage)  
2) Escalators:
 – (1) Is the escalator designed for wheelchair users? (Stipulated in the Proviso to Ministry of Construction Notification 1417 No.1 of 2000)  
Passageways
(Item 7)
1) Are passageways at least 120cm wide ?  
2) Are there sections with enough space for a wheelchair to turn around at no more than 50m intervals ?  
3) Are doors easy for wheelchair users to pass through, and are there level sections in front of and behind the doors ?  
4) Ramps:
 – (1) Are ramps at least 120cm wide? (at least 90cm when collocated with steps)  
(Paragraph 3) 5) Items 1) to 4) above apply only to the section from the driveway apron to the building entrance if there are any special topographical conditions.  

*1 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1494)

  • When installed in a garage.

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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

Designated
facilities
Check items
Entrances
(Article 2)
1) All entrances (excluding entrances to toilets and bathrooms, and entrances collocated with entrances that meet the standards)
 – (1) Is the entrance at least 90cm wide ?  
 – (2) Are doors easy for wheelchair users to pass through, and are there level sections in front of and behind the doors ?  
2) At least one building entrance
 – (1) Is the entrance at least 120cm wide ?  
 – (2) Does the door open and close automatically, and is there a level section in front of and behind the door ?  
Corridors
(Article 3)
1) Are corridors at least 180cm wide (at least 140cm when there are sections with enough space for a wheelchair to turn around at no more than 50m intervals) ?  
2) Does the floor have a non-slip surface ?  
3) Tactile tiles etc. (section adjacent to the upper end of stairs or ramps) *1  
4) Are doors easy for wheelchair users to pass through, and are there level sections in front of and behind the doors ?  
5) If there are any out-swinging side doors, are they set into alcoves ?  
6) Are any protruding objects set back so they do not obstruct visually impaired people passing by ?  
7) Are rest facilities suitably installed ?  
8) Items 1) and 4) above do not apply to areas where there is no obstruction to wheelchair users. *2  
Stairs
(Article 4)
1) Are stairs at least 140cm wide (not including handrails up to 10cm wide) ?  
2) Are risers no more than 16cm high ?  
3) Are treads at least 30cm ?  
4) Are handrails installed on both sides of the stairs ?  
5) Does the floor have a non-slip surface ?  
6) Are the steps easy to distinguish ?  
7) Are the steps designed to prevent stumbling ?  
8) Tactile tiles etc. (landing section adjacent to the upper end of the stairs) *3  
9) The main stairs are not circular stairs.  
Provision of ramp or elevator or other vertical transport device
(Article 5)
1) Is a ramp or an elevator or other vertical transport device provided alongside the stairs (if two or more floors are involved, an elevator as specified in Article 7 only) ?  
2) Item 1) above does not apply if use by wheelchair users is not hindered. *4  

*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.

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*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)

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*3 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1489)

  • In a garage.
  • When there is a handrail continuing from the steps.

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*4 In the case of stairs leading only to a parking space without a parking facility for wheelchair users, etc. (Notification No. 1488)

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General standards Back to paragraph 3-1 Skip to paragraph 3-3

Designated
facilities
Check items
Ramps
(Article 6)
1) Are ramps at least 150cm wide (at least 120cm when collocated with steps) ?  
2) Is the grade no more than 1/12 ?  
3) Are there landings at least 150cm wide positioned every 75cm maximum in ramp height ?  
4) Are handrails installed on both sides? (Exempt for inclining sections with a height less than 16cm)  
5) Does the floor have a non-slip surface ?  
6) Is the ramp easy to distinguish from the corridor etc. to the front and rear ?  
7) Tactile tiles etc. (landing section adjacent to the upper end of the incline section) *1  
8) Items from 1) to 3) above do not apply to areas where there is no obstruction to wheelchair users. *2  
Elevators
(Article 7)
1) Does at least one elevator stop at all necessary floors (any floor featuring a habitable room used by many people or a toilet cubicle, guest room, bathroom or the like for wheelchair users and the ground floor (or some other floor with an entrance leading directly to the ground)) ?  
2) All elevators and associated lobbies used by many people or mainly by the elderly, the disabled land others
 – (1) Are the cage and the shaft opening at least 80cm wide ?  
 – (2) Are elevator cages at least 135cm deep ?  
 – (3) Is the elevator lobby level and at least 150cm square ?  
 – (4) Are elevator cages equipped with devices that display the intended destination floor and current location ?  
 – (5) Is the elevator lobby equipped with devices that indicate the direction the elevator cage is moving ?  
3) One or more elevators and associated lobbies used by many people or mainly by the elderly, the disabled and others  
 – (1) Are all the requirements specified in 2) satisfied ?  
 – (2) Is the cage at least 140cm wide ?  
 – (3) Does the shape of the cage allow a wheelchair to turn around ?  
 – (4) Are elevator controls that are easy to use for wheelchair users provided inside the cage and in the lobbies ?  
4) All elevators and associated lobbies used by the general public  
 – (1) Are the cage and the shaft opening at least 80cm wide ?  
 – (2) Is the cage at least 135cm deep ?  
 – (3) Is the lobby floor level and at least 150cm square ?  
 – (4) Is a device designed to indicate floors at which the elevator is scheduled to stop and current position provided inside the cage ?  
 – (5) Is a device designed to indicate the travel directions of arriving elevators provided in the lobby ?  
 – (6) Is the cage at least 140cm wide ?  
 – (7) Does the shape of the cage allow a wheelchair to turn around ?  
5) One or more elevators and associated lobbies used by the general public
 – (1) Are all the requirements specified in (2), (4), (5) and (7) of 4) satisfied ?  
 – (2) Is the cage at least 160cm wide ?  
 – (3) Are the cage and the shaft opening at least 90cm wide ?  
 – (4) Is the lobby floor level and at least 180cm square ?  
 – (5) Are elevator controls that are easy to use for wheelchair users provided inside the cage and in the lobbies ?  
6) One or more elevator and associated lobbies used by the general public or mainly by the elderly, the disabled and others *3
 – (1) Are all the requirements specified in 3) or 5) satisfied ?  
 – (2) Are elevator cages equipped with audible devices indicating the floor, and that the door is closing ?  
 – (3) Are elevator controls designed for ease of use by visually impaired people through the use of Braille or some other method (e.g. embossed characters or sound) provided inside the cage and in the lobbies ?  
 – (4) Are elevator cages and lobbies equipped with audible devices that indicate the direction the elevator cage is moving ?  

*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.

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*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).

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*3 Excluding the following cases stipulated in the notifications. (Notification No. 1486)

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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

Designated
facilities
Check items
Passageways
(Article 11)
1) Are passageways at least 180cm wide ?  
2) Does the floor have a non-slip surface ?  
3) Are doors easy for wheelchair users to pass through, and are there level sections in front of and behind the doors ?  
4) Are there ramps or elevators in addition to stairs ?  
5) Stairs:
 – (1) Are stairs at least 140cm wide (not including handrails up to 10cm wide) ?  
 – (2) Are risers no more than 16cm high ?  
 – (3) Are treads at least 30cm ?  
 – (4) Are handrails installed on both sides of the stairs ?  
 – (5) Are the steps easy to distinguish ?  
 – (6) Are the steps designed to prevent stumbling ?  
6) Ramps
 – (1) Are ramps at least 150cm wide (at least 120cm when collocated with steps) ?    – (2) Is the grade no more than 1/15  
 – (3) Are there landings at least 150cm wide positioned every 75cm maximum in ramp height ? (Exempt when the grade is 1/20 or less)  
 – (4) Are handrails installed on both sides? (Exempt for sections with a height less than 16cm and a grade of no more than 1/20)  
 – (5) Is the ramp easy to distinguish from the passageway to the front and rear ?  
7) Items 1), 3), 5), and (1) to (3) of (6) above apply only to the section from the driveway apron to the building entrance if there are any special topographical conditions.  
8) Items 1), 3), 4), and from 6) (1) to (3) above do not apply to areas where there is no obstruction to wheelchair users. *1  
Car parks
(Article 12)
1) Are there parking spaces for wheelchair users (in principle, at least 2% of parking spaces) ?  
 – (1) Is the width at least 350cm ?  
 – (2) Are the parking spaces located close to the public rooms ?  
Bathrooms
(Article 13)
1) Are there wheelchair accessible bathrooms (at least one) ?  
 – (1) Are bathtubs and handrails appropriately positioned ?  
 – (2) Is there sufficient space for easy access and use by wheelchair users ?  
 – (3) Is the entrance 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 ?  
Signage
(Article 14)
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 15)
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)) ?  

*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).

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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

Designated
facilities
Check items
Access routes to the facility
(Article 16)
1) Tactile tiles or audible guidance devices (Exempt when proceeding straight ahead in an entrance enclosure) *1  
2) Are tactile tiles laid next to the road ?  
3) Are tactile tiles laid in the section adjacent to the upper end of steps/incline ? *2  

*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.

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*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.

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