Disabled WC required?

kieran.

I just received a DAC grant from a local authority for a 2 class portacabin for an existing secondary school, however one of the conditions is that a Unisex Disabled WC must included in the new Portacabin building.

I didn't propose any sanitary facilities in the building as they are centrally located within the main school building. I think the BC officer has taken it on himself to impose this condition with out any justification from TGD - Part M.

Can anyone point to me where it states that each individual building must self contained have sanitary facilitates??

Thanks.

sydthebeat

kieran. wrote: »

I just received a DAC grant from a local authority for a 2 class portacabin for an existing secondary school, however one of the conditions is that a Unisex Disabled WC must included in the new Portacabin building.

I didn't propose any sanitary facilities in the building as they are centrally located within the main school building. I think the BC officer has taken it on himself to impose this condition with out any justification from TGD - Part M.

Can anyone point to me where it states that each individual building must self contained have sanitary facilitates??

Thanks.

those who pay the grants call the tune.

You should contact the BCO to see if there is a compromise.

Is it acceptable for children to have to go outside in rain / hail to use the loo?

kieran.

I understand what your saying in relation to the prevailing weather conditions but my answer would be if they need to brave the elements to get to and from classes there should be no issue them doing the same to use the loo. Also there are 3 other Pre-Fab units (Pre DAC regs) on the site with no sanitary facilities in the same location approx 15-20m from the main building.

I do't agree with "those who pay the grants call the tune". IMHO the BC officer is only the law enforcer not the law maker. If its not in black and white I'll always fight my(clients) case. I was just asking if its stipulated in the regs as a requirement somewhere and I have overlooked it, as I don't want to waste my time with An Bord Pleanla if it is.

sydthebeat

Why do you think the regulations are the baseline requirements here?

When grant assistance is involved is not unusual to have lots of various requirements and stipulations above and beyond regulations.

kieran.

Sorry I think you have misunderstood. My original query is in relation to condition attached to a Disability Access Certificate granted by the Local Authority.

There is no grant involved.

sydthebeat

kieran. wrote: »

Sorry I think you have misunderstood. My original query is in relation to condition attached to a Disability Access Certificate granted by the Local Authority.

There is no grant involved.

Oh my bad, picked it up completely wrong.

kieran.

No bother was thinking that . Going back to my original question have you come across any where in part M that state catogorcially that all buildings must have a disabled WC?

prewtna

all new buildings - temporary or otherwise - would have to be in full compliance with all current building regulations - hence the disabled wc.

we have put extensions onto schools where we had to include disabled access wc in the extension (even though there was no grant money for it) in order to satisfy the BCO that it would comply with Part M.

similar to above i have put in disabled access wc in prefabs for schools too - its standard now really.

i wouldn't waste time going to ABP.

kieran.

While I would agree with you in its standard procedure to have a Disabled WC. The job in question was an emergency works job part of the school burnt down a couple of weeks before the start of term and an old PreFab building that wasn't being use on another school site was reused on the site in question therefore a Disable WC wasn't requested by the VEC.

No where in section 1.4 of part M can I see that it states sanitary facilities must be provided within a building. From what I see it only states if they are provide they should comply with Section 1.4.3

prewtna

1.4.3.1 Provisions for wheelchair
accessible unisex WCs
The provisions for wheelchair accessible
unisex WCs are as follows:

(a) Buildings with a nett floor area per
floor greater than 200 m2 should
provide a wheelchair accessible
unisex WC with minimum turning
space of 1800 mm x 1800 mm
(Refer to Diagram 15a). Buildings
with a nett floor area per floor of 200
m2 or less may provide a minimum
turning space of 1500 mm x 1500
mm (Refer to Diagram 15b). Where
space permits, a turning space in
excess of 1500 mm x 1500 mm
should be considered. In calculating
the nett floor area the area of any
vertical circulation, common sanitary
facility and maintenance areas in the
storey should not be included;
(b) Where there is only one WC facility
provided in the building, it should be
unisex, wheelchair accessible and
incorporate a standing-user height
washbasin, in addition to the finger
rinse basin associated with the WC
pan.
Rationale: This provision will
facilitate the needs of a wider range
of users;


i would have thought this was explicit enough? they seem to allow a smaller size for a smaller building but fundamentally disabled access wc is required no?

kieran.

Yup, thats pretty explicit. I thought when you had a group of buildings
you could have a centrally located toilet block.

Thanks