REPUBLIC OF RWANDA

RWANDA HOUSING
AUTHORITY

FACILITIES FOR PERSONS WITH

DISABILITIES IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Ref : RWANDA BUILDING CONTROL REGULATIONS

November 2011
 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

USING AU
HO T
REPUBLIC OF RWANDA A

ND

HO
RHA

RWA

RIT
Y
RWANDA HOUSING
AUTHORITY

FACILITIES FOR PERSONS WITH

DISABILITIES IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Ref: RWANDA BUILDING CONTROL REGULATIONS; March 2009

November, 2011
Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings
 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

Table of Contents
1 Introduction .......................................................................... 4
1.1 Definitions...................................................................... 4
1.1.1 Building facilities for persons with disabilities........ 4
1.1.2 Persons with Disabilities ......................................... 4
2 References/Legal Tools ........................................................ 5
3 Facilities for persons with disabilities................................... 5
3.1 Ramps ............................................................................ 5
3.2 Signposting and marking Facilities................................ 7
3.3 Shower room/Toilet facilities: ........................................ 9
3.4 Counter/Reception Facilities ....................................... 13
3.5 Stairway Facilities ........................................................ 15
3.6 Guest room Facilities ................................................... 16
3.7 Parking Facilities ......................................................... 18
3.8 Lift Facilities ................................................................. 19
4 Recommendations and conclusion ..................................... 20

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

1 Introduction
Facilities for persons with disabilities in public buildings are
important and necessary because of the following main reasons:
- They are human beings and they have right to access public
areas
- They don’t need permanent assistance because they can live
independently especially in public areas
- They are our clients, partners, sometimes our counterparts,
friends, brothers ,sisters, relatives, etc
Once planned and installed, the cost is worthy as the facilities
increase the value of the building after construction.
These facilities are provided not only for PWDs as clients, or
customers that may have economic impact, but also for aged
persons or, pregnant women, children, etc. They are just provided
to make easy access for all.

1.1 Definitions
1.1.1 Facilities for persons with disabilities in buildings
Facilities allowing the use of public buildings without assistance for any
person who can feel uncomfortable due to a temporary or permanent
disability or even external circumstances
1.1.2 Persons with Disabilities
1. With Permanent disabilities
 Persons confined to a wheelchair
 Unable to walk
 Hard of hearing / Hearing-impaired person
 Visually impaired person
 Ageing
2. With Temporary disabilities
 Pregnancy
 Illness/injury

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

2 References/Legal Tools
The present booklet is based on following Laws and Regulations which
are related to rights of persons with disabilities:
 Rwanda building control regulation, adopted in March 2009,
Edition 1
• Sub-section 3.3.15 : Facilities for persons with
Disabilities
 Law no01/2007 of 20/01/2007 relating to protection of Disabled
persons in General
• Chapter VI: Rights of disabled Person in matters related
to transport and communication and access to
infrastructure
 Article 25: Public Buildings are required to be built
in a way such that they facilitate the disabled
persons to acquire access to services

3 Facilities for persons with disabilities

3.1 Ramps
RBCR 1 ; Art 3.3.15.2: An owner of a building shall, pursuant to
sub-article 3.3.15.1, provide means of access that shall be
suitable for use by persons with disabilities, including one
confined to a wheelchair or one who is unable to walk,
negotiate up or down stairs, from the outside of the building up
to the main entrance door, or from any parking area within the
building to the main entrance door, whether the building
entrance door is on the ground level storey or any other storey.
RBCR 2 ; Art 3.3.15.7 : The requirements of sub-article 3.3.15.2
shall be deemed satisfied where a ramp not less than 1.2
meters in width is provided for the use of persons with

1
RBCR: Rwanda Building Control regulations adopted in March 2009.
2
Idem

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

disabilities in wheelchairs, is constructed at a gradient not

steeper than 1:12, and is finished with a non-slip surface

Ramps should be provided to all entrances, if not then at least to

one entrance and in these circumstances, preferably the principal
entrance to the building. Steps should also be provided for people
who can easily and safely negotiate up and down stairs instead of a
steeper ramp.
A 100mm kerb (minimum) should be used to denote any open edge
of the ramp together with a handrail on both sides.

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

3.2 Signposting and marking:

Art 3.3.15.3: The principal entry to any building shall be clearly sign
posted and designated to enable a person with a disability to
easily locate and use the entrance

Wherever facilities for persons with disabilities are provided, they should
be clearly and consistently signposted. All signposting should be legible
and distinguishable from the background by use of strong contrast color
(Especially yellow which assist partially sighted people).
Position of signs should not impede or present a hazard to disabled
people.
Standards symbols, such as those illustrated below, should be used.
Appropriate tactile information should be included in signage.

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

3.3 Shower room/Toilet facilities:

Art. 3.3.15.4: Suitable toilet facilities, which shall be purpose-
designed and constructed for persons with disabilities, shall be
provided in the building and shall be accessible to disabled
persons without requiring assistance.
Art.3.3.15.9: Pursuant to sub-article 3.3.15.4, the number of toilets
or sanitary facilities that must be provided for persons with
disabilities in wheelchairs shall be determined in accordance
with the Twelfth Schedule,
Number of toilets or sanitary for hotel, lodging or hostel as per RBCR3

Number of persons Up to 10 10-50 Over 50

Number of Sanitary Units 0 1 2

The internal dimensions of a toilet cubicle should be a minimum of 2.2 m

by 1.5m. Doors should open outwards or slide and be 0.83m wide (a
minimum of 0.8m clear opening). Doors may open inwards provided there
is 1.1m by 0.7m of unobstructed space clear of the door swing. The
turning circle of a standards wheelchair is 1.5m.

3
RBCR: Rwanda Building Control Regulations, Edition1, March 2009

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

The door should open from outside in the event of an emergency. Care
should be taken that the door is not too heavy for wheelchair users.
The internal layout is important for the effective use of the facility. Non
provision, over provision or inaccurate positioning of support rails can
render the facility useless. That’s why the heights of fittings and fixtures
on wall have to be respected. Similarly, a pull rail on the inside of the
entrance door is essential.
Provision of grab-rail at urinals will assist disabled people to gain
additional support.
In general toilet areas need color contrast for fixtures, fittings, easy to use
locks and at least one lever tap.

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Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

The bar shall be located at a height between 0.70 m and 0.80 m

The fixing of the bar and its support must allow an adult to
support his weight

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

Fold up seat to allow transfer from the wheelchair to the shower

Shower room with grab bar for person transfer from wheelchair

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

Diagonal Approach
1: Takes transfer position, swings
footrest out of the way and sets
brakes
2: Removes armrest then transfers
3: Moves chair out of the way then
changes position
4: Positions on toilet the releases
brake

Side Approach

1: Takes transfer position,

removes armrest, sets brakes
2: Transfers
3: Position on toilet

3.4 Counter/Reception Facilities

Counters, front desks and shop checkouts should be at a maximum of
0.8m high to allow use by persons in wheelchairs, to allow bringing his
arms to the edge of the counter in order to read and sign a paper if needed.
Aisle widths between shelves and displays in shops should not be less
than 1.2m.
At least one checkout in every shop should be 1.0m wide to allow
wheelchair and buggy access.
Induction loop and microphone systems can assist those with hearing
difficulties.

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

This counter doesn’t allow the guest to write or sign.

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

3.5 Stairway Facilities

Art. 3.3.15.8 The treads of any stairway in a public building, hotel,
dormitory, or any building in which a group of persons are
accommodated or work shall be designed and constructed to
have the edges of the treads delineated by contrasting color
from the color of the remainder of the tread, and the
Committee may require that the handrail to any stairway be
labeled in Braille at each floor level to show the floor number.

Handrail has to be
labeled in Braille

The required minimum

luminance contrast and
depth of treatment on the
nosing of the
treads/goings.

Thin inserts placed in the

nosing for slip resistance
with insufficient
luminance contrast

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

3.6 Guest Room Facilities

Art. 3.3.15.9:…For any building that will be used as a hotel,
lodging or hostel, not less than one guest room for every 100 guest
rooms shall be designed, constructed or adapted for use by persons
with disabilities
People in wheelchairs in particular, will benefit from having
generous space in which to maneuver and transfer between
wheelchair and bed.
 a suitably placed television or radio for entertainment
 telephone, intercom, emergency call, front door remote
control or other communications at a level that can be
reached from the bed
 two-way light switching so that lights can be operated from
either the bedroom doorway or the bed
 a firm floor covering, such as short pile carpet that is easy to
move across

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

 Enough space
 Socket, switches, handle, etc installed at accessible height.

 Number of guest rooms as per RBCR4

• 1/100 guest rooms to be designed, Constructed or adopted for use
by Persons with Disabilities
 Enough space to allow to turn around with wheelchair
• Maneuvering space with half return (min 1.50 m)
•Maneuvering space on both sides of a door

4
RBCR: Rwanda Building Control regulations, Edition1, March 2009

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

3.7 Parking Facilities

Art 3.3.15.5: Where parking for motor vehicles used by persons

with disabilities has been provided, the route to the facility or
to any space that is provided to accommodate wheelchairs
shall be free of any obstruction that may impede or endanger
the travel of persons with disabilities.
• Parking for motor vehicles used by persons with disabilities has to
be provided
• The route to the facilities or to any space provided for wheelchairs
shall be free of any obstruction.
• Reserved parking and route provided for person with disabilities
have to be marked
The provided car parking for person with disabilities should be located as
close as possible to an accessible entrance of the building.
The reserved spaces should denoted by painting the internationally
recognized symbol on the ground using durable yellow paint and by
signposting at the entrance of the car parking.
A zone of 1200mm wide should be provided between designated parking
spaces and between the designated spaces and a roadway to enable a
disabled driver or passenger to get in or out of a vehicle. These zones
should be marked as below.

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

3.8 Lift Facilities

Lifts should be provided with access to all floors to enable persons

with disabilities to have access throughout the building, exceptions
may be considered in certain circumstances.

The provision of a passenger lift has the following facilities:

- There must be a clear landing not less than 1500mm by

1500mm in front of the lift entrance doors
- The lift door or doors must provide a clear opening width of at
least 800mm
- The lift shaft must be at least 1100mm wide and 1400mm long
- The controls must be sited between 900mm and 1100mm
above the lift floor and at least 400mm from the front wall.
- The lift installation must be provided with tactile call buttons
(both in Braille and raised numbers/letters) on each storey
served, and within the lift, tactile storey selector buttons and, in
a lift serving more than two storeys, visual and voice indicators
of the storey reached.
- A flashing red light should be installed inside the lift to warm
deaf persons of a fire within the building.
- Touch sensitive, illuminated and audible lift controls with
embossed digits should be used both inside and outside the
lift. These should be positioned no higher than 900mm and
1100mm above the floor. Embossed numerals should also be
used to identify the floor number level

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 Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Public Buildings

4 Recommendation and Conclusion

In order to respect the rights of persons with disabilities, all the services
provided in the community should be accessible for everyone.
Legal tools are not sufficient to change existing situation regarding
accessibility in buildings and public areas for persons with disabilities.
Willpower on the side of owners especially of existing buildings is
fundamental.

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