The AODA has standards for the design of public spaces, but no standards for accessibility in other built environments. However, the Third Review of the AODA recommends improvements to all standards and laws governing buildings and public spaces. In addition, the review recommends that future AODA standards should align with existing standards in other parts of the country. For instance, Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) have developed federal standards for accessibility in the built environment. Future AODA standards may include some or all of these guidelines and requirements to make buildings more accessible. In this article, we explore guidelines in the federal built environment standards for accessible floors and carpets in buildings.
Accessible Floors and carpets in Buildings
All floor surfaces inside buildings should be accessible. Therefore, the standards list technical requirements for floors and carpets. For example, all floor surfaces should be:
- Level, unless sloping towards a drain
- Secure and stable
- Slip-resistant when they are wet or dry
- Not reflective
- Free from glare and visual patterns
To avoid glare, designers can choose floor materials with a matte finish. Likewise, designers can choose flooring without visual patterns which may disorient people. For example, flooring with multiple colours or patterns may distract people. Alternatively, colour changes in flooring often indicate a change in level. As a result, more than one floor colour in the same room may cause people to expect a change in level.
In addition, floor surfaces that are textured, such as decorative paving, can create obstacles for people using assistive devices. Therefore, designers should avoid these textured flooring surfaces.
Furthermore, the standards list technical requirements for carpets or carpet tiles. For example, carpets should have a pile or loop that is:
- Low
- Firm
- Level
Moreover, the standards list other requirements for:
- Underlay materials below carpets
- Combined height of the carpet and the padding below it
Finally, the standards provide measurements for the sloping of slight changes in level under five centimeters (5 CM). These requirements apply to both flooring and carpet.