Safety and accessibility: designing spaces for people

Dear *|FNAME|*,

During the complex process of building design, much of the focus is rightly on how it will look and how it will function. But when it comes down to how people will actually inhabit a space, two aspects take priority: accessibility and safety.

Creating smooth transitions between spaces, removing trip hazards and restricting window openings to prevent falls are just some of the ways buildings can be made safer places, with each solution needing to meet the rigorous standards set by building codes and regulations. Ultimately, however, it is up to architects, designers and specifiers to decide how those needs are best addressed.

In the following two reports we look at ways in which accessibility and safety features can be incorporated into buildings in innovative ways. Our whitepaper “Over the Threshold” examines the importance of door sill design in meeting accessibility standards. It provides guidance on how to specify door sills to deliver inclusive environments and identifies the range of products available. Meanwhile our article “Safety in education” describes how the education sector is keeping students safe in the learning environment through the innovative use of window security screening products.