Issue 2/2006


03/02/06

First showing of the Build for All Handbook

 
The first presentation of the Reference Manual, which is part of the Build For All initiative was held at the Committee of the Regions complex in Brussels on the 16th January. This initiative is supported by the European Commission and the manual has been produced in consultation with many of Europe’s leading construction and design associations including the Architects Council of Europe (ACE), the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC), the European Lift Association (ELA), EDF and CEN just to mention a few. The stated intention of this initiative is to promote accessibility for all to the built environment and public infrastructure.
Category: Issue 2/2006
Posted by: Editor
Reference Manual is now a Public Consultation Document and can be viewed on the web site (www.build-for-all.net). The objective of the Build for All Reference Manual is defined as ‘for the inclusion of accessibility criteria in public calls for tender under the Public Procurement Directives of the European Union’ and consists of two main sections, Handbook and Toolkit. This has all been published in the name of The Build-For-All Partnership Info-Handicap, Luxembourg under the watchful eye of Mr. Silvio Sagramola the Project coordinator. There will be seminars arranged over the next few months where input will be called for and anyone wanting to add comment should read the document and pass on their comments to the organiser or the respective association, in our case the ELA. The final document will be launched towards the end of 2006.
 
 
At present the manual comprises of two documents that state;
 
1 the Handbook provides background information for raising the awareness of decision makers and public servants about the importance of accessibility in the built environment for all citizens and the supporting role which Public Procurement can play in achieving this.
 
2 the Toolkit gives a practical approach for contracting authorities to include certain procedures and technical requirements in procurement, so as to ensure that accessibility criteria are met in design and construction work.
 
As the document proclaims on its cover ‘Good Intentions are not enough’ and if the objectives of the initiatives are to really make a difference the attitudes of the general public and society as a whole will have to change. We all at sometime in our lives will be disabled or at least impaired so it will be in everyone’s interest to have a more accessible, barrier free built environment. The present EU initiatives give a real opportunity for designers and engineers to use all the human senses as an integral part of their designs solutions and we are sure many inventive schemes and products will soon become available but it is also important that all EU citizens actively join the debate, be they; company owner, lift fitter or magazine editor. The next few years could be extremely significant as to how our cities and infrastructure develop and we look forward to seeing how this worthy initiative materialises.
XLightfoot
 
2/2006

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