Accessibility and inclusive design
Accessibility and inclusive design
This domain tests design for people with mobility, sensory and cognitive needs, not just wheelchair access. Luxembourg’s 2022 accessibility law applies to public places and makes accessibility a legal condition, not a courtesy.
Core rules
- The accessible route runs from the public realm to the entrance and through the building. Steps, thresholds, slopes, tactile cues, lighting and contrast all form part of it.
- Ramps need gentle gradients, landings and handrails; a steep ramp is not an alternative to steps. Doors need clear widths, manoeuvring space and accessible handles.
- Sanitary facilities, parking, reception counters and evacuation arrangements must be usable. Evacuation chairs and refuge areas need management, not just purchase.
- Inclusive design also covers hearing loops, visual alarms, colour contrast and clear signage.
Worked example
A shop entrance has three steps and a 1.2 m landing. The designer proposes a platform lift inside the narrow lobby. The better solution is an external ramp with compliant gradient and landings, or an accessible alternative entrance with a managed route. The platform lift must be maintained, lit and independently usable.
Traps
Measuring the structural opening instead of the clear door width; using an accessible toilet as storage; providing a ramp that ends in a road without a landing; and assuming accessible means only the entrance.