Facility Standards and Design Guidance
Facility Standards and Design Guidance
This page provides links to authoritative standards and best practices for physical infrastructure accessibility. These resources inform building design, construction, and renovation practices.
Note: This toolkit focuses on publishing accessibility information for building visitors. For technical design standards, construction requirements, and compliance details, refer to the resources listed below.
International Standards
ISO Standards
- EN 17210:2021 - Accessibility and usability of the built environment (European Accessibility Centre)
- Functional requirements for accessibility and usability of the built environment
- Available in English from the European Accessibility Centre
- Also available from AENOR (Spanish standards body)
- ISO 21542:2021 - Building construction — Accessibility and usability of the built environment
- Comprehensive international standard for accessible building design
- Referenced by many national building codes globally
- BS 8300-2:2018 - Design of an accessible and inclusive built environment
- British Standard for accessible design (UK)
- Part 2: Buildings – code of practice
National Standards and Codes
United States
- ADA Standards for Accessible Design (2010)
- Official design standards for the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Technical requirements for new construction and alterations
- Includes specifications for doors, ramps, toilets, signage, and routes
Canada
- CSA B651 - Accessible Design for the Built Environment
- Canadian Standards Association standard (accessible.canada.ca summary)
- Available from CSA Group
- Referenced in provincial building codes across Canada
Ireland
- Building for Everyone: A Universal Design Approach
- National Disability Authority guidance (Ireland)
- 12 booklets covering different building types and design considerations
- Free download, comprehensive practical guidance
United Kingdom
- Inclusive Design Resources (Housing LIN)
- Curated collection of UK inclusive design resources
- Links to guidance for housing, public buildings, and urban spaces
Design Frameworks and Principles
The 7 Principles of Universal Design
Most international accessibility standards are based on these seven principles, which serve as a foundation for inclusive design:
- Equitable Use: The design is useful to people with diverse abilities
- Example: Automatic door serves all users equally
- Flexibility in Use: Accommodates a wide range of preferences and abilities
- Example: Counter with multiple heights, adjustable seating
- Simple and Intuitive Use: Easy to understand, regardless of experience, knowledge, language, or cognitive ability
- Example: Clear signage with text and symbols
- Perceptible Information: Communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or sensory abilities
- Example: Tactile floor markers combined with visual signs and audio announcements
- Tolerance for Error: Minimizes hazards and adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions
- Example: Fail-safe features, warning systems
- Low Physical Effort: Can be used efficiently and comfortably with minimum fatigue
- Example: Automatic doors, lever handles instead of knobs
- Size and Space for Approach and Use: Appropriate size and space provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use
- Example: Maneuvering space for wheelchair users, clear floor space at fixtures
Learn more:
Urban Design and Public Spaces
Street and Outdoor Space Design
- Global Street Design Guide
- Comprehensive guidance on designing accessible streets and public spaces
- International best practices for inclusive urban design
- Free online access with case studies
Accessibility Assessment Resources
- Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification
- Resources for assessing and improving building accessibility (Canada)
- Includes rating tools and training materials
- Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE)
- UK charity providing training and consultancy on accessible design
- Resources, webinars, and professional development
Relationship to Digital Accessibility
Several resources bridge physical and digital accessibility:
Wayfinding and Navigation
Physical wayfinding systems increasingly integrate with digital tools:
- W3C Cognitive Accessibility: Wayfinding: Principles applicable to both physical signage and digital navigation tools
- Digital wayfinding apps: Must follow WCAG 2.2 for screen reader compatibility and keyboard navigation
- QR codes and NFC tags: When used for building navigation, the linked content must be accessible
Building Information Publishing
When publishing facility information online:
- Website accessibility: All facility information must meet WCAG 2.2 AA
- PDF accessibility: If offering facility guides as PDF, they must be properly tagged and screen-reader accessible
- See: Website Placement Guidance for how to publish physical accessibility information accessibly
Machine-Readable Standards
- OpenStreetMap Accessibility Tagging: Community standards for structured accessibility data
- Schema.org: Use structured data to make facility information machine-readable
How This Toolkit Relates to Standards
This toolkit does not:
- Provide technical design specifications
- Offer compliance interpretation
- Replace architectural or code consulting
This toolkit does:
- Help you communicate what your building offers
- Provide templates for describing accessibility features in visitor-facing content
- Emphasize transparency about limitations and alternatives
- Use the Access Chain model to structure visitor information
To use these standards with this toolkit:
- Use facility standards when designing or renovating your building
- Use our templates to document what you’ve built for visitors
- Keep your published information accurate with governance practices
Additional Resources
Return to:
- Main Resources Page - Guidance on creating visitor-facing accessibility information
- Canonical Resources - Preserved extracts of key operational guidance
- Templates - Ready-to-use content templates
Last updated: March 2026