FEATURED ARTICLE
Revision to ISO 21542 (2011) Building Construction - Accessibility and usability of the built environment by Robyn Thompson and Angela Roennfeldt
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n 2017 revision of the first edition of the International Standard - Accessibility and useability of the built environment commenced. Standards Australia is represented on the ISO committee by 2 members of the Australian committee on Access and Mobility (ME64), Angela Roennfeldt and Robyn Thompson. A wide range of countries are represented on the committee including Argentina (IRAM) Australia (SA) Austria (ASI) Belgium (NBN) Brazil (ABNT) Canada (SCC) China (SAC) Colombia (ICONTEC) Denmark (DS) France (AFNOR) Germany (DIN) Ireland (NSAI) Italy (UNI) Japan (JISC) Norway (SN) Russian Federation (GOST R) Saudi Arabia (SASO) South Africa (SABS) Spain (UNE) Sweden (SIS) Switzerland (SNV) Turkey (TSE) United Kingdom (BSI) Uruguay (UNIT) with comments submitted by ANEC, Egypt (EOS) Working groups were initially created to review the sections of the Standard proposed for updating. It is important to realise that not all sections of the Standard were to be reviewed in detail. The process for review is that a proposal for a review of certain sections is put forward to ISO by one of the member countries. The proposal is sent to ballot and if enough countries support review of the sections identified and the work proposal is accepted by ISO, then work proceeds. The sections identified in the current standard review were as follows: • General: Improvement of terminology, general design considerations, misprints and errors • Exceptional considerations
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• Fire safety for all • Visual impairments • Hearing impairments • Ramps • Lifts, escalators and moving walks Working groups were established for each of the identified areas. The outcomes of these working groups were issued to members for comment and then the main committee would meet to discuss the acceptance or rejection of the comments and the inclusion of the proposed revised sections into the draft standard - a slow and challenging process when members come from countries with such diverse topography, climate and economic conditions! In addition, a working group on accessible housing and the requirements for children with a disability were added. Work on the requirements for children with a disability has continued and is anticipated to become part of the next revision. Prior to the introduction of Covid-19 travel restrictions meetings were held in person over 4 days in both Madrid and Oslo. With the limitations of travel in 2020 and 2021 all ISO meetings went onto Zoom. Despite attempts to adjust meetings to suit everyone, being in Australia made joining meetings late in the evening and participating into the early hours, challenging. At the time of writing the draft standard (ISO 21542 revision 2) has been finalised and the voting process, which closes in mid-April 2021, is underway, so that hopefully the revised
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