FEATURED ARTICLE
The History of ‘Accessible’ Homes in the UK and the Role of Approved Document M by Rachel Whymark Positive Access and Sustainable Solutions (PASS) Building Consultants
Rachel’s passion and advocacy for a more accessible (and sustainable) building environment began as a trainee building certifier in the UK 33 years ago. Specialising in interpretation of legislation, particularly of Part M (Access to and use of buildings), Part L (Conservation of fuel and power) and Part B (Fire safety) of the UK building regulations. She went on to be part of the specialist building control team at the National House Building Council, judged the RIBA housing design awards, and worked as a project manager for the Movement for Innovation’s Housing Forum. Rachel is an Associate member of the ACAA based in Cairns.
W
hen I emigrated to Australia 16 years ago, one of the first things I did was go and visit some display homes here in the tropics. Construction methods are very different here, as are the developments themselves and I was fascinated at how different the model of housing is here compared to the UK. Here I saw lots of single storey homes on large blocks (in Cairns at the time standard lots sizes were typically 800m2). In the UK, where space is at premium, having an entire estate of hundreds of detached single storey detached homes is just not possible. However, whilst I was impressed with the size of blocks, and the beautiful homes built on them, I was pretty shocked to see single skin blockwork homes, full of air-conditioning, with little or no insulation, no eaves overhang, no regard for overall energy efficiency, and with absolutely no accessible features built in. Why was I so surprised? Because in the UK (as with many other countries), lifetime homes have been the norm for decades, as have homes with a focus on energy efficiency. Let’s put it this way, I completed a thesis on the UK’s two established Energy Rating systems nearly 30 years ago. In Australia, energy ratings have only been nationally mandated in the Australian Building Codes since 2003 (which was a woefully pathetic 4 stars). I am STILL waiting for the codes to introduce anything meaningful for Class 1a buildings in terms of ANY mandatory accessibility provision.
24
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTANTS IN ACCESS AUSTRALIA
