The Zoning Authority/Development Control of Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone is in the process of updating and creating a new universal design building code for all projects within its jurisdiction, according to a senior official.

"Some chapters of the building code will probably be ready for presentation by the first week of October. It will be conveyed to all our consultants and contractors and compliance will be implemented for every building within our jurisdiction.

"We also plan to possibly extend it to Dubai Municipality since we are working closely with the Dubai Civil Defence authorities," said Issam Jaouad El AlAoui, Senior Architect, Regulations and Compliance, at Zoning Authority/Development Control in an exclusive with Emirates Business.

The International Building Code (IBC) has a chapter on accessibility. "In Dubai, it will be known as the universal design guidelines," said AlAoui. "We have chosen three independent international consultants to review the process, which includes CPG from Singapore. Additionally, depending on the subject, we will draw from those countries that have strong building codes, such as Germany, Singapore and the United States."

The first presentation deals with safety, egress and fire safety issues.

"Others are in draft stages and are being revised. We are looking at the new European codes since the British codes are not applicable anymore," said AlAoui.

In 2007, the Zoning Authority had 1,648 projects under its jurisdiction and the figure went up to 2,047 in 2008. "In 2009, we have 1,510 projects," he said.

"In Dubai, the focus on accessibility within the built environment started in 2007. The guidelines dated back to 1970 and hence we decided to make changes and focus on universal design. Our major drafts at the moment look at circulation of spaces, which includes ways of egress. This is one of the most important chapters for the Dubai Civil Defence and we are happy that they are being responsive to our suggestions," said AlAoui.

"We will enhance the current code and then look at specific building types such as healthcare, sports and so on. For instance, consultants working within Dubai Academic City will need instructions for learning facilities. Hence, they can look up information that is specific to the building type. Additionally, all chapters will have cross-references back to the main guidelines."

The guidelines will be very comprehensive he added.

"We have one entire chapter dedicated to parking requirements. We are also using a new software, which will simulate situations such as people falling from stairs or a person on a wheelchair making turns. This will test codes that exist but are not valid anymore. We are revising everything from scratch and incorporating best practices but making it simpler to use," he said.

But it is not just a question of testing on software.

"Dr Victor Pineda, a visiting research fellow at Dubai School of Government, is doing a study on the accessibility in Dubai. He had met up with our director for his thesis and we offered to give him some of our projects to audit as a disabled person," said AlAoui.

Dr Pineda was born with a condition that weakened his muscles so much that by high school, he needed a machine to help him breath. He is wheelchair bound.

"I have the experience of living with a disability and understand the power of stigma, education, regulations, human rights, universally designed/affordable housing, barrier-free transportation and development. Planners should address new conceptions of access, autonomy and freedom for all people," said Pineda.

"My research will be focused on Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah and will examine social attitudes and physical barriers. In collaboration, with the Dubai School of Government, we will be assessing several public places and will be measuring their accessibility levels on the basis of international standards. This will include restaurants, shops etc.

"We will conduct the social attitude survey during Ramadan and will look at the built environment during the autmun. The results will be published in March. Besides, the Zoning Authority has invited me to assess their projects."

Pineda said he is collecting data on the built environment in the UAE because it is important to educate planners, project managers and architects so that they draw on the international standards to design a building.

"There are many tools that planners can adopt to make such changes. Dubai is now at the place where it can take one small step since it is still a blank slate. People with disabilities can be part of the tiurism sector and shopping," said Pineda.

"I also met with the Urban Planning Council in Abu Dhabi and it seemed to me that its future planning organically embraces high-density walkable cities with local public transportation and pedestrian friendly shaded sidewalks. Those designs are also best practices and ideal for people with disabilities. Though the plan does not take education into account," he said.

The UAE signed the convention and optional protocol in February 2008 (see box 1), he added.

"I am also here to study the UAE Federal Law No 29 that is supposed to implement policy and approaches that are in line with international practices and was announced in 2006. Articles 22 and 23 state that people with disabilities should have equal opportunity as those without disabilities and elaborates how it works in terms of education, transportation, employment and the built environment."

He said discussions for universal design should involve disabled people. "This is where our experience can come in. When Dubai Metro starts, I would urge the RTA to get a survey of its accessibility issues by Emiratis with disabilities.

"Integrating people into societies is crucial. I am starting to have meetings with people with disabilities who are the stakeholders," said Dr Pineda.

"Meanwhile, the Zoning Authority has sent me a few maps of their projects and have asked me to assess how these places look to a person with disabilities."

AlAoui said that the compliance procedures across its projects are tough.

"We have finished 300 inspections of projects. We insist that developers, consultants and contractors have to comply with our requirements and request them to change what is not code compliant," he said.

"Shortly after the financial crisis, many developers wanted to deliver quickly and many have been fined so far for not meeting our criteria. Almost every building did not get the completion approval from us the first time. We have different fine lists that start from Dh1,000 and can go up to millions.

"Some violations are calculated by square foot. But the one that is very important to us is the violations list, which includes projects that are not built according to approved drawings and codes," said AlAoui.

According to him, the staircase is one of the biggest areas of concern.

"In the US, studies have revealed that deaths from falls are second to automobile accidents. Again, studies have revealed that when fires take place, people die due to of poor stairs and exit design and not the fire. Hence, our regulations are being double-checked and we are not flexible."

He said the authority was also working with other organisation for the universal design code for Dubai. "The common aim is to make Dubai have a better built environment," he said.



UN Convention on disabilities

The UN Convention is an international law signed by the UAE Federal Government, meaning that the UAE declared its agreement with the stated principles [promises] of the UN Convention before the international community. It signed the convention and optional protocol in February 2008.

The convention is intended as a human rights instrument with an explicit, social development dimension.

It adopts a broad categorisation of persons with disabilities and reaffirms that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. There are eight guiding principles that underlie the Convention and each one of its specific articles:

-Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy, including the freedom to make one's own choices, and independence of persons

-Non-discrimination

-Full and effective participation and inclusion in society

-Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity

-Equality of opportunity

-Accessibility

-Equality between men and women

-Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities

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