A Strategic Design of Accessible Buildings for People with a Disability in Jordan: Fid-Bau Portal

A Strategic Design of Accessible Buildings for People with a Disability in Jordan

Al-Zoabi, Ahmad Y.

Jordan has witnessed one of the highest and most accelerated rates of development in construction during the last three decades. However, it is evident that the building codes that are being applied pay minimal attention to buildings' design in terms of easy accessibility to occupants with mobility problems and easy evacuation. It has, thus, been of primary concern for the government to assume the sole responsibility and care of people with a disability. Such responsibility would include the provision of an environment whereby people with a disability can move freely within, particularly in urban areas.

This paper discusses some loopholes in current building design approaches and presents a framework for design that incorporates a measure for the ability of building occupants to move quickly and freely during an emergency- when quick and planned movement is often necessary. This framework, based on the evacuation performance index concept developed by research, provides a useful tool that links the design of buildings to the movement requirements of both disabled and able-bodied populations. In light of the present rate of construction in Jordan, significant changes in design are inevitable. The framework described in this paper makes allowances for any given change in design that might occur in this field.