Guidelines for building renovation to follow the access to public facilities for disabled persons regulations B.E. 2548 : a case study of Chulalongkorn University
Abstract:
After the Access to Public Facilities for Disabled Persons Regulations B.E. 2548 was introduced, it was put into effect for public buildings. This is because access to buildings used for education, libraries and museums must have public facilities for the disabled and elderly. Chulalongkorn University is an educational building types, which has to participate in this policy although the building code has no reverse effect, and has no target to the international center followed by university development plan. This is the reason why there needs to be facilities for disabled persons. This study concentrated on physical properties and opinions. The study comprised 2 steps: 1) survey to create structure for the interviews period, and 2) the interviewing period. Eight buildings were used for the case study, which are the education center buildings of Mahatherarajanusorn, Bhinitprachanart, and Mahittalatibetara; The community buildings of Sala phra kieo, Chunlachakrapong, and Chulalongkorn Main Auditorium. The stadiums of Chulalongkorn Stadium and Indoor Stadium. Data was gathered on all buildings by survey and also the data from the interviews of 3 groups of people architects, building owners, and building users. The study found that the public facilities for disabled reverse to building age, because of the regular from each period is the important factor in case study. From the interview data, it was found that the case study buildings should improve the pattern of usage and give the following further consideration. First, the access from the outdoor area to inside the building should have a convenient entrance, parking lot, and signs. Second, the accessibility of the building should include ramps, stairs or litts depending on each case. Third, inside the building there should be toilet for the disabled. However, there are exceptions for some limited areas where this cannot be done for those in wheelchairs. In this study, the visually impaired gave their opinions about the buildings. They think that the warning boxes do not need improving in all areas but they do need warning boxes for head level awareness. The guidelines for building renovation in this case study depend on the necessity, which follow from 4 levels of budget. Level 1: increase signs usage and disabled parking lot in Mahittalatibetara. Level 2: increase disabled parking lot,and improve restroom fixing handrails in there and other places, in bhinitprachanart, Mahatherarajanusorn, and Sala phra kieo. Level 3: should to do the things in Level 2 and improve the seats for disabled persons in Chulalongkorn Stadium. Level 4: should do everything in Level 2 and increase the ramp availability, in Chunlachakrapong Indoor Stadium, and Chulalongkorn Main Auditorium. The university should promote policy and give information to disabled persons, especially for those visually impaired who should get 3 dimension billboards for touching. In order to become an international center, there should be policy regarding the disabled studying in university, and it is recommended as it is good for social system motivation.