CVE 12 (accessibility law)

• Minimum requirements for accessibility

  • Accessible Ramps
  • Slip Resistant Materials
  • Handrails and Grab Bars
• Accessible Ramps


  1. Changes in level shall require a ramp except when served by a dropped sidewalk, curb ramp, an elevator, or other mechanical device

  2. Accessible ramps shall have specific facilities and features including minimum clear width, gradient, intermediate handrails for wider ramps, maximum length, level areas at top and bottom, handrails on both sides, extensions of handrails, curbs, and requirements for ramps with a rise greater than 170 mm
• Slip Resistant Materials


  Requirements for slip resistant materials including Coefficient of Friction values for level and sloping surfaces, specifications for carpets or carpet tiles used on floor surfaces
• Handrails and Grab Bars

  Requirements for handrails including installation for accessible ramps, stairs, and dropped sidewalks, specifications for height, diameter, clear distances from walls, and continuity for stair handrails
• Minimum clear distances


  • 50 mm from the wall
  • 40 mm for handrails on ledges
• Stair handrails


  Continuous throughout the entire length and around landings less than 2100 mm in length, except where intersected by an alternative path of travel or has an entry door leading into it
• Accessible parking slot requirements
• Requirements for parking slots for persons with disabilities

  • Allow enough space for a person to transfer from a vehicle to a wheelchair
  • Located nearest to accessible main entrances
  • PWDs should be on board the vehicle to use the reserved parking space
  • Accessible parking slots should be perpendicular or at an angle to the road or circulation aisles
  • Have a minimum width of 3.70 m and a length of 5.00 m
  • A walkway with a minimum clear width of 1.20 m between the front ends of parked cars
  • Dropped sidewalks or curb ramps leading to the parking level where access walkways are raised
• Total number of parking slots required vs. number of accessible parking slots

  • 1-25: 1 accessible parking slot
  • 26-50: 2 accessible parking slots
  • 51-75: 3 accessible parking slots
  • 76-100: 4 accessible parking slots
  • 101-150: 5 accessible parking slots
  • 151-200: 6 accessible parking slots
  • 201-300: 7 accessible parking slots
  • 301-400: 8 accessible parking slots
  • 401-500: 9 accessible parking slots
  • 501-1000: 2% of total spaces
  • 1001 and over: 20+ (1 for each 100 or a fraction thereof over 1000)
• Parking slots for persons with disabilities should never be located at ramped or sloping areas
• For multi-storey indoor parking structures

  Accessible parking slots shall be located right next to accessible elevators, or as close as possible to accessible pedestrian entrances
• In buildings with multiple accessible entrances with adjacent parking

  Accessible parking slots shall be dispersed and located closest to the accessible entrances
• In parking facilities that do not serve a particular building

  Accessible parking shall be located on the shortest accessible route of travel to an accessible pedestrian entrance of the parking facility
• For all accessible parking slots, provide pole-mounted parking signage, 600 mm x 600 mm in size and mounted at a minimum clear height of 2.00 m from the parking floor
• For all accessible parking slots, provide pavement sign painted or marked on the designated lot complying with specific dimensions and the International Symbol of Access
• Requirements for a square

  • Dimensions of at least 1.00 m but not more than 1.50 m
• Requirements for the International Symbol of Access

  • Composed of a white symbolized figure of a person in a wheelchair with a square background in UN Blue Color
  • Symbolized figure always facing to the right
• An intercom may be installed at the vicinity of the accessible parking slot to enable persons with disabilities to call the building management for assistance
• Directional arrows should be provided when the space/area/function being referred to is facing left
• Directional and information (Audio, Visual, and Tactile) signages should be located at points that can be conveniently seen, heard, and felt by all persons with disabilities
• Viewing Distance and Size of Signages

  • Up to 7.0 m: 60 x 60 mm
  • 7.0 to 18.0 m: 100 x 100 mm
  • Above 18.0 m: 200 x 200 to 450 x 450 mm
• Height of Letters based on Required Viewing Distance

  • 1.5 m: 50 mm
  • 2.0 m: 60 mm
  • 2.5 m: 100 mm
  • 3.0 m: 120 mm
  • 4.5 m: 150 mm
  • 6.0 m: 200 mm
  • 8.0 m: 250 mm
• Signages should be kept simple and easy to understand, made of contrasting colors and contrasting gray value for easy detection and reading. Tactile maps shall be provided to guide persons with visual impairment
• The International Symbol of Access should be used to designate routes and facilities that are accessible in combination with pictographs
• Minimum vertical clearance of 2.00 m should be provided if a sign protrudes into a sidewalk/walkway or route. Obstacles, projections, or other protrusions should be avoided in pedestrian areas
• Signs on walls and doors should be installed at a maximum height of 1.50 m from the finish floor to the center of the sign
• Signs shall incorporate graphic, text, and Braille
• Signs and labels for public rooms, areas, and places should have tactile symbols, letters, or numbers embossed with a minimum height of 1 mm. Braille symbols shall be incorporated in signs indicating public places and safety routes
• Tactile Ground Surface Indicators must be provided to warn people with visual impairments when approaching various areas such as stairways, escalators, ramps, etc.
• Types of ramps


  • Fire-exit ramps
  • Curb ramps
  • Swimming pool ramps
• Situations in the absence of suitable protective barriers

  • Overhead obstructions less than 2.0 m above floor level
  • Areas where pedestrian and vehicular traffic intersect
• Tactile warning indicators should have a 50% contrasting gray value from adjacent floor finishes
• Tactile letters and numbers on signs

  • Width to height ratio between 3:5 and 1:1
  • Stroke width to height ratio between 1:5 and 1:10
• Raised and Brailled Characters and Pictorial Symbol Signs

  1. Letters and numerals raised 0.75mm, upper case, sans serif or simple serif type

  2. Accompanied by Grade 2 Braille

  3. Raised characters at least 16mm high but no higher than 50mm

  4. Pictograms accompanied by equivalent verbal description placed directly below

  5. Pictogram border dimension at least 150mm in height
• Finish and Contrast of signs


  • Characters and background should have eggshell, matt, or other non-glare finish
  • Characters and symbols should contrast with their background - light characters on a dark background or dark characters on a light background
• Uniform risers of 150 mm (maximum) and treads of 300 mm (minimum) should be used for stairs
• Tread surfaces should be of slip-resistant material; nosings should be slip-resistant to minimize slipping further
• Slanted nosings are preferred over protruding nosings to avoid difficulty for people using crutches or braces
• Open stringers should be avoided in stairs
• The leading edge of each step on both runner and riser should be marked with paint or non-skid material in high contrast to the rest of the stairs