Accessible Space Rule is designed to help you ensure that spaces in your building model meet accessibility requirements. This rule automates the checking of a free space defined as a Cylinder or Cuboid shape, free path from a passageway to the defined free space, and their obstacle avoidance, supporting compliance with accessibility standards for building users such as wheelchair users and people with limited mobility.
The Accessible Space Rule is available in 25.6.0 or newer.
This article Covers the following Topics
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The rule checks for a free cuboid or cylinder of specified dimensions within the filtered spaces and optionally for a free path from a door to the cuboid or cylinder (free space)
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It considers all included obstacles and verifies if required clearance can be placed and is unobstructed between the defined elevations.
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If the requirement is not met (e.g., insufficient turning space, blocked path), the rule will generate an issue based on the space component or for the path on the passageway component for review
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Accessibility Compliance: Verifies that designated spaces provide the required free area for movement and access.
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Obstacle Detection: Ensures that no obstacles block the required accessible paths or spaces.
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Design Validation: Assists in validating that your design meets regulatory and best practice accessibility guidelines.
Filter Spaces: Select which spaces in your model will be checked for clearance accessibility.
Merge Spaces: Option to treat adjacent spaces as a single area for accessibility checking.
Choose Obstacles: Define which components may be considered as obstacles within the clearance area.
Free Space Requirements.
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Shape: Select between Cylinder or Cuboid for the free space requirement.
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Diameter: If Cylinder is selected from the shape enter the Diameter.
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Length: If Cuboid is selected from the shape enter the Length requirement.
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Width: If Cuboid is selected from the shape enter the Width requirement.
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Start Elevation: Enter the start Elevation for the vertical range
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End Elevation: Enter the end Elevation for the vertical range
Notice
Elevation values are relative to the bottom of the space
Passageways: Activate for checking access from the free space to either Doors, Windows or Openings.
Choose Passageways Filter: Passages, such as doors, windows and openings, are essential for ensuring accessibility to Spaces.
Path Width: The path width is defined from the defined passageways to the defined free space (cuboid or cylinder).
Door Swings: Refer to the area covered by a door as it opens and closes. Rule 246 considers door swings as potential obstacles that can reduce the clear floor space required for accessibility
Issues are categorized by following issue types:
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Free cylinder/cuboid: Space too Small – Space Component
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Check: If the filtered space can accommodate the required cylinder/cuboid dimensions (width/diameter and length)
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Issue Creation: If the space is too small, an issue is created on the space component
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Process: Checking stops here – no further steps are executed for this space
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Free cylinder/cuboid: Space too Short – Space Component
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Check: If the space has sufficient height between the defined start and end elevations
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Issue Creation: If the vertical clearance (defined via Start and End Elevation) is insufficient, an issue is created on the space component.
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Process: Checking stops here – no further steps are executed for this space.
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Free cylinder/cuboid: Obstacles found in available free Space locations – Space Component
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Check: If the required cylinder/cuboid can be placed without clashing with any obstacles (furniture, fixtures, equipment,...)
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Issue Creation: If it is not the case an issue will be created on the space together with all obstacles inside of the space
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Process: Checking stops here – no further steps are executed for this space
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Path: Inaccessible doors – Door Component
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Check: If doors leading to the space can be opened or accessed
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Issue Creation: If doors are inaccessible, an issue is created on the door component
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Process: Checking continues – this also triggers an issue for Step 6 (Path validation)
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Path: Door width is too narrow – Door Component
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Check: If the door widths meet the minimum requirements of the defined path width.
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Issue Creation: If door width is too narrow, an issue is created on the door component.
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Process: Checking continues – this also triggers an issue for Step 4 (Path validation).
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Path: No valid path available if all doors – Space Component
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Check: Determine if there is at least one accessible path from a passageway to the defined clearance object in the space, with the defined path width.
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Conditions for Issue:·
- All doors (selected by filter) are either inaccessible AND/OR too narrow·
- No path exists with the specified minimum path width
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Issue Creation: If no valid path is available, an issue is created on the space component.
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Process: This is the final check in the hierarchy
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Wheelchair Turning Areas: Ensure that rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms have a 1.5 m diameter free space for wheelchair turning.
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Path Widths: Verify that paths maintain a minimum unobstructed width (e.g., 1.2 m) throughout their length.
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Door too Narrow: Make sure that the doors are at least as wide as the path itself