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An Assessment of Ramp Designs as Barrier-Free Accesses in Public Buildings in Abuja, Nigeria

Received: 03 February 2015    Accepted: 19 February 2015    Published: 02 March 2015
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Abstract

Increasingly, concerns about the need to improve the level of accessibility of buildings for the aged and the physically challenged in the built environment especially in public buildings have been raised. This study is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of ramp designs in the Federal Capital Territory Area of Abuja, Nigeria. An adaptive survey was deployed to selected public buildings to generate recommendations for change and improvement. The findings indicate that there are several shortcomings associated with ramp characteristics, landing and handrail provisions in the public buildings studied. The study recommends redesigning of existing ramps to achieve desired standards, and the adherence of prospective designs to desired needs of users to ensure ease of accessibility within the built environment. When implemented, it will eventually allow the elderly and physically challenged move easily, safely and enjoy the great variety of opportunities and experiences existing in the City.

DOI 10.11648/j.hss.20150302.12
Published in Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 3, Issue 2, March 2015)
Page(s) 75-82
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Accessibility, Barrier-Free, City, Public Buildings, Ramp Design

References
[1] Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (2002). Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and facilities. Available at: www.bard.gov/adaag/ADAAG.pdf, Accessed 2014.
[2] Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE ) (2011). Design Guidance-Ramps, www.cae.org.uk Design guidance, Accessed 12 August, 2014.
[3] Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) (2011). Accessible Housing By Design-Ramps, Available at: http://www. Oho/.refash/refasjh.025.cfm. Accessed 12 August, 2014.
[4] Federal Highway Administration FHWA (2007). Curb Ramp, http://www.dot.gov/environemtn/sidewalk2/sidewalks207.htm. Accessed 12 August, 2014.
[5] G3ict (2011). Accessibility, Innovation and Sustainability at AT & T Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies, G3ict Publications & Reports Available at: www.g3ict.org.Assessed 14 August, 2014.
[6] Gitlin, L.N., Mamnn, W., Tomit, M., and Marcus, S.M. (2001). Factors associated with home environmental problems among community-living elderly people. disabRehabil. 2001; 23:777-787.
[7] Hacihasanoglu, I. and Hachihasanoglu, O. (2010) Assessment for accessibility in housing settlements. Building and Environment.
[8] Hagan, E. B. and Wellington, H.N. A., (1992). Opportunities and constraints for access legislation in Ghana –a case study of utilizing existing institutional framework to promote access legislation. Report of the CIB Expert Seminar on Building.
[9] Mckenzie, S. (2004). The concepts of Economic and Social Suitability. Journal of Business and Social Review Vol. 14 Pp 13-29.
[10] Non-Handicapping Environment, Harare (1992) http.//www.independnetliving.org/cib/cibharare7. html. Accessed 14 August, 2014.
[11] Holmes –Siedle, J. (1996). Barrier-Free Design: A Manual for Building Designers and managers. Architectural Press, Oxford.
[12] International Design Society of America (IDSA) (2005). Okala ecological design workshop, Saint Louis, U.S.A.
[13] International Standards Organization (ISO) (2009). Building Construction-Accessibility and Usability of the Built Environment, Draft INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS Iso/DIS 21542, Available at:http://www.sysiatianble-esign.ie/arch/ISO-DIS-21542_Accessibility-for-=Al_November-2009.pdf.Assessed15 August 2014.
[14] Lee, K., Nam, and Choi, E. (2009). The Role of Industrial Design in Sustainable Office Environment-with Emphasis on the Utilization of Industrial Design for Social Sustainability, available at:http://www.iasdr2009org/\apapers.pdf Assessed 16 August 2014.
[15] Mace, L.R. (1991). The Accessible Housing Design File: Barrier Free Environments. Raleigh, NC: barrier Free Environments, Inc.
[16] Office for Disability Issues (ODI) (2011). What We Do-Built Environment. Available at: http:/www.odi.govt.nz/what-wedo/index.html. Accessed 16 August 2014.
[17] Prose, E. (2009). Handicap Ramps. Available at: http://edwyn[prose.hubpagescom/hub/handicap-ramps. Accessed 16 August 2014.
[18] Right to Play (2010). Sports and Persons with Disabilities: Fostering inclusion and Well-Being Available at: www.rightplay.com/../news.../chapters5_sortandDisability.pdf.Accessed 18 August 2014.
[19] Romanyuta S.O. (2011). Barrier-Free Access for the Disabled in Ukraine: Public Policy Analysis. Available at: www.unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/.../UNPAN004658.pdf. Accessed 18 August 2014.
[20] UN Enable (1993) The Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. Adopted by United Nations general Assembly, Forty-eighth session, resolution 48/96, annex Available at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/designm/AD2-01 htm.Accessed 27 August 2014.
[21] United National Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) (2011). Barrier-Free Environments: Problem Addressed. Available at: www.unescap.org/jecf/ p04barrier.htm.Accessed 27 August 2014.
[22] United Nations (2003) Excerpts from United National Official Publication 2003.
[23] Wellington, H.N.A. (1992). Opportunities and Challenges of Barrier-Free Design Consciousness-An valuation of the Application of Barrier-Free Design Principles in the Social Cultural Circumstances in Nigeria. Report of the CIB Expert Seminar on Building Non-Handicapping Environments, Harare 1992: Available at http:/www.indepenmdtliving.org/cib/cibharare19.html. Accessed 27 August 2014.
[24] World Bank (2009). Disability and the Millennium Development Goals. Available at: http:/web.worldband.org./WEBSITE/externmal/topics/extsocialprotection/extdisability/0./content.MDK:21162907-menuPK:3265756-paePK:210058-piPK:210062-theSitePK: 2699,00. tml. Accessed 6 September, 2014.
[25] World Bank, (2010). World Development Indicators, Available at: http:/data.worldbank. org/indicatior/SP.DYN.LE00.IN?cid=GPD_10.Accessed 6 September, 2014.
Author Information
  • Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

  • Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

  • Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

  • Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

  • Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Anunobi Anthony Ikechukwu, Adedayo Olatunde Folaranmi, Ayuba Philip, Oyetola Stephen Ayodele, Otijele Godwin Omachoko. (2015). An Assessment of Ramp Designs as Barrier-Free Accesses in Public Buildings in Abuja, Nigeria. Humanities and Social Sciences, 3(2), 75-82. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20150302.12

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    ACS Style

    Anunobi Anthony Ikechukwu; Adedayo Olatunde Folaranmi; Ayuba Philip; Oyetola Stephen Ayodele; Otijele Godwin Omachoko. An Assessment of Ramp Designs as Barrier-Free Accesses in Public Buildings in Abuja, Nigeria. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2015, 3(2), 75-82. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20150302.12

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    AMA Style

    Anunobi Anthony Ikechukwu, Adedayo Olatunde Folaranmi, Ayuba Philip, Oyetola Stephen Ayodele, Otijele Godwin Omachoko. An Assessment of Ramp Designs as Barrier-Free Accesses in Public Buildings in Abuja, Nigeria. Humanit Soc Sci. 2015;3(2):75-82. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20150302.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.hss.20150302.12,
      author = {Anunobi Anthony Ikechukwu and Adedayo Olatunde Folaranmi and Ayuba Philip and Oyetola Stephen Ayodele and Otijele Godwin Omachoko},
      title = {An Assessment of Ramp Designs as Barrier-Free Accesses in Public Buildings in Abuja, Nigeria},
      journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
      volume = {3},
      number = {2},
      pages = {75-82},
      doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20150302.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20150302.12},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20150302.12},
      abstract = {Increasingly, concerns about the need to improve the level of accessibility of buildings for the aged and the physically challenged in the built environment especially in public buildings have been raised. This study is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of ramp designs in the Federal Capital Territory Area of Abuja, Nigeria. An adaptive survey was deployed to selected public buildings to generate recommendations for change and improvement. The findings indicate that there are several shortcomings associated with ramp characteristics, landing and handrail provisions in the public buildings studied. The study recommends redesigning of existing ramps to achieve desired standards, and the adherence of prospective designs to desired needs of users to ensure ease of accessibility within the built environment. When implemented, it will eventually allow the elderly and physically challenged move easily, safely and enjoy the great variety of opportunities and experiences existing in the City.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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    T1  - An Assessment of Ramp Designs as Barrier-Free Accesses in Public Buildings in Abuja, Nigeria
    AU  - Anunobi Anthony Ikechukwu
    AU  - Adedayo Olatunde Folaranmi
    AU  - Ayuba Philip
    AU  - Oyetola Stephen Ayodele
    AU  - Otijele Godwin Omachoko
    Y1  - 2015/03/02
    PY  - 2015
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20150302.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.hss.20150302.12
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    JF  - Humanities and Social Sciences
    JO  - Humanities and Social Sciences
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8184
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20150302.12
    AB  - Increasingly, concerns about the need to improve the level of accessibility of buildings for the aged and the physically challenged in the built environment especially in public buildings have been raised. This study is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of ramp designs in the Federal Capital Territory Area of Abuja, Nigeria. An adaptive survey was deployed to selected public buildings to generate recommendations for change and improvement. The findings indicate that there are several shortcomings associated with ramp characteristics, landing and handrail provisions in the public buildings studied. The study recommends redesigning of existing ramps to achieve desired standards, and the adherence of prospective designs to desired needs of users to ensure ease of accessibility within the built environment. When implemented, it will eventually allow the elderly and physically challenged move easily, safely and enjoy the great variety of opportunities and experiences existing in the City.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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