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Login[Locked] SBS Transit orders 500 buses from Scania (Part 1)
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Revised Accessibility Code Kicks in 1st April 2008
From April next year, building owners will not only have to consider barrier free features within their buildings, but between buildings and other other open spaces and structures like bus-stops.
The barrier-free accessibility code, revised for the third time and renamed Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment, was unveiled today by Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu.
Geraldine Soh reports.
Features to allow for a seamless connection between buildings and other structures is currently not required under the code.
But if building owners want their new plans approved next year, they had better think again.
The move to remove kerbs, steps and other obstacles is intended to ensure 'full connectivity' among public facilities, says Ms Grace Fu.
But what about existing buildings?
When the existing buildings come in for major renovation we will want them to comply with the code. What we're also doing is encourage them, through the Accessiblity Fund to voluntarily comply with the code.
40 million dollars has been set aside for this purpose over the next five years.
So far, only 5 buildings including Thomson Plaza have applied for and received grants to upgrade their buildings.
The aim is to hit 15 buildings by year's end.
But it's the buildings built before 1990 that the Building and Construction Authority is focusing its efforts on.
In particular, those with high pedestrain traffic in Orchard Road, Shenton Way and Bras Basah which number about 40 percent of all buildings there.
Mr Fu says the BCA is actively approaching building owners of Lucky Plaza, Keppel Tower and Albert Complex for instance to cajole them into retrofitting their buildings.
938 LIVE understands Lucky Plaza, built in 1978, is considering building ramps to its side entrances but have yet to come up with the full design plan or call a tender.
While BCA could come down hard on such buildings if they refused to comply, Ms Fu said that may not be the best option.
I think it's a bit of a harsh measure if we're to require all building owners to do it at one go. It's an issue of costs and sometimes there're physical constraint like if you need to build a ramp, if there's no space around, it's just hard with the existing structure to comply so we need to give them time.
Government agencies aren't spared either.
We've identified buildings with high traffic like the CPF building. We expect many elderly would go there so we want them to also be barrier free quickly we're looking at a 3 to 5-year time frame.
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Even Scania Global website mentions this !
http://www.scania.com/news/Press_releases/latest/?id=305532
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The buses are of the low-entry wheel chair accessible design and will be equipped with a 230 hp, 9-litre Euro 4 engine employing Scania EGR technology. With EGR, emissions are reduced right from the combustion stage, eliminating the need for aftertreatment equipment and additive tanks on the vehicle
from scania website
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