According to the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design in Ireland, the term Universal Design has been used incorrectly as a synonym for compliance with accessibility design standards.[1]
They argue the two areas differ greatly, whereas equal rights and disability legislation prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability, accessibility design standards provide a minimum level of compliance with applicable legislation. They raise two key factors when considering Universal Design:
- It is not just applicable to the needs of people with disabilities, but everyone, regardless of their age, size, ability or disability.
- Universal Design is not a list of specifications; but an approach to design that considers the varied abilities of users.
In terms of universal design and evacuation planning, there are a number of measures that can be implemented to ensure a building is safe for all occupants, not only when the building is being used in its normal state, but when there’s an emergency and a need for evacuation.
[1] National Disability Authority, http://universaldesign.ie/What-is-Universal-Design/The-10-things-to-know-about-UD/, viewed 20 August 2015