People with disabilities should have the same right of access to any place on an equal footing as normal people through PMR access. Public housing built since the release of the law governing accessibility in 2005 must be equipped with disabled access. While existing buildings and places receiving the public must be fitted out to be able to follow these regulations. What does PMR mean and what are the devices in terms of PMR access?
Characteristics of PMR regulations
To begin with, by PMR we mean any Person with Reduced Mobility, whether it is a motor disability, deafness, blindness, including movement problems caused by injuries or pregnancy. The law of February 11, 2005 allows these people easy access to public places and to services in an equitable manner. Given that 12 million French people suffer from disabilities, whether visible or concealed, all buildings open to the public must have equipment that facilitates accessibility.
The systems put in place to simplify access
To facilitate the movements of people with reduced mobility, the regulations for disabled access indicate the installation of several accessibility devices in public places.
Among many others, reserved places must be set up in public transport as well as in car parks. In addition, establishments such as hospitals, shopping centers, schools and businesses, whether public or private, should be equipped with automatic doors. It should be noted that since the publication of the 2005 law, these buildings must undergo technical inspections in relation to the accessibility of persons with reduced mobility.
It was only in 2014 that all businesses open to the public were obliged to pass PRMs with pregnant women and the elderly through priority checkouts.
Specialized devices for inside and outside buildings
For inside buildings, the displacement and rotation movements of disabled people will be facilitated by certain devices, namely markings on the ground, tactile tiles, turning circles, visual, sound and tactile cues. The explicit color codes are dedicated to the visually impaired.
As for devices outside buildings, they are represented by the guide paths, the tactile pavers as well as the access ramps for wheelchairs which must be non-slippery with a minimum width of 1.40 m. However, if these facilities differ from the usual paths, they must be indicated by identification signs.
Use of equipment for PMR access
For homes, businesses and professional buildings, access to the floors must be simplified by ramps or elevators with audible information apart from those that are visual. As for private residences, the height and spaces in the kitchen, bathroom and toilets must be adapted so that wheelchairs can move with ease.
Re establishments receiving public, they must have mechanical lifts apart from the access ramps to avoid the use of stairs. In addition, the emergency alert system must be available with visual signals with beaconing devices to facilitate evacuations. If evacuation is impossible, the building must contain a secure waiting area to receive them until help arrives.
PMR access does not only concern physical accessibility. Access to information is also stipulated in the PMR regulations. Thus, functions that can magnify characters, assist and control electronic devices by voice are now available.