Building Regulations and the DDA
- At present there is nothing in Part M (England and Wales) or Part T (Scotland) specifically on fire alarms for Deaf and hard of hearing people
- However, the new DDA Code of Practice states that if a feature is not covered in Part M or Part T then it will be liable to adjustment under the DDA
- Part B recommends BS5839-1 as a guideline for fire alarms
The above discusses the implications of fire safety for Deaf people in buildings post occupation of the premises. The regulation of new, altered and extended buildings is the concern of building legislation. If a building is constructed in accordance with Part M of Building Regulations in England or Wales, or Part T of the technical standards in Scotland, there are some alterations you may not have to make under the DDA.
However, this is only the case for characteristics of buildings which still comply with the regulations or standards that were in force when they were constructed. If you are installing a fire alarm for hearing people then under the DDA you must also install a fire alarm for Deaf people and this fire alarm should also meet BS5839-1. The new code of practice for the DDA published by the DRC in May 2000 includes a new chapter linking the Disability Discrimination Act to Building Regulations.
