RHAF Exam Prep May 2024.docx

RHAF Exam Prep May 2024 ======================= **Exam date and time:** **July 4** **4:30pm** **(cannot reschedule, have to be within 6 months of course)** Section 1 --------- ### Define elements of the built environment Built environment: physical spaces and places where people live, work, l...

RHAF Exam Prep May 2024 ======================= **Exam date and time:** **July 4** **4:30pm** **(cannot reschedule, have to be within 6 months of course)** Section 1 --------- ### Define elements of the built environment Built environment: physical spaces and places where people live, work, learn and play. (according to the RHAF) Focus areas of RHAF ratings: commercial, institutional, and public buildings, multi-unit residential buildings, trails and pathways. *Related infrastructure (streetscapes, bridges and marine access), single family* *homes and campgrounds are not currently included.* Accessibility: degree to which a product, device, activity, facility, service or environment allows everyone to participate fully and is available to everyone on an equal basis (according to RHAF) Meaningful access: fundamental premise of RHAF, Meaningful access is access that meets the real accessibility needs of all users of a Site, regardless of their physical ability. It recognizes that the accessibility of any given Site is based on the entire user experience, rather than simply evaluating its physical access features. In other words, when it comes to accessibility, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. For instance, an accessible washroom is of little use if it's located at the top of a set of stairs. Next -- review technical terms in appendix in professional handbook **Definitions** A parking lot with white lines Description automatically generated Access aisle: Clear, level area parallel to a parking space for people with mobility disabilities to get in and out of a car or van. Accessible: With respect to buildings, or parts of buildings, means that people regardless of age, size, ability or disability, are able to both access and use the building and its facilities. Accessible route (path of travel): A pedestrian path of travel within the interior or exterior environment that is without barriers, as defined in the **[CSA Standard,]** and usable by all persons, including those with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. Adaptable: Easily renovated to create a barrier-free environment. Adaptable units are designed and constructed to facilitate **[future modification]** to provide access for persons with disabilities. Adaptable seating: A fixed seat or seats designed to facilitate a side transfer from a wheeled mobility device. Alternative (alternate) format: Information presented in Braille, in large print, electronically (e.g., on removable or portable media), or online in an accessible format. Amenity: anything that adds to a person's comfort or convenience. Amenity zone: A designated area, adjacent or connected to an accessible route, that provides amenities and services (e.g., street furniture, mailboxes, telephones) and can include utilities such as light posts, hydrants, etc. Area of refuge: An area separate from the general floor area by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating at least equal to that required for an exit, that is smoke protected and served by an exit or a firefighters elevator. Barrier: A condition that prevents someone's full participation in the activities of daily living. There are different types of barriers. Barrier: attitudinal: Section 2 -- Disability Awareness ================================= Use contextual language appropriately Define types of disabilities ---------------------------- Vision Vision loss perspectives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgC5Dd3n7SQ Mobility https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc8mPNhclSI Hearing HoH and Deaf perspectives: The 10 disability types used by Statistics Canada and captured within the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) are: 1\. Seeing 2\. Hearing 3\. Mobility 4\. Flexibility 5\. Dexterity 6\. Pain-related 7\. Learning 8\. Developmental 9\. Mental health-related 10\. Memory Disabilities related to pain, flexibility, mental health, mobility most common among Canadians age 15 and overs Recognize impact of disabilities on experience with social and physical environment Define common access issues in public facilities/spaces Sign languages are official languages in 41 countries:. Cued speech Section 3 **[Define the categories and elements of the RHFAC Rating Survey]** Site Information Site Details: completed by a client when they register the site on the RHAF registry. Gives professionals a basic understanding of the site. Can be viewed by public if listed publicly. Includes org name, contact, id, listing contat, address, ownership, function, size, floors, site type, construction year Scope of Rating: Critical element to an RHAF rating, defines areas included and excluded from a rating, written by RHAF professional, included in letter of cert to client, if listing is public, public can view Certification and Gold Certification Prerequisites Rating Categories Structure of Rating Categories: where date entry takes place line by line, Scoring System Categories, Elements or Features Categories: key areas systems, i.e. vehicular access, exterior approach and entrance, interior circulation, interior services and environment, sanitary facilities, wayfinding and signage, emergency systems, additional use of space, residential units, trails and pathways Elements: contained with categories are elements. For example, for vehicular access, parking and general vehicular access are the main elements. Features: each element contains features, for example within the parking element, number of designated spaces is a feature within that element Max points/values, usually between 2 and 5 Rating Scorecard Provides final rating scores for each category, element and feature, as well as adherence to pre-reqs, automatically generated (professional should not enter scores directly into scorecard) Rating Summary Professionals provide key areas of success and improvement for a site, based on the scorecard, professional should ID next steps for improving site accessibility **[Understand the differences in the RHFAC certification levels]** To be certified, all sites must have an accessible public entrance and access to all functional spaces. **Not Certified:** A site that has not met the mandatory pre-requisites. **RHF Accessibility Certified:** A Site that has met the Certification Prerequisite and has achieved a final rating score of at least 60% on the RHFAC Rating Survey. **RHF Accessibility Certified Gold:** A Site that has met the Gold Certification Prerequisites and has achieved a final rating score of at least 80% on the RHAF rating survey. 13 elements that a site must have to be certified gold: 1\. Designated accessible parking spaces if parking is provided for Site users; 2\. Access to public transit, if the Site is located in an area serviced by transit; 3\. Accessible path(s) of travel leading to building or trail entrance and throughout the building or trail; 4\. An accessible primary entrance for public and staff (if separate); 5\. Access to all floors expected to be used by elevator or lift usable by everyone; 6\. At least one universal washroom; 7\. Emergency systems with visual and audible fire alarms in both public and private areas; 8\. Wayfinding strategies in place to navigate throughout the Site; 9\. Safety warning features, such as tactile attention indicators at the top of stairs, and cane-detectable features, if there are overhead or protruding hazards along the path of travel; 10.Tactile markings for permanent room identification signs; 11.Assistive listening and communication enhancement technologies, when applicable to the Site; 12.Accessibility provision(s) for key functional facilities of the Site; and 13.Accessible or adaptable residential unit(s) for each type of unit (e.g. bachelor, 1 bedroom, etc.) available (Applies to Multi-unit residential buildings only) **[Section D]** - **Locate applicable building codes and construction documents** - Review safety requirements and procedures In British Columbia, this individual should be **Apply and use the RHFAC Rating System** **(RHFAC Training Student Guide, Section 3)** - Review construction documents Be familiar with the building classification, ownership and jurisdiction and locate/review applicable building code and accessibility standards. Make sure you know and understand the accessibility provisions of CSA B651 that are applicable to the building/Site to be reviewed (these are covered in "Unit 5.2 Accessibility Legislation, Regulations and Standards"). Note: For trails and pathways, locate any standards or guidelines that apply to the particular area. - Take and record measurements as necessary (lighting, sound, distances, weights, etc.) - Tools to measure distance: steel tape measure or laser measure, slope -- digital inclinometer, measuring force -- door pressure gauge, take photos and videos, measure light and luminance, measuring sound - Use rating survey to guide in identifying relevant categories, elements and features - RHFAC Professional Handbook and CSA B651 for more guidance on how to - Identify positive access features and disability group affected Locate Universal Design guidelines and criteria Apply own judgment the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD) 1. Explain Universal Design principles and concepts 1. defined as: The design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. Universal Design = Usable Design = Understandable Design (understanding the user). For example, an older person may require many resting places due to discomfort when walking for long distances. Explain the concepts of Universal Design versus code compliance Universal design is based on market driven concept, that goes above and beyond the codes, expands what is in the code, it is an ideal, rather than an end state, in process, has to provide added value beyond accessibility and disability, results in products that can be used by everyone Code compliance is the law, accessibility responds to legal mandates, focused on minimal requirements 12. Describe concepts of meaningful access based on what the site is and who is using it **Universal Design Principles:** Equitable Use: The design does not disadvantage or stigmatize any group of users. For example, the accessible entrance is the same as the entrance for everyone. Steps be beside ramp Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. For example, a webpage that has an adjustable text size. Or a welcome desk that has a lowered portion to accommodate people using a wheelchair. Simple, Intuitive Use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level. For example, a straight ramp is preferred to a curved one as curved ones can be difficult for those with walkers, strollers and some wheelchair users Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities. For example: Parking lot - Include intercom and visual display for all ticket machines. Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions. Low Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably, and with a minimum of fatigue. For example, an elevator door button able to be pressed by someone's foot. Size and Space for Approach & Use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use, regardless of the user's body size, posture, or mobility. For example: Parking lot - Make prepay ticket machines (before return to car) available in different heights to accommodate wheelchair users or shorter people. Larger width for a side walk to accommodate a family with several children. Equitable Fleixibility Simple, intuitive Perceptible Tolerance for error Low physical effort Size, and space and approach Mnemonic: Every fish swims perfectly through large streams **Understand and interpret relevant legislation, regulation, and standards** (*RHFAC Training Student Guide*, Section 5) 1. **Understand appropriate human rights and disability legislation related to access and inclusion** multi-layered legal framework: legislation found at all levels Constitution rights and Canadian charter of rights and freedoms 1. Human rights act -- equal rights to ppl who may be victims of discrimination based on several grounds, CHRC -- investigate claims, human right tribunal to judge cases provincial human rights codes -- to ensure people are accommodated to point of undue hardship EEA -- engage in productive employment practices, remove barriers to employment duty to accommodate and undue hardship -- arisen from canadian human rights act. "The duty to accommodate means that sometimes it is necessary to treat someone differently in order to be fair." For example, it would be considered an undue hardship if the changes cost too much or create risks to health or safety. It is important for rhaf professionals to be aware of human rights complaints involving the building they are assessing 1. Accessible Canada act -- passed in 2019, federal legislation, prohibition of discrimination based on disability, aims to benefit everyone through proactive id of barriers gives the Government of Canada the authority to work with stakeholders and persons with disabilities to create new accessibility regulations that will apply to sectors within the federal jurisdiction, such as banking, telecommunications, transportation industries and the Government of Canada 1. itself. UN convention on the rights of persons with disability, 2006 -- ensuring that all people with disabilities have access to human rights 2. provincial legislation AODA Highlights of the AODA legislation are as follows: Purpose is to achieve accessibility standards for people with physical and mental disabilities to all public establishments by 2025. The scope of legislation includes both public and private institutions. Provides five accessibility standards that are being implemented in stages: o Customer Service Standard o Information and Communications Standard o Transportation Standard o Employment Standard 4. o Design of Public Spaces Standard 1. municipality 4. If two laws conflict, generally the law that offers the higher level of accessibility will be followed, in Canada human rights laws trump everything **Understand appropriate building legislation, regulations, and standards related to access and inclusion** RHAF expected to understand building codes at a prelim level Building codes ONLY apply to elements that are building specific (i.e. not trails or pathways) In Canada, building and construction is provincial or territorial responsibility Building codes and bylaws are developed from building act legislation The general intent of building codes is to provide a uniform set of minimum technical standards to protect the health, safety and welfare of the building occupants. They are not intended as building design manuals. The code includes sections that address fire protection, occupant safety, accessibility, structural design, environmental separation, heating, ventilating and air-conditioning, plumbing, and safety measures, and housing and small buildings. Building code does not require retrofitting of existing buildings to improve accessibility. Most local govs regulated building through local bylaws - building and occupancy permits, fees and Site inspections. Model code -- building code with no legal status, but can be adopted by a municipality but is not enforceable on its own but can be enforceable if adopted, national building code is the model building code for Canada Standards -- non-enforceable, typically set by different agencies, can be included in building code, accessibility standards have been developed by Canadian standards association, BC Housing, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). National building code (NBC 2015) -- used for federally owned buildings, like Canada post, RCMP, also applies to new reserve construction built with federal money. Six provinces and three territories have adopted this as their building code. The four largest provinces have their own building codes. Provinces that published their own building codes based on the model code: In Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec, the code is primarily the same as the model code, with variations that are primarily additions. In Ontario, the code is based on the model code, but with significant variations in content and scope. Ontario references the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings in its building code. **Explain the process for administering and enforcing building regulations** Takes place during various stages of construction Enforced at the municipal level Building codes may supersede municipal building bylaws, administered and enforced by municipality Local bylaws apply to existing buildings as well as to construction projects involving minor alterations to existing buildings. Building permits ensures work is done to code Municipal building department teams, consisting of building officials and staff, enforce code compliance. To id upcoming projects, an RHAF professionals can view list of devel permits or rezoning Realistically not involved in each stage of the project, Shanna Ross -- each construction phase Earlier you can be involved, the more influence you have, because things can still be changed at a relatively low cost Key participants in the municipal process are listed below. The size of the town or city influences the availability of in-house resources and processes. Building owner (client) Architects Engineers Building inspectors Building plan reviewers Building permit issuers -- review plans (submitted by architect, engineer, or builder) for compliance with applicable codes. Once the building RHFAC Training STUDENT GUIDE department reviews the drawings and determines whether the plans comply with the minimum codes in the jurisdiction, they will issue a building permit to the owner or contractor. Code consultants -- may work for the city (if a small city without depth of experience) or the owner or consultants Planning department (city planners) Construction drawings: Standard info on drawings Specifiations = check products, materials, standards, equipment Schedules = check doors and door hardware, door width, product lists, furniture, room finishes Scale = always verify Title block = make sure looking at correct project version, revision number Plan = overhead view of building or planned building, often used to depict layout, showing windows, doors, walls, stairs, other features Site location plan = location of entry, transit, parking, walkways, grade and elevation change, bird's eye view of property, grade and elevation changes, property not just building Floor plan = internal circulation, access to main facilities and rooms Landscape plan = crime prevention through environmental design plan (CPED) Elevation = vertical view of a building, as if looking straight at it, positioning of various features in the landscape Interior elevation = height and positioning of doorways, windows and accessories (millwork, interior walls) Exterior elevation = doors and entrances, features attached to walls, floor elevations Section = a vertical view of one specific section of a building, think cross-section, includes doors, walls, shows heights Schematic drawings are prelim drawings that can be used to ID potential access issue but not as detailed as construction drawings, potential circulation issues, develop design criteria for client Building section = not normally used in assessment, contains construction level of detail **11 basic lines in construction drawings** On page reference = used to ID a specific item on a drawing on same page Off page reference = used to ID a detail of an item on a different page Border lines = define edge of the drawings, usually the heaviest lines on the drawing Property lines = edges of the property lots Hidden line = A Hidden Line is made up of short dashes of medium thickness. If an edge or surface is blocked from view by another feature, it is drawn using a hidden line. In a demolition plan, the dashed lines depict items that are to be removed. Visible object lines = solid continuous lines, lines for a wall will be thicker than those for a door, objects Center lines = used to represent center of an architectural feature Dimension lines = used to show actual size of an object, IMPORTANT for accessibility Section cutting lines = sections or detailed cuts on the plan, numbers attached to section cuts (section number and sheet number) Cloud = thing under development Icons used to represent specific objects outlined in a legend in note or title page Building material representation Order of pages in construction drawings: title page (site map and rendering), civil (project info as relates to existing conditions externally, landscaping, demolition, site grading, contours), structural (foundation plan, scheduling), architectural (core reference point for project and define building materials, floor finishings, bricks, windows, roofing, start with floorplans), mechanical, plumbing, electrical How to find information? Start with title sheet, how are they organized Flip through all drawings Highlight the parts that pertain to work Components to be aware of... Drawing ID = content and referencing Scale = relative sizes are correctly represented, various scales might be used within a set, standard international (SI) units IDP stands for Integrated Design Process, which is a collaborative approach involving multiple stakeholders in building design 1. Apply RHFAC rating to evaluate current state based on rating activities Perform gap analysis of current state to universal design standards Apply Universal Design standard in RHFAC rating Scorecard (summarize findings) Determine desired state and recommendation Develop RHFAC rating feedback Communicate findings with Site contacts quizgecko Quiz practice: understanding how people with disabilities interact with the built environment The focus areas for rating in RHFAC Training are commercial, institutional, and public buildings, as well as multi-unit residential buildings, and trails and pathways. The most common types of disabilities among Canadians aged 15 years and over were related to pain (15%), flexibility (10%), mobility (10%), and mental health-related (7%). People can become deaf later in life due to various reasons such as age, illness, hereditary conditions, and accidents. You\'re close! The correct answer is 20%. You were only 5 percentage points off. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, one in five Canadians will personally experience a mental illness during their lifetime. Keep in mind that the correct answer is 20%, not 15%. Ontario references the National Energy Code of Canada in its building code The Building Access Handbook 2014 consolidates Building Code Requirements for Persons with Disabilities in Section 3.8 of Division B and elsewhere throughout the code. The Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations are regulations made under the Nova Scotia Building Code Act, which adopts and implements the National Building Code with some modification and additions throughout the province. Course review: Module one Built environment -- man made surroundings that provide the site for human activity, live, work and play While RHFAC can be used to identify the overall level of accessibility provided to most Sites in the built environment, RHFAC Training focuses on ratings in the following areas: commercial, institutional, and public buildings, multi-unit residential buildings, trails and pathways. Commercial and retail, multi-unit residential, public realm, trails and pathways Presently, the program does not include single family homes, and infrastructure such as streetscapes, bridges and marine access. Access or accessible means a person with disabilities can enter, pass to and from and make use of an area and its facilities. **Meaningful access** -- RHAF program is designed around this concept; goes beyond code compliance and legal requirements, meets real accessibility needs for users, based on user experience, not just evaluation of physical features; needs of the people are at the core of a rating; not just sum of physical parts of enviro Compliance only equals minimal levels of accessibility Appreciation of diversity in people's abilities; what is accessible for one person may not be accessible for another person Universal design should be integrated into all levels of construction Module two AODA defines five types of barriers: attitudinal, informational, architectural, technological, organizational (systemic, policies, procedures) Not enough to get a person into a site, but once they are there they must feel safe and like their dignity is being respected Types of disabilities Seeing: Usable visual field (reduced ability to use whole visual field to perceive detail and surrounding area), visual acuity (ability to see the finer details), colour perception (ability to distinguish between different colours), contrast sensitivity (reduced ability to distinguish between brightness levels) Hearing Hearing aids: 40% of seniors have hearing problems, but only 6% believe that they do. Module 2 MCR Accessible public entrance and access to all functional spaces MGCR Designated accessible parking Access to public transit, if the site is ocated in an area served by public transit Accessible paths of travel leading to entrance Accessbile primary entrance Access to all floors At least one universal washroom Emergency systems with visual and audible fire alarms Wayfinding strategies to navigate Safety warning features Tactile markings for permanent room ID signs Assistive listening and comms enhancement tec Accessibility provisions provided in key functional spaces Multi-unit residential buildings must have all above and Access to all floors by elevator or lift usable by everyone for residents and visitors Accessible or adaptable residential unit(s) for each type of unit (e.g., bachelor, 1 bedroom, etc.) available An RHFAC rating can have several benefits: 1\) Expertise in Universal Design can lead to facilities that incorporate a higher standard of accessibility than would be accomplished by simply adhering to building codes. As the concept of meaningful access is more widely adopted, the RHFAC system can provide the expertise to help individuals in construction and design go beyond simple compliance with building codes. 2\) The RHFAC rating provides owner or managers of a building with the information required to make accessibility improvements. There is a sense that building codes are inadequate particularly since older buildings are only subject to the code in effect when the building was constructed which could be decades ago. An owner or manger seeking to improve accessibility may be told, "it meets the code". The RHFAC rating provides a quantifiable measure that code compliance is inadequate and that a new benchmark for accessibility should be established. 3\) The RHFAC rating can assist with promoting an inclusive facility. By making the effort to have their facility rated, and following up with the recommendations for improvement, an organization can publicly acknowledge their commitment to inclusivity.  Capturing rating data: workbook and website (registry) Scope: number of floors, location, the size of building, areas not included in scope