Accessibility design review helps a new building work as a connected whole. An entrance, corridor and washroom may each appear workable in isolation while the route between them remains difficult to use. For developers, architects and owners in British Columbia, reviewing these connections before the permit drawings are complete creates more opportunity to resolve conflicts within the planned layout.
Establish the applicable accessibility requirements
Start with the address, proposed use, permit timing and building characteristics. The Province’s BC Building Code 2024 guidance identifies its application and transition provisions. A project in the City of Vancouver follows the Vancouver Building By-law, including Vancouver-specific provisions. Record the governing edition and amendments in the project’s code analysis.
The Province’s accessibility guidance also distinguishes accessibility from adaptable dwelling provisions. For a residential project, establish which dwellings and shared areas are affected before repeating a unit layout across several floors. Confirm any applicable transition provisions for the particular permit application.
Review the route from arrival to destination
Begin at the site boundary and the parking or passenger arrival areas included in the project. Trace how a person reaches an entrance, moves between required levels and uses the intended spaces. Mark changes in level, door sequences and places where another design decision could interrupt that route.
- Site and entrance: coordinate grading, exterior paths, landings, drainage, door operation and entry controls.
- Interior circulation: review corridors, turning and manoeuvring space, door approaches and connections to elevators where required.
- Shared facilities: coordinate washrooms, service counters, amenity rooms and other spaces included in the review.
- Information and controls: identify the signage, wayfinding and operable components requiring coordinated details.
These are review topics, not a statement that every feature has the same requirement in every building. The applicability assessment determines what the project must provide.
Resolve layout conflicts while drawings can change
A door swing can compete with manoeuvring space. A floor finish can change a threshold detail. A revised plumbing arrangement can reduce usable space in a washroom. Reviewing plans alongside sections, door schedules and equipment layouts helps identify these interactions before the team orders products or completes detailed design.
For example, if a lobby revision moves the entry control, review the approach to the control and the door operation together. A comment that only identifies the control’s location may miss the effect of the revised door swing. Review comments should explain the issue, locate it on the drawing and describe the information needed to resolve it.
Agree on responsibilities and review stages
An accessibility consultant supports the project team through a defined review scope. The architect and other designers retain responsibility for their designs. Establish who coordinates the site, architectural details, controls and specifications, and who responds to each comment. Where a participating municipal program applies, coordinate the findings with the project’s Certified Professional services.
Useful review stages include an early layout review, a coordinated permit review and an agreed construction follow-up. Record changes between stages. Construction-stage review should identify the features and visits included in the appointment so the owner understands the evidence expected at completion.
Set any broader design benchmark early
An owner can commission review against an agreed standard such as CSA/ASC B651:23 alongside the applicable code assessment. The B651 standard addresses physical, sensory and cognitive accessibility. Its latest publication does not automatically replace the edition referenced by the governing code. Define the benchmark and deliverables before the review begins.
What should the owner receive?
A useful package includes the review basis, marked drawings, an issue register, assigned responses and unresolved decisions. State which spaces, documents and stages were reviewed. Keep the final record with the design documents so later revisions can be checked against the agreed approach.
Noven’s Accessibility Consulting can be coordinated with Building Code Consulting. Request a proposal with the project address, drawings, stage and intended review standard.
Related insights
- Accessibility Reviews of Existing Buildings: Scope and Retrofit Priorities
- BC Building Code and CSA B651: Which Accessibility Requirements Apply?
Technical references
- BC accessibility requirements
- BC Building Code 2024: application and updates
- City of Vancouver: Building By-law
References reviewed October 26, 2026. Requirements depend on the project jurisdiction, applicable edition and scope of work.