This presentation was part of the Universal Design Conference at Sydney Town Hall on 30-31 August 2016. A critical part of planning for safe evacuations is providing clear wayfinding information for all occupants, with appropriate exit and emergency signage. This is currently not the case in Australia or overseas. In fact, the current approach to providing exit signs is very limited and does not consider the abilities or needs of all members of society. This can cause some people to experience confusion, or delays, or being directed to a non-accessible evacuation path during their evacuation. The initiative presents a solution to bridge this gap in current exit sign requirements and to help identify important accessible features that can be provided as part of enhanced evacuation strategies. This includes suitable signage to show accessible exit paths, safe refuge areas, emergency evacuation lifts and other evacuation devices in a consistent approach. This paper will present the case to support the use of these enhanced emergency and exit sign systems that adopt universal design principles. This approach is considered world’s best practice and can help provide a much safer and more inclusive built environment for everyone. ‘Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign’ is an initiative of ‘The Accessible Exit Sign Project.’ The Project is an international awareness campaign that promotes the need for an accessible evacuation route from all workplaces, public buildings, and transportation.

1. Universal Design meets
the Exit Sign
Universal Design
Conference 2016
Sydney Town Hall
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Lee Wilson, Universal Design & Accessible Egress Advocate

2. Lee Wilson
Access Consultant
MAIPM MWOBO C.Build E MCABE PEng(UK) MSPE
®
• Experience in risk, OH&S and building compliance
• Grad Certificate in Performance-Based Building & Fire Codes
• Bachelor of Technology (Building Surveying)
• Accredited Member of ACAA
• Employed with Philip Chun Access Pty Ltd
Universal Design meets the Exit Sign
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How I came to be here today
• 2012-2014: Studying Masters degree
• 2014: Completed 8,000 word thesis
• 2014: Released free evacuation guidebook
Evacuation of People with Disability & Emergent Limitations
• 2014: Started ‘Accessible Exit Sign Project’
• 2015: Released ‘Universal Design meets the Exit Sign’ White Paper
• 2016: Free evacuation guidebook updated
Universal Design meets the Exit Sign

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“Every Australian has the
right to expect that
reasonable provisions will be
made to allow them to leave
buildings safely in the event
of an emergency.”
(ABCB 2014)
Universal Design meets the Exit Sign
Australian Building Codes Board

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Australian Building Codes Board
“Moreover, it is crucial for equitable,
dignified, and independent access to
buildings that people with disability can
be confident that they will also be able to
evacuate from a building in a safe,
dignified and independent fashion in the
event of an emergency.”
(ABCB 2014)
Universal Design meets the Exit Sign

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• No requirement to distinguish accessible and
non-accessible evacuation routes
• Little accessible features in evacuation routes
• Failure to consider needs of all occupants in
building codes
• Lack of regard for a changing demographics
The legislative ‘gap’
Universal Design meets the Exit Sign

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• UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
• Disability Discrimination Act 1992
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (& State/Territory OHS laws)
• National Construction Code (State/Territory building laws)
Applicable legislation

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• 10.5% have a mobility disability
• 2.5% use a mobility aid
• 0.6% use a wheelchair)
• 1.6% have a vision impairment
• 1 in 6 affected by hearing loss, projected to be 1 in 4 by 2050
• 1 in 5 with disability (approx.)
• 20% of population over 65 years by 2030
Relevant Australian data
Universal Design meets the Exit Sign

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• No consistent approach
• Ambiguous exit signs using
International Symbol of Access
Case for universal design exit signs
• UK research found that only 38% of people recognise
conventional exit signs
• Lastly, we’ve created fully accessible buildings, with no means
for accessible evacuation

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‘The Evolution of the Exit Sign’
(Before 2005 in Australia)
(After 2005 in Australia)
(European ISO design in 2011
– not used in Australia)
(2014 - Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign Concept)
Universal Design meets the Exit Sign

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11Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign video
Universal Design meets the Exit Sign

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• Considers all abilities, including audible alarms, visual alarms
• Adopts 5 of 7 Principles of Universal Design
‘Universal Design Meets the Exit Sign’ concept
• Clarifies accessible evacuation routes,
known internationally as the ‘accessible
means of egress’
• Provides a consistent approach to identifying
parts of accessible means of egress
Universal Design meets the Exit Sign

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• Fully justifying the use of the
universal design concept
• Commentary on legislation,
history of exit signs, UD
relevance and case for new
inclusive approach
The ‘White Paper’ in print
• Includes Performance-Based ‘alternative solution’ template

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• Converted into a website:
www.universaldesignmeetstheexitsign.com
The ‘White Paper’ online

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Universal Design meets the Exit Sign
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• Changes current discriminatory approach to exit signs
• Presents a fully inclusive design
• Tactile design
• Figures are:
 moving in unison with same urgency and motion
 working together to escape the building
 travelling at the same speed
Accessible Means of Egress Icon

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Accessible exit sign examples
Note - designs can be made to suit any specific
requirements of an exit wayfinding strategy providing
an accessible means of egress under a fire engineered
performance-based solution
Universal Design meets the Exit Sign

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Evacuation diagram example
This requires adopting an integrated
approach, which includes emergency
management planning in the fire
engineered performance-based solution
Universal Design meets the Exit Sign

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Website poll
• Results as at 20 September 2015:
o Yes – 84.37%
o No – 15.62%
o Maybe 0%
• Results as at 20 August 2016:
o Yes – 80.56%
o No – 16.67%
o Maybe 2.77% (Over 2 years of data)
Universal Design meets the Exit Sign

19. Universal Design meets the Exit Sign
Conclusions • We need a change in attitudes and
legislation
• Accept new signs to identify parts of
the accessible egress route
• Fire engineers and building surveyors
to accept performance-based exit sign
solutions
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20. FREE Guidebook
2nd Edn released July 2016
www.accessibleexitsigns.com/evacuation-guide
Universal Design meets the Exit Sign
Evacuation planning is a critical
component of life safety, including
evacuation for persons with disabilities
United States Access Board
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21. Thank you
Please feel free to contact me to
discuss this presentation, or The
Accessible Exit Sign Project.
Email: lee@accessibleexitsigns.com
Phone: +61 438 580 729
Web: www.accessibleexitsigns.com
Universal Design meets the Exit Sign 21
Non-Accessible
Exit (Stairs)
Accessible Exit
(Lift or Ramps, or
a Refuge Area)