The Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine is preparing amendments to the State Building Norms (ДБН) to satisfy the need of people with disability and other people with limited mobility. Basically, they are going to update ДБН В.2.2-15:2019 (residential buildings) and ДБН В.2.2-9:2018 (public buildings).

The decision has been made following a comprehensive analysis of the applicable regulatory framework. The Ministry, jointly with relevant organizations, has analyzed 33 norms regulating the design of residential, public, transport, and industrial facilities.

The research shows that:

• 52% of norms already meet the accessibility requirements;
• 24% refer to inclusivity standards without sufficient detailing;
• 24% more need improvement.

Thus, it goes about a systemic update of the regulatory framework instead of individual changes.

What will change in housing construction

Amendment of  ДБН В.2.2-15:2019 includes tougher requirements for:

• arrangement of adjacent territories and yards;
• tactile and visual navigation;
• means of orientation inside entrances;
• dimensions of elevators to carry people in wheelchairs;
• conditions of evacuation from high-rises;
• duplicating information in braille and other tactile elements;
• sounds and contrast marking.

The objective is to create the environment that allows people using houses with safety and comfort independent of the mobility level.

What will change in public buildings

Changes to ДБН В.2.2-9:2018 touch upon:

• tactile markings and sound effects at the entrances;
• connection of buildings with transport infrastructure;
• standards of passenger pick-up and drop-off zones;
• accessibility of interior space including entrances, corridors, elevators, and ramps;
• barrier-free vestibules, ticket offices, waiting areas;
• conditions for viewers in wheelchairs in halls;
• accessibility of cafes, diners, sports and recreation facilities.

The objective is not only new construction but also formation of new standards aligned with international practice.

Why this is important in the context of reconstruction

Reconstruction of Ukraine today covers not just restoration of damages facilities, but an opportunity to embed modern standards of quality, safety, and accessibility.

Updating the state norms means:

• stricter requirements for design;
• better coordination among the client, designers, and reviewers;
• higher responsibility for the facilities’ compliance with regulatory requirements.

Under such conditions, quality elaboration of design documents and professional support of the client at all stages – from preparing the ToR to commissioning – acquire a particular significance.

Accessibility is no longer optional, it is becoming an integral part of basic quality standard for infrastructure.

To communities, it means one thing: present-day design must consider not only functionality and cost but also full-scale integration of inclusivity solutions in the facility’s structure.