What is the AfA (Access for All) Programme and why is it important?

Here at Waux, we regularly mention the term ‘DDA or AfA compliance’ in our case studies. Read more to discover why it is so important, the history behind the AfA programme, and how you can ensure that public areas within your responsibility can align with the guidelines.

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1995

 

Foundations

Originally passed in 1995, the aim of the Disability Discrimination Act [1] was to make it unlawful to discriminate against disabled persons in connection with employment, the provision of goods, facilities and services

2006

 

Launch

Network Rail’s Access for All Programme was launched with this in mind, gaining approval and funding from the UK Government. The purpose of the initiative was to ‘address the issues faced by disabled passengers and passengers facing mobility restraints (such as heavy luggage or pushchairs) when using railway stations in Great Britain.’ [2]

2010

 

Equality Act

The Equality Act further cemented the principles laid out in the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995. With a push for equal rights, public awareness of accessibility issues grew, giving more support for the Access for All scheme.

2014

 

Extension

Thanks to the overwhelmingly positive public response, the decision was made to further extend the AfA Main Programme until 2024. Another £163 million of funding was secured for future refurbishments of main and mid-tier stations.
To date, over 200 stations have been upgraded under the Access for All programme. [3]

2023

 

Current

Today, the Access for All scheme applies much further than just the Rail Industry. This campaign has been endorsed by museums, libraries, schools and other public areas as it ensures safer access for all pedestrians and wheelchair users. The term ‘AfA compliance’ has become much more mainstream, replacing what was previously known as ‘DDA compliance’.

2023 – onwards

 

Future

The Access for All Programme shows no sign of slowing down, [4] with many refurbishments planned in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The public benefit of these projects is far greater than the initial cost and puts the United Kingdom at the forefront of modern public infrastructure.

Waux products fully comply with the AfA guidelines as we believe in the right for all UK citizens to have equal access to public facilities and transport. The modern guidelines set out by Network Rail cover all areas from lifts to lighting to stairs. Waux will continue to support the scheme within the AfA footbridge section by providing safer access for pedestrians, mitigating the risk of slips, trips and falls. To ensure the funding of the AfA scheme is a worthwhile investment, Waux products have an average design life of 35 years, meaning the general public can benefit from these station upgrades for years to come.

Download your Waux AfA/DDA 3- Point Checklist here

Click here to read the full list of DDA Guidelines

Click here to read the full list of AfA Guidelines by the National Commission of Persons with Disability

 

AfA Guidelines that Waux endorse:

  • No more than 12 stairs before a landing.
  • Contrasting colour stair edge to aid visually impaired users.
  • Yellow stair edge on the top and bottom step and white stair edges in between.
  • Corduroy tactiles at the approach and descent to a flight of stairs.
  • Ramps to be provided in public areas as well as stairs.
  • Handrails to be provided at all stairways with a continuous surface and no raised fittings.

Waux Products for AfA Compliance:

AfA Compliant Stair Treads
Anti-Slip Ramp Covers
Corduroy Tactiles
DDA Handrails
Structural GRP AfA Footbridges

Bibliography:

[1] Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (legislation.gov.uk)

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/access-for-all-programme

[3] Access for All – improving accessibility at railway stations nationwide – Network Rail

[4] Access for All update – Network Rail – featuring photos from: Reading, Canterbury East and Coulsdon South Stations – AfA projects that Waux were pleased to support on.

 

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