The intent is to provide a variety of suite sizes and locations and not locate all suites with barrier-free design features on the same floor. The intention is to provide a level of visitability to apartments. Given the broad range of disabilities and the specific needs of people with disabilities in their home settings, the accessibility provisions may not provide all of the features required by an individual’s personal needs that cannot be anticipated when the building is constructed initially.
The intent behind Sentence 3.8.2.1.(7) is that, in determining the proportion of barrier-free suites by unit size, the total number of barrier-free suites and the percentage of suites of each type (by number of bedrooms) should be calculated first.
Those percentages should be multiplied by the total number of barrier-free suites required. For example, in a 40 unit apartment building with 30 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom units, 6 suites in total would be required to be barrier-free.
The proportional breakdown of required barrier-free suites would be 75% or 5 one-bedroom suites and 25% or one two-bedroom suite. The proportion of units is also determined based on whole numbers and not based on fractions of units as long as the total number of barrier-free suites are provided.
Studio or bachelor apartments are a specific type suite and are intended to be counted separately when determining the proportion of suites, by type and size, in a building. Where studio or bachelor suites are provided, a proportionate number of studio or bachelor suites should also be accessible even though those suite types do not include a separate bedroom. For example, if 25% of the units in a building are studios, 50% are one-bedroom units and 25% are two-bedroom units, the same proportions should be reflected in the 15% of total units required to include barrier-free design features. The Building Code does not differentiate one- or two-bedroom units from one- or two-bedroom units with dens. The intent is that a range of unit types and sizes are available as accessible units.