As part of the Property & Asset Management Division of IPF, the IPF Access Consultancy Team offers a high quality responsive and tailored service, working in partnership with our Clients. We are in a unique position of offering a range of Access Consultancy, Access Training and undertaking quality on-site Access Auditing work for many Organisations.

A multi-disciplinary team of Building Professionals fully trained in access issues, with NRAC accredited team leaders, working together with the Disability Rights Commission to promote and educate Property Management and Property Managers in the necessity for good access for all.

The introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act has wide ranging implications in property terms relating to service provision and employment. The Act lays down specific requirement targets with regard to accessibility of property to enable all members of the general public proper access to services being offered and to enable all potential employees equal opportunities in employment.

Many aspects of the act are already in force but the most significant requirement affecting those who manage property came into force in October 2004. Service providers must take reasonable steps to remove, alter, or provide reasonable means of avoiding physical features that make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to access a service.

An effective Access Audit should embrace the needs of people with a broad range of disabilities and will involve a detailed appraisal of both the building and its environment. Audits are carried out by IPF's trained Access Auditors and information can be provided in a variety of formats; hard copy, word, excel or electronically within the Access Audit Module, which can be accompanied by both digital photographs and CAD layout plans.

To date IPF Access Auditors have carried out over 12,000 Accessible Building Audits for both Public Sector and Private Companies, buildings audited include:

The IPF Access Audit Module is specifically designed to meet the Auditing needs of the Public and Private Sector.

The Access Audit Module has been developed to the latest guidelines and meets the requirements of BS:8300 2001. The software has been designed for use on a hand held data collection system, and allows Auditors to follow the recommended approach to Auditing, recording deficiencies and noting locations, priorities, category of work required and costs together with any comments.

Data is readily transferred into the Access Audit Module and can be easily interrogated to produce a wide variety of reports. The reports can be accompanied by both CAD layout plans and digital photographs linked to the software.

The data can be edited and updated as works are completed providing accurate information on a building or building stock at a touch of a button. The Module can run independently or together with the other Modules of the IPF AssetManager.NET system.

For further information please contact:

chester@ipf.co.uk or 01244 399699

IPF Access Consultancy run an evolving and expanding programme of training courses, these include courses specifically run for both Public Sector and Private Companies, training for CPD Seminars, for RICS branches, and joint Conferences with the Disability Rights Commission to promote Access Issues.

An introduction to the duties and responsibilities of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and an overview of BS 8300:2001, an ideal introduction course for building professionals.

An introduction course into carrying out of an Accessible Building Audit, which guides you through common deficiencies found whilst Auditing. This course is aimed at persons seeking to develop skills as an Access Auditor or those wishing to reinforce their existing knowledge.

A course consisting of an overview of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and BS 8300:2001, followed by a detailed Accessible Building Audit which runs through the IPF Access Audit Questionnaire and guidance notes. Designed to highlight some of the problems found during refurbishment works and to indicate to Property Professionals what they should be including in their designs for Buildings

Suitable for managers and supervisors who need to explore in some depth the employment implications of the DDA, personnel/human resources team staff who are unfamiliar with the Act or need to review their understanding of it's practical effect.

Suitable for managers and team leaders who are responsible for the delivery of services to the public, and who need to explore in some depth the implications of Part III (the goods, facilities and services section) of the DDA for their service delivery area.

Suitable for customer facing staff who need to be aware of how the Disability Discrimination Act affects their work when providing a service to members of the public.

Suitable for customer facing or other staff who need to be aware of how the Disability Discrimination Act affects their work when providing a service to customers.

You tell us what training you would like to receive and we will tailor a course to meet your individual requirements.

chester@ipf.co.uk or 01244 399699

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The NRAC provides details of accredited individuals free of charge to clients. The NRAC comprises appropriately qualified and experienced access consultants and auditors who have demonstrated their expertise in access matters to the satisfaction of the NRAC’s Admissions Panel.

An advisory document reflecting good practice and current statutory requirements for the design of buildings, structures, highways and transportation. The Code of Practice was originally compiled and produced by Merseytravel and the five Merseyside Metropolitan Councils of Knowsley, Liverpool, St. Helens, Sefton and Wirral in February 1999. It was updated in 2001 and 2002 to take account of changes in legislation and good practice documentation. It has been made available on the web by SURFACE (Salford University Research Focus on Accessible Environments).

The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is an independent body, established by Act of Parliament to eliminate discrimination against disabled people and promote equality of opportunity.

Disabled people face massive discrimination and exclusion. For example, disabled people of working age are twice as likely as non-disabled people to be out of work and claiming benefits. And disabled people are twice as likely to have no qualifications. This can and must change.

To achieve this, we have set ourselves the goal of "a society where all disabled people can participate fully as equal citizens".

The Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE) is an information provider and a forum for collaborative dialogue between providers and users on how the built environment can best be made or modified to achieve inclusion by design.

Founded in 1969, registered as a charity in 1976, CAE is the acknowledged centre of excellence on the practicalities of designing for accessibility. As a charity, we have a mission to share our knowledge and expertise. Our services include information, training and consultancy.

Our clients, members and service users are disabled people, their families and advisors, construction professionals, central and local government, businesses large and small, health trusts, schools and colleges, local access groups and many others.

NBS Access is a joint venture between NBS, UK market leaders in specification systems, and the Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE), the acknowledged centre of excellence on the practicalities of designing for accessibility.

Developed to assist specifiers, project managers and others on how the Disability Discrimination Act affects the built environment, this online service provides a library of valuable guidance including building studies and CAE documents.