A Study on the Requirements for Accessibility in Buildings (TS 9111) Standard for its Effect on Space Dimensions

Although wheelchairs, which are almost like prostheses of orthopedically disabled people, have been extensively discussed in TS 9111, the space they cover, their mobility and their relationship with the space, the manual type chair made with the old technology from which the data is taken is out of date in terms of size, wheel systems and maneuvering abilities. The TS 9111 standard, which uses the same form of the standard values prepared in the USA in the 1990s, uses corridor widths, U, L type and 360 degree turning diameters, minimum ramp slopes determined according to old-style wheelchair technology. The minimum dimensions of many spaces determined by the use of these data are still required to be used in architectural applications in the same values. According to 2011 data in our country, there are approximately 2.3 million orthopedically disabled individuals who have difficulty walking. With the inclusion of people with old age or temporary disability, the size of the problem reaches a level that cannot be neglected. On the other hand, no study has been found that investigates the effects of developments in wheelchair technology in the context of ideal dimensions for orthopedic disabled access in private and public spaces. Today, there is a wide variety of wheelchairs with criteria such as size, wheel traction direction and size, structure material, whether it is foldable, seat design and seat movement patterns. In the article, the maneuvering-turning ability of different types of wheelchairs in limited-confined spaces has been examined. The article deals with the maneuverability of different types of wheelchairs in limited-confined spaces. A comparison of the maneuvering capabilities of old and new type wheelchairs in narrow spaces, on which the TS 9111 standard is based, was made and the updating of the standards on this subject for minimum space dimensions was opened for discussion.