KEE SYSTEMS FOCUSES ON DISABLED ACCESS

With an estimated one million disabled people due to visit the capital this summer for the Olympics and Paralympics, Kee Systems is urging the hospitality sector to ensure access into their buildings meets the non-discriminatory requirements of current legislation, so they can maximise their business success. Disabled people account for up to 20% of the customer base for many businesses, making it incredibly important to have the correct facilities in place. “Under the terms of the Equality Act 2010, reasonable adjustments need to be made to commercial and public buildings to overcome physical barriers which prevent disabled access” says Craig Ellis of Kee Systems. “There have been several Acts in place for a number of years, enforcing building owners to provide non discriminatory balustrading and handrailing systems on stairways and ramps. However, there are still a significant number of buildings which do not fully meet these requirements. Access to properties including hotels, bars and restaurants, remains an issue for the 11 million disabled people in Great Britain, and a significant problem for the influx of overseas visitors, athletes and supporters who will enjoy the UK this summer.” Kee Systems, the London-based supplier of Kee Klamp® fittings, provides systems kits and optional installation services. With a vast knowledge of the industry and experience in installing solutions to meet the Equality Act (previously the Disability Discrimination Act), Kee Systems offers technical advice, supply and a rapid turnaround on orders. Without suitable handrails, ramps and lifts, access can be extremely limited. Kee Systems offers its Kee Access® range of fittings for handrail construction which complies fully with all relevant regulations, is cost effective to assemble and provides an aesthetically attractive finish. Part of the company’s Safety Components range, Kee Access® incorporates a total of nineteen special fittings and is supplied with versatility, ease and speed of installation in mind. These fittings are ideal as a retrofit solution, because the range includes an “Add-on” offset fitting to allow a new handrail to be added onto an existing structure of appropriate size. The Kee Access® range can be easily augmented with components from the established Kee Klamp® range to create a complete, cost-effective answer to the Equality Act requirements. Each fitting comes with a choice of polyester powder coating in all of the RAL colours available. This feature satisfies the “not cold to the touch” criteria set out in BS 8300: 2005. Kee Access® components are specifically designed to give a smooth handrail with size 7 tube (outside diameter 42.4mm) ensuring compatibility with the Building Regulations. Given the requirements of the Equality Act and Building Regulations, and the amount of people who will need access to hospitality venues this summer, the hospitality sector should aim to create a handrail system which children, the elderly, the disabled and even able-bodied adults can benefit. Thanks to innovations like Kee Access®, building owners can meet this challenge in a very cost-effective way. For more information, visit www.keesystems.com

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