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DDA-Compliant Street Furniture

Person with crutch sitting on a bench

Creating outdoor spaces that welcome everyone, with thoughtful design that ensures accessibility without compromise.

When we craft furniture for shared outdoor spaces, we design with every person (and body) in mind. DDA compliance (originally established under the Disability Discrimination Act and now enshrined in the Equality Act 2010¹) ensures that urban furniture serves everyone, regardless of physical ability or mobility needs.

This commitment goes far deeper than meeting legislative requirements. Our principled approach to modularity reflects our fundamental belief that beautiful, functional outdoor spaces should belong to everyone. When a bench welcomes a wheelchair user as naturally as it does someone who walks, or a picnic table accommodates different heights and needs without fanfare: that’s design doing what it does best.

Cartoon persons with a pram and in a wheelchair

Our commitment to inclusive design

Every Furnitubes product complies with the Equality Act 2010 and BS 8300-1:2018², the primary British Standard for designing accessible outdoor public spaces. This compliance forms part of our ISO 9001 annual audit, ensuring consistent adherence to the highest standards of inclusive design.

Further, we design modular furniture that makes our ranges more inclusive, as backrests and armrests can be added where needed. Thus, we don’t design accessible furniture and standard furniture – just adaptable furniture that works for everyone.

Seating with back and armrest for accessibility

Designing for everyone

Seating that serves

Our benches and seating maintain precise dimensions that support comfortable use for people of all abilities. Seat heights between 450–480mm from ground level, combined with supportive backrests and strategically positioned armrests, ensure that sitting down and standing up feels natural and secure.

Clear space of 1200mm around each piece allows wheelchair users to approach and manoeuvre comfortably, while contrasting finishes help those with visual impairments navigate confidently.

Picnic table

Tables for gathering

Whether it’s a café table for two or a picnic table for families, our designs incorporate wheelchair accessibility from the outset. Tables maintain 700-800mm height with generous knee clearance, while thoughtfully avoiding crossbars that might obstruct movement.

The surrounding space (a 1500mm turning circle) ensures that wheelchair users can approach, use, and leave each table with dignity and ease.

Fortis wall top accessible seating

Technical specifications

Our compliance encompasses every detail, from the macro to the micro

Seating standards

  • Seat height: 450–480mm
  • Seat depth: 450–500mm
  • Backrest height: minimum 300mm above seat
  • Armrest height: 650–700mm from ground
  • Clear approach space: A recommended 1200mm minimum for full compliance

 

Table requirements

  • Table height: 700–800mm
  • Knee clearance: 700mm wide × 600mm high × 500mm deep
  • Wheelchair turning space: 1500mm diameter
  • Accessible approach on at least one side

 

Placement considerations

  • Pathway clearance: minimum 1800mm width
  • Item spacing: 1000mm minimum gaps
  • Contrasting colours for visual accessibility
  • Rounded corners and smooth surfaces
Fortis bench

The Fortis Range

Our Fortis collection exemplifies inclusive design in practice. Each piece maintains welcoming proportions: the bench extends 2540mm in length with a comfortable 590mm width and 455mm height that aligns perfectly with accessibility guidelines.

The supportive backrest brings total height to 750mm, while the substantial concrete plinth (weighing 1,400kg) ensures stability that endures through decades of British weather and constant use. It’s furniture that serves everyone without fanfare, designed to last generations.

FURNITUBES Fortis Seat 5

Fortis Seat & Bench
Furnitubes Fortis walltop seating

Fortis Wall-top Seating

Accessibility is fundamental to how we approach every project. When outdoor furniture works seamlessly for everyone, it creates the kind of shared spaces where communities flourish.

Because at its heart, inclusive design is simply good design… and good design should be everyone’s right to enjoy.

 

¹ The Equality Act 2010 replaced the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) but “DDA compliant” remains common terminology in outdoor furniture specifications.

² BS 8300-1:2018: “Design of an accessible and inclusive built environment” – the primary British Standard for inclusive outdoor public space design.

 

Have you got a question about accessible outdoor furniture?

Our team is happy to help with any specific queries.

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