Creating an accessible workplace isn’t a box-ticking exercise. It’s a commitment to making sure everyone feels welcome, supported, and able to thrive in the space where they spend much of their day. DDA compliance gives workplaces a practical framework for doing exactly that.
It also sets the foundation for a brighter, more inclusive office culture. The kind of culture where thoughtful layouts, accessible facilities, and seamless design aren't optional extras — they’re standard.
Let’s break down what you need to know, without the jargon, so you can design or choose an office that works for every member of your team. And yes, that includes the details like DDA sinks, DDA compliant platform lifts, DDA hand dryer height, DDA door width, and DDA compliant lockers. Every part matters.
What does DDA stand for?
DDA stands for the Disability Discrimination Act. Many people still use the phrase “DDA” when they’re talking about accessibility, especially when referring to “DDA compliant” features in workplaces.
Even though the DDA is no longer the active law, the term stuck around because it’s familiar, and many architects and designers still reference “DDA requirements” as a kind of shorthand for accessibility standards.
DDA vs the Equality Act: What’s the difference?
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) shaped how the UK approached accessibility for years. It introduced the idea of removing barriers in workplaces, services, and public spaces. Even though the Act is no longer active, people still use the term “DDA compliant” when they’re talking about accessible offices.
The DDA was replaced by the Equality Act 2010, which protects disabled people from discrimination in a wider range of situations, including employment, education, housing, public transport, and commercial buildings. The Equality Act strengthens disabled people’s rights, and it places a clear legal duty on employers and building owners to make reasonable adjustments.
In practical terms, when people talk about “DDA compliance” today, they’re usually referring to accessibility features that fall under the Equality Act or align with UK building regulations. The Equality Act is now the legislation that matters, but the language of the DDA remains a useful shorthand for accessible design.
What is DDA in the workplace?
The Disability Discrimination Act originally set out rules that made workplaces fairer and more accessible for disabled people. It created the idea of reasonable adjustments — practical changes that help someone access the workplace on equal terms, whether that’s through a DDA compliant lift, a wider DDA door, an accessible DDA ramp gradient, or a more intuitive DDA layout.
The Act helped shape how businesses think about equity in everyday spaces. It encouraged employers to consider experiences beyond their own and to design offices that boost independence and confidence.
Today, the expectations for accessible workplaces go even further. Employers look at the entire journey: arriving, entering, moving through the space, using facilities, joining meetings, accessing breakout areas, and participating in team life.
Thoughtful accessibility influences everything from DDA meetings (choosing meeting rooms with inclusive layouts) to how you design breakout zones.
Related read: Office Space Planning Guide
What is the DDA law in the UK?
The original Disability Discrimination Act (1995) has now been replaced. Today, the Equality Act 2010 is the key legislation that covers disability rights. It builds on the DDA and strengthens it.
Under the Equality Act, employers must:
- Remove barriers that make work unnecessarily difficult for disabled people.
- Make reasonable adjustments.
- Provide equal access to facilities, opportunities, and services.
Many people still ask about “DDA compliance” because the DDA Act shaped how the UK talks about accessibility, even though the Equality Act is the current law. If your team is planning an office relocation, the early stages are the ideal time to check where adjustments are needed.
What are DDA standards?
DDA standards cover the practical measurements and design details that give an office accessible flow. They help you move from a space that simply looks modern to one that genuinely supports every person who walks through the door.
Common DDA-related standards include:
Entrances and movement
Entrances set the tone for how easy it is to navigate a workspace. When the flow is smooth from the moment someone arrives, the whole office feels more welcoming.
- DDA door width wide enough for wheelchair access; 775–800mm for most situations, ideally 850–900mm for wheelchair access
- Level thresholds or an appropriate DDA ramp gradient (1:12 for short rises, 1:15 for medium-length ramps, 1:20 for longer ramps)
- Clear routes with space for turning; 1200mm width recommended for corridors
- Accessible signage and intuitive wayfinding
Facilities
Facilities can make or break someone’s experience of a workplace. These standards focus on independence, comfort, and safety in the areas people rely on most.
- DDA toilet layouts with grab rails, turning circles, and reachable fixtures
- DDA sink positioned at an accessible height with clear knee space (720–740mm high)
- DDA compliant lockers for secure, reachable personal storage
- DDA shower options for teams who cycle or run to work
- Correct DDA hand dryer height (800–1000mm from the floor)
- Emergency features installed at the right height, including a DDA pull cord and DDA alarm
Vertical access
Multi-level offices need accessible connections between floors. These standards ensure people can move smoothly and confidently throughout the entire building.
- DDA compliant lift features such as wide doors (800mm minimum), audio announcements, and tactile buttons
- DDA compliant platform lift solutions where a full passenger lift isn’t possible
Workspaces and rooms
The shape of a workspace matters as much as the facilities. These standards help ensure the whole environment feels flexible, comfortable, and easy to use.
- Desks with enough space for comfortable access
- Accessible meeting rooms and thoughtful DDA meetings layouts with adjustable seating and reachable equipment
- Logical, intuitive DDA layout across the entire office
Good accessibility design blends into the workplace so people don’t have to ask for adjustments; they’re already there, ready to support everyone.
What is the DDA compliance for buildings?
DDA compliance for buildings focuses on access, circulation, use of facilities, and safety. It looks at whether a building truly allows people with disabilities to enter, move through, and use the space independently and safely.
Key features include:
- Step-free access or well-designed DDA ramps
- Lifts or DDA compliant platform lifts where needed
- Automatic or easy-to-open DDA doors
- Accessible toilet and shower facilities
- Tactile surfaces and clear signage
- Hearing loops and visual alarms for safety
- Accessible reception areas with seating and reachable counters
This should all be confirmed through a DDA audit (sometimes called an accessibility audit). Many businesses carry one out before a refurbishment or office move, often alongside early space planning.
How Building Regulations Part M fits into DDA compliance
Building Regulations Part M is one of the most important frameworks for accessible office design. While the Equality Act focuses on rights and reasonable adjustments, Part M focuses on the physical features of a building.
Part M sets out the technical requirements that new buildings, refurbishments, and significant fit-outs must meet. It includes clear measurements and guidance on:
- Door widths
- Ramp gradients
- Accessible toilets
- Corridors and turning spaces
- Lifts and platform lifts
- Handrails and steps
- Entrance layouts
Part M is essential because it gives designers, landlords, and employers specific details that ensure a building functions well for disabled people. When you combine Part M with the Equality Act’s legal expectations, you get a complete picture of what an accessible office should look like.
If your business is planning a refurbishment, a Part M review often sits alongside the early planning work — especially in projects like office refurbishment or full-space reconfigurations.
Is DDA compliance mandatory?
Accessibility in the workplace is a legal requirement under the Equality Act 2010. People still use the phrase “DDA compliance”, but the real responsibility now comes from the Equality Act, and it makes one thing very clear: creating accessible spaces isn’t optional.
If something in the office makes a working day harder for a disabled person, employers must take action. That can mean widening doorways, installing a ramp or lift, or reshaping the layout so movement through the space feels easy and safe. It might involve offering assistive technology, setting up meeting rooms or quiet rooms that everyone can use comfortably, or making sure accessible parking spaces are available close to the entrance.
All of these adjustments help create a workplace where every team member feels supported from the moment they arrive.
Who enforces DDA?
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) oversees and enforces disability rights under the Equality Act. They provide guidance, investigate discrimination, and step in when organisations fail to meet their responsibilities.
Local building control teams also check accessibility in new developments, fit-outs, and major refurbishments in line with building regulations.
This joint oversight helps make accessibility a consistent, expected standard across UK workplaces.
Who’s responsible for DDA compliance: Landlord or tenant?
Responsibility for accessibility is shared. Both landlords and tenants have duties under the Equality Act and building regulations, but the exact split depends on the lease.
Landlords are usually responsible for the structure and communal areas. That includes entrances, shared corridors, lifts, external ramps, and any facilities used by multiple tenants. If these areas create barriers, landlords are expected to make reasonable adjustments.
Tenants are responsible for the areas they control and occupy. That includes meeting rooms, breakout areas, desk layouts, accessible toilets within the demised space, and any features they install during fit-out. If a tenant’s design or layout creates accessibility issues, they must address them.
Most workplaces benefit from early collaboration between both parties. It avoids confusion later and ensures changes are planned properly — especially during office viewings or early space planning stages.
How much does it cost to become DDA compliant?
The cost of becoming DDA compliant varies depending on the building, the layout, and the adjustments needed. Some workplaces only need minor updates, while others require more structural work.
Small, practical adjustments can be surprisingly affordable. Adding grab rails, adjusting door handles, fitting a visual alarm, or updating signage often falls between £50 and £500 per item. Refitting a DDA toilet typically ranges from £2,000 to £6,000 depending on layout changes. Installing a compliant ramp can fall anywhere between £500 for a small threshold ramp and £5,000–£15,000 for a permanent, Part M–compliant ramp with landings and handrails.
Lifts are the biggest investment. A DDA compliant platform lift usually starts around £12,000–£20,000, while a full passenger lift often sits between £40,000 and £100,000+ depending on building constraints.
How to review your office for DDA compliance
If you’re assessing your workspace, here’s a practical DDA compliance checklist you can use to get started:
- Step-free access at main entrances
- DDA ramp with correct gradient where needed
- Automatic or easy-open DDA doors
- Suitable corridor width and turning spaces
- Accessible signage
- DDA compliant lift or platform lift
- DDA toilets with compliant fixtures
- Accessible showers (if applicable)
- Reachable taps, dryers, and DDA sinks
- Clear emergency procedures with a DDA alarm and pull cord
- DDA compliant lockers for storage
- Reception desk with accessible height
- Accessible parking bays and routes into the building
- Inclusive meeting room layouts
- Logical, intuitive movement through the office
A good checklist helps you understand where improvements can be made before you commit to a lease or refurbishment. This is especially important if you’re planning to downsize your office, where accessibility has to remain a priority even in a smaller footprint.
An inclusive, DDA compliant office sets the tone for your company culture
DDA compliance isn’t a trend. It’s a mindset that supports everyone who steps into your workspace. When accessibility is built into the layout, the facilities, and the day-to-day culture of an office, people feel more confident and more connected. That energy shows up in the work they do.
Every team deserves a space that feels fair, simple, and comfortable to move through. And every business benefits from embracing accessibility as part of its core values.
If you’re planning your next move or reviewing your current space, we’re always here to help you find an office where everyone belongs.
