Standards Norway has since 2004 had an action plan on universal design in standardization.
Several national standards for universal design have been published and there are more to come. Several reports have been produced for the Norwegian Authorities on the status for standardization in fields like self-service automats, touch screen technology, universal design of open networks, including mobile networks, universal design of services and others. A report on financial consequences of legally binding requirements for universal design of ICT has also been produced, as well as an analysis of distribution systems for assistive technology in Europe as part of a public report on this topic. Standardization projects have been launched based on these reports.
At the European level, CEN has recently established a Strategic Advisory Group on Accessibility. The EU Commission has given a mandate M/473 to this work, which first of all is coordination of standardization concerning design for all and to make sure that the topic is included in relevant standards. Standards Norway holds the secretariat of CEN/SAGA.
The following is an overview of published standards and ongoing national projects.
Published Norwegian standards (NS):
Ongoing projects which will lead to national standards or publications
- During spring 2012, Standards Norway plan to publish a Norwegian Guideline on “Wayfinding in buildings”.
- A standardization project has been started to develop standards on universal design of ICT, including a standard on self-service automats and on accessible formats of documents. The committee developing these standards is also monitoring the JWG eAccessibility that was launched to meet the requirements of EU’s Mandate M376 Design for All of ICT for public procurements.
- A standardization project on universal design and accessibility related to services has been established. It is developing a generic standard related to the universal design of physical framework surrounding the services and the performance of accessible services itself.
- Based on a report on the status of standardization related to universal design of the travel chain, a project is ongoing to develop an electronic toolkit for public procurers, deliverers of transport related goods and services, public authorities and NGOs where information on guidelines, legislation, standards available, policies etc. affecting universal design of transport is to be found. This “one-stop-shop” toolkit is divided into information (ICT and ticketing), outdoor areas, the built environment and infrastructure and means of transport. Later a standardisation project will be launched.
- Standards Norway is following the work based on EU’s Mandate M420 on Design for All of Buildings, which is administered by CEN WG 207.
If you would like some more information on these projects, please contact Project Manager Merete Holmen Murvold or Director New Business Opportunities Anne Kristoffersen at Standards Norway.