If your building opened before current standards, or has been renovated in pieces over the years, it likely has access problems nobody has measured. A building accessibility audit measures them. This guide explains what auditors check, how the process runs, and what to do once the report lands on your desk.

What an audit actually measures

An audit compares what exists on site against a defined benchmark for the built environment, such as CSA B651 in Canada, the Dubai Universal Design Code in Dubai, or ISO 21542 for international work. Auditors record measurements, not impressions: a ramp's slope, a door's clear opening, the force needed to open an entrance, the height of a counter, the contrast on a sign.

They also watch how spaces work in use. A lift can meet the standard on paper and still strand someone if its call button sits behind a planter. Most auditors follow the whole journey, in order:

•         Parking, drop-off and the route to the entrance

•         Entrances, doors and reception areas

•         Corridors, stairs, ramps and lifts

•         Washrooms and shared amenities

•         Signage, wayfinding and emergency egress

Sensory and cognitive access gets measured too. Auditors look at lighting levels, glare, background noise, tactile warnings, and whether signs use consistent wording and symbols. These factors matter to people with low vision, hearing loss, autism or dementia, and they rarely show up in a quick walkthrough by someone without training. Good reports also note what works, such as well-placed handrails and clear contrast, so you keep them during renovations.

How the process runs

Most audits have three phases. In preparation, you share floor plans, earlier reports and any known complaints, then agree the scope and the standard. During site work, auditors walk the property, often with a facility manager, photographing and measuring each issue and logging its location.

In reporting, findings are grouped by area, rated by priority and paired with a recommended fix. Site work can take a few hours for a small office or several days for a hospital or campus. Occupied buildings are usually audited outside peak hours to limit disruption, so tell your tenants or staff in advance.

Your best preparation is practical: gather drawings, flag known trouble spots, and make sure the auditors can reach plant rooms, staff areas and washrooms.

Allow time for questions on site. An auditor who finds a locked storage room used as an informal refuge area, or a ramp that tenants block with deliveries, is seeing how the building really operates. A facility manager who can explain those habits helps the auditor recommend fixes that will actually hold. Plan any re-check into the original scope too, because confirming that repairs were done properly is cheaper than discovering problems a year later.

Reading the report and setting priorities

A useful building accessibility report gives every finding a location, a photo, the standard it fails, a recommended action and a rough cost band. Priority ratings matter most. A common approach sorts items into three groups: immediate risks such as hazards and legal exposure, short-term fixes such as signage and door hardware, and capital works like entrances, lifts and washrooms that fold into your renovation schedule.

The first report often looks overwhelming. A 300-item list isn't a verdict on your building, because most items are small and many repeat. Fix the repeating ones as a batch and the list shrinks fast. Then assign each remaining item an owner and a date, so the report becomes a work plan.

Costs deserve honest treatment. Cost bands are estimates, not quotes, and they usually assume standard construction. Treat them as a way to compare items, then get contractor pricing before you commit a budget. Where a fix is expensive, ask for an interim measure, such as portable signage, a staffed assistance point or a rearranged layout, that reduces the barrier while you plan the permanent solution.

Share the findings widely. Facilities, HR, procurement and communications all own pieces of the building experience, and a summary that reaches each team makes it likelier that small fixes happen during routine maintenance instead of waiting for a special project. Keep the full report on file too. It's useful evidence if anyone later asks what you knew and when.

Choosing who carries out the audit

Qualifications vary widely in this field. Accessibility consultants with IAAP certification, such as the CPACC, have demonstrated a baseline of knowledge, and Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification ratings are widely recognised in Canada. Ask whether the auditors will work from the standard that applies where your building sits, whether they can show a sample report, and whether the firm runs a documented quality process. Vortex Access, for instance, is ISO 9001 certified.

Also ask about follow-up. An audit only helps if someone can explain it to your contractors and answer questions when you start fixing things. Be wary of generic checklists run by untrained staff, since they tend to miss the judgement calls that matter most.

Request a short scoping call before you commit. A good auditor will ask about your occupants, your history of complaints, any planned renovations and your timeline. If the conversation stays at the level of price per square metre, treat that as a warning sign. Work that fits your building's real use is worth far more than a standard package.

Conclusion

A building accessibility audit gives you something rare in this field: measurements. Know the standard you're being measured against, prepare your documents, and insist on a report with ranked, cost findings. Then turn it into a dated plan. If you'd like to talk through the scope for your property, the accessibility consultants at Vortex Access can help you decide where to start.

FAQs

1. How often should a building be audited?

Many organisations audit every three to five years, and again after a major renovation or change of use.

2. Does the building need to close?

No. Most audits happen while the building operates, with auditors working around normal activity.

3. Is an audit the same as a compliance certificate?

No. An audit assesses conditions and recommends fixes. Formal certification and ratings, such as RHFAC, follow separate processes.

4. Can our own staff run one?

A basic walkthrough is a good start. But accessibility consultants bring calibrated measuring, current standards knowledge and the experience to rank findings fairly.