#2026-531Accessibility Rules for Extensions and Modifications of Existing Professional Buildings
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This decree sets accessibility rules for work carried out on existing buildings used for professional purposes. When new floor space or volume is created, those new areas must meet accessibility standards, and the route to reach them must also be made accessible. For work inside existing spaces, businesses and building owners must at least preserve current accessibility conditions. If accessible features, common areas, surroundings, controls, or equipment are modified, they must meet minimum technical standards, with limited flexibility for constraints linked to existing buildings. Most agricultural buildings are excluded unless they are open to the public or fall under specific disability-employment obligations.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Creates a new section in the Construction and Housing Code for existing buildings used for professional purposes.
- Requires newly created professional building areas and the access routes to them to meet accessibility rules.
- Requires modified accessibility-related features in existing professional buildings to meet minimum technical standards, while preserving at least existing accessibility during other internal works.
Obligations
What this law requires
When extension or modification works create new surfaces or volumes in an existing professional-use building, those newly created building areas must comply with the accessibility requirements applicable to professional-use buildings under Articles R. 162-14 and R. 162-15.
When carrying out extension or modification works on an existing building used for professional purposes, any newly created floor areas or volumes must comply with the accessibility requirements referenced in Article R. 162-14 and the characteristics set under Article R. 162-15.
When new professional-use areas or volumes are created in an existing building, the entire route used to access those new areas must be made accessible to persons with disabilities.
When new professional-use areas or volumes are created in an existing building, the entire route used to access those new areas must be made accessible to persons with disabilities.
Works carried out inside existing areas or volumes that play a role in accessibility for persons with disabilities must at least maintain the accessibility conditions that existed before the works.