Building Regulations

Building Regulations for the Operation of an Optical Store

What the New Building Code (NOK) provides regarding accessibility in existing stores (constructed before 2022)

Ramps & Accessible Sanitary Facilities

Ramps and entrance access

The New Building Code (NOK) stipulates that spaces serving the public must ensure access for people with disabilities (PWD).

In existing stores where there is an elevation difference with the sidewalk level at the entrance (e.g., a step), the construction of a ramp or another suitable technical solution ensuring access is required.

This obligation applies as a rule, unless there is a documented technical impossibility of implementation (Article 26, par. 2 of the NOK).

The inability must be proven by a technical report from an engineer and approved by the competent Building Service (YDOM).

For optical stores, as public service spaces, a ramp at the entrance is mandatory, unless it is proven via technical report that no permissible technical solution is feasible.

Accessible sanitary facilities (PWD WC)

For existing buildings with commercial or office use, the NOK provides that an exemption from the obligation to create an accessible WC—generally for the public and not just for PWD—is possible when specific conditions are met.

Article 26, par. 4 cites the following as criteria for exemption:

Gross floor area < 100 sq.m.

Cause of disproportionate burden on the owners; the exemption will be granted only from the obligation to create accessible sanitary facilities for the public.

In practice, Building Services examine these two criteria cumulatively in order to approve an exemption.

The following are NOT exempted and are always required to have a PWD WC:

Public services and Legal Entities of Public Law (N.P.D.D.)

Local Government Organizations (OTA) of 1st & 2nd level

Spaces providing services to the public.

Optical stores (commercial use) can be exempted only if it is documented that the above criteria are met, following official approval from the Building Service.

Legal Basis

Law 4067/2012 (New Building Code), Article 26, par. 1–4,

as amended by Law 4759/2020.