To thoroughly implement the Law on the Construction of Barrier-Free Environments, further enhance the quality of urban barrier-free infrastructure, and coordinate the development of age-friendly facilities, thereby creating a safe, convenient, continuous, inclusive, and accessible environment that accommodates an aging population, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development recently issued the “Notice on Further Strengthening the Construction of Urban Barrier-Free Facilities.” The notice covers ten key areas.

First, strictly enforce engineering construction standards. For new, renovated, or expanded projects involving residential buildings, residential areas, public buildings, public spaces, urban roads, and other infrastructure, it is essential to supervise and guide the project‑related entities—such as engineering contractors, designers, construction firms, and supervisory agencies—to rigorously comply with relevant standards, including the “General Code for Accessibility in Building and Municipal Engineering,” the “Accessibility Design Code,” and the “Code for Construction, Acceptance, and Maintenance of Accessibility Facilities.” This ensures that accessibility facilities are planned, designed, constructed, inspected, and put into service concurrently with the main project, while also achieving seamless integration and connectivity with surrounding accessibility amenities.

Second, elevate the quality of accessible‑facility design. Further enhance the level of detail in the preparation of accessibility‑related content within the preliminary design documents for building and municipal infrastructure projects; encourage the development of dedicated accessibility designs, clearly specifying requirements for accessible circulation routes and facility configurations—including location, quantity, area, selection, and color schemes. Promote the inclusion of a separate chapter on accessibility design in construction‑drawing documents, providing detailed design descriptions and, where necessary, comprehensive shop drawings and detailed details for key locations. Encourage project owners and design firms to adopt cutting‑edge concepts and technologies, select products and materials that are safe, durable, functionally appropriate, and of superior performance, and create accessible facilities that are user‑friendly, system‑oriented, intelligent, and harmoniously integrated with the surrounding environment.

Third, ensure meticulous construction of barrier-free facilities. It is necessary to supervise and guide construction, design, contracting, and supervision entities in fulfilling their principal responsibilities. The project owner should assume a coordinating and planning role, incorporating the funding for barrier-free facility construction into the project’s preliminary and final budgets to secure adequate resources for design and construction, and to ensure that design and construction firms strictly adhere to relevant standards for barrier-free infrastructure. Design firms should conduct thorough technical briefings on the construction drawings, clearly specifying the dimensions, locations, and installation methods of barrier-free facilities and signage. Contractors should, based on the specific conditions of each site, develop tailored construction organization plans, execute work in accordance with the construction drawing documents and applicable technical standards, and thereby guarantee the quality of barrier-free facility construction. Supervision agencies should strengthen quality inspection and oversight of both the construction process and the products used.

Fourth, conduct specialized inspections. Encourage the integration of these efforts with urban health assessments and other initiatives to carry out targeted evaluations of urban accessibility facilities. Focus on high‑traffic, high‑use public spaces—such as municipal roads and their ancillary infrastructure, parks, greenways, plazas, public parking lots, and stand‑alone public restrooms—as well as residential areas and buildings. Based on local conditions, appropriately define the scope and target population for these specialized inspections, systematically inventory accessible pathways, curb ramps, tactile paving, wheelchair ramps, entrances and exits, accessible parking spaces, and other mobility‑related facilities, along with accessible restrooms and other service amenities. Identify existing problems and shortcomings in urban accessibility infrastructure, and establish a problem‑tracking ledger.

Fifth, strengthen the application of physical‑examination results. Based on the findings of urban accessibility‑specific assessments, scientifically formulate targets and tasks for the construction and renovation of accessibility facilities, and, in conjunction with initiatives such as the renovation of older urban residential areas and the development of comprehensive communities, develop annual plans for accessibility‑related infrastructure projects tailored to local conditions. Priority should be given to installing elevators in existing multi‑storey residential buildings, particularly in older urban neighborhoods; encourage the installation of elevators on pedestrian overpasses and underpasses in main thoroughfares, commercial districts, and large residential areas; and appropriately allocate accessible parking spaces for new‑energy vehicles. For sites that, following assessment, are deemed unsuitable for accessibility‑facilities upgrades, appropriate alternative measures shall be implemented.

Sixth, strengthen the research, development, and application of new technologies and products. Encourage localities with the necessary conditions to integrate accessibility‑related information into urban operation and management service platforms and other digital systems, in conjunction with specialized accessibility assessments and inspections, thereby enhancing the precision and sophistication of accessibility‑facility management. Intensify efforts to advance research on accessibility and age‑friendly technologies and to foster product innovation, and promote the translation of scientific and technological achievements into practical applications. Encourage the development and deployment of modular and intelligent technological solutions, deepen the integration of information technology with accessibility infrastructure, and improve the safety, systemic functionality, convenience, and comfort of such facilities, thus driving the adoption of new technologies, products, and materials.

Seventh, strengthen the management of construction drawing reviews. Conduct rigorous reviews of construction design documents in strict accordance with laws and regulations on accessible environment development, as well as mandatory standards for engineering construction. Promote the integration of accessibility facility construction standard compliance into the scope of inspections, alongside quality checks of survey and design work.

Eighth, improve the management of completion acceptance. Conduct completion acceptance in strict accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and engineering construction standards for the development of barrier-free facilities, ensuring that such facilities are inspected and accepted concurrently with the main project. It is prohibited to put into use any barrier-free facilities that have not been accepted or that fail to pass acceptance.

Ninth, ensure the implementation of facility maintenance and management responsibilities. Urge owners or managers of accessibility facilities to fulfill their obligations, repair or replace damaged facilities and signage systems, upgrade and renovate those requiring modification, and rectify any unauthorized occupation of such facilities, thereby safeguarding their proper functionality and safe use. Conduct lawful inspections of owners’ or managers’ compliance with maintenance and management duties, and rigorously investigate and address any violations of relevant laws and regulations.

Tenth, leverage social oversight. Encourage project developers to invite representatives of persons with disabilities and older adults, as well as organizations such as the Disabled Persons’ Federation and the Senior Citizens’ Association, to participate in consultations and hands-on trials during the planning, design, and acceptance phases of new, renovated, and expanded construction projects, actively incorporating their feedback to drive improvements. Furthermore, encourage citizens to report issues related to the construction and use of barrier-free facilities—via hotline calls, online maps, mini-programs, and other channels—by submitting photos and location data, with prompt responses to ensure timely resolution, thereby establishing a closed-loop mechanism for “problem identification–rectification–feedback.”