With the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) at the top of the agenda for many businesses, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has launched a guide for end-users to assist in compliance

The guide outlines the implications of the DDA for access control systems, focusing on securing an access point and also on authorising technology which allows users to enter areas. The guide provides a useful breakdown of the various types of access control equipment available and the degree to which they are likely to be compliant. It also gives basic advice on how current systems can be adapted to comply.

"Businesses can't afford to ignore the Disability Discrimination Act," says BSIA technical director, Alex Carmichael. "There is some confusion about which access control systems are DDA compliant and which are not.

This guideline document has been designed to be used alongside the DDA itself as a means to clarify the situation for end-users."

The guide can be downloaded by visiting