The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is setting out to make buildings easier to access and friendlier to more sectors of society.

Some of the changes includes having more family-friendly features such as rooms for nursing mothers, more toilets and signs for the disabled and wider footpaths.

On Monday, it opened its revised accessibility code for public consultation, which will run till the end of April. A committee will evaluate comments and feedback, and the new code is expected to be implemented at the start of next year.

In a statement, it said the changes this time round placed greater emphasis on universal design concepts as well as the needs of the young and parents with infants. The code was last reviewed in 2007.

Touching on the proposed changes in his blog, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan hoped that the revision would make it more convenient for people of all ages and different needs to move around.

Most public buildings have some level of basic accessibility, and nearly 90 per cent of all buildings along Orchard road now have accessibility features.

More information can be found on BCA's website at www.bca.gov.sg