The first edition of FuturEMAC® promotes universal accessibility in construction
Accessibility is a universal right, not just a necessity for people with disabilities or older people. At different times in our lives, we all need barrier-free spaces. This was one of the main conclusions of the first FuturEMAC®, entitled “Building Accessibility,” a forum promoted by the multinational EMAC® Group, a leading company in technical and decorative profiles and a specialist in Universal Accessibility and Safety, which focused on one of the major challenges facing the construction industry today: universal accessibility. FuturEMAC® was created with the aim of providing a space for debate and analysis on current issues that will shape the future of the construction sector and society.
The breakfast discussion, held on Wednesday at the Moontels headquarters in Valencia, was attended by Malek Murad, architect at Murad García Estudio; M.ª Carmen Fernández, technical architect specializing in Universal Accessibility and Innovation at Fundación ONCE; Carlos Ferrer, specialist in Solution Integration at Fermax; José Monzonis, Commercial Director at Ascensores Domingo; and Ángel Cobo, architect specializing in Accessibility and Head of Specification at EMAC® Grupo.
The meeting explored the concept of the accessibility chain and the importance of ensuring that no link is broken in order to guarantee a person's complete autonomy from the beginning to the end of a journey. "It consists of the possibility of approaching, accessing, using, and leaving a space independently, without any kind of assistance. And we all—the public and private sectors—are responsible for ensuring that this is achieved. It is essential to understand accessibility as something that affects us all and, in turn, depends on all of us. Hence the importance of raising awareness among citizens about our responsibility to keep the links in the accessibility chain intact, as this benefits us all,“ explained Ángel Cobo.
”It is essential to change the mindset and stop associating accessibility exclusively with disability. Accessibility is good for everyone: older people, those who use crutches, push a baby stroller, are in wheelchairs, have a temporary injury, or even carry heavy luggage. At some point, we all need barrier-free spaces," said M.ª Carmen Fernández, a technical architect specializing in Universal Accessibility at the ONCE Foundation.
The forum organized by EMAC® Grupo brought together architects, builders, associations, businesspeople, and representatives from the Valencia City Council and was held with a view to the entry into force of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) on June 28, 2025. This regulation will focus on all elements that make up the accessibility chain, so designers, producers, and developers must prepare to comply with its new requirements.
Accessibility from the outset
Another conclusion of the meeting was the importance of incorporating accessibility from the outset of construction projects and of providing ongoing training in accessibility for engineers and architects. In this regard, the technical architect specialising in Universal Accessibility at Fundación Once insisted that it is ‘essential’ that everyone involved in the construction process is committed to and understands the application of regulations for universal accessibility.
Valencian architect Malek Murad defendedthe social commitment of architects to real inclusion, and stressed the need to think about ‘unique designs’ in which there is no differentiation between the movement of people with and without special needs. ‘It is essential to raise awareness among society in general,’ he added.
Ángel Cobo, architect at EMAC® Group, explained that a key strategy for advancing accessibility is to involve people with disabilities from the outset of product development or the design of spaces and environments.
Product regulations
Fermax Solutions Integration Specialist Carlos Ferrer highlighted his company's commitment to using appropriate technologies to improve accessibility for people with hearing or visual impairments. These include tools such as automatic door entry systems, lighting systems in the home and induction loops, which transmit sound directly to hearing aids, eliminating ambient noise.
For his part, José Monzonís, commercial director of Ascensores Domingo, expressed the need for greater awareness of the assistance available to break down barriers, such as the installation of lifts in old homes, which mainly affect elderly people with limited resources. ‘We currently create tailor-made projects with the help of our architects to ensure, in almost 100% of cases, the installation of lifts in the most complex buildings,’ he explained.
With regard to collaboration between the public and private sectors, Ángel Cobo highlighted the importance of promoting it in this area. ‘The private sector, for its part, contributes a fundamental value: innovation, which is key to offering effective, up-to-date solutions that are aligned with universal accessibility objectives,’ he maintained.
Accessibility does not allow for shortcuts
‘Talking about accessibility means talking about real sustainability, and it does not allow for shortcuts,’ said Emi Boix, CEO of the multinational EMAC® Group, during the breakfast discussion organised by her company. "Building with accessibility criteria in mind from the outset means creating more adaptable, more durable, more human and, of course, more sustainable environments. Every time we reduce waste, every time we build with everyone in mind from the very beginning, we are taking care of the planet," she emphasised.
EMAC® Group works with the ONCE Foundation to develop solutions that improve accessibility in construction: from tactile signage systems to improved ramps and technologies that promote the independence of people with visual or physical disabilities. Some of its solutions can be found in the recently inaugurated Valdebebas Interchange in Madrid, in the renovation of Plaza Italia in Ávila and in the Vithas Hospital in Valencia.