For Building Committees — Nolxedi Accessibility Consulting

The Committee's Role in Accessibility Compliance

Building committees in Chile carry significant responsibility for maintaining common areas in a condition that meets legal standards — including accessibility requirements under OGUC. For many committees, this responsibility can feel overwhelming, particularly when the building was constructed before current standards came into force.

The good news is that accessibility compliance is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Chilean law and OGUC practice allow for phased implementation, meaning committees can work toward full compliance over time — addressing the most critical items first and scheduling lower-priority improvements for future budget periods.

What committees need to navigate this process effectively is a clear picture of where their building currently stands, what needs to change, and in what order. That's exactly what a structured accessibility assessment provides.

Step by Step

How a Committee Moves Forward

From recognizing the need to executing improvements — the typical path for a building committee.

Recognize the Compliance Obligation

The first step is understanding that OGUC accessibility requirements apply to your building's common areas and that the committee has a role in ensuring compliance. This doesn't require legal expertise — a basic understanding of the obligation is enough to initiate the process. The assessment we provide will clarify exactly which requirements apply to your specific building type and construction date.

Commission an Accessibility Assessment

Before any planning or budgeting can happen, you need an accurate picture of where your building stands. Our assessment documents every relevant element in your common areas, measures it against the applicable OGUC standard, and classifies any gaps by severity. This gives the committee a factual foundation for all subsequent decisions — rather than relying on guesswork or general impressions.

Review the Prioritized Action Plan

The assessment report includes a prioritized action plan that lists every required intervention in order of urgency, with estimated costs. The committee reviews this plan to understand the full scope of work, the relative urgency of different items, and the total investment required across all phases. This review is typically done in a committee meeting before the plan is presented to the full assembly.

Present to the Building Assembly

Significant expenditures on common area improvements typically require approval from the building assembly. Our report is structured to support this presentation: it explains findings in plain language, provides photographic evidence, and presents the action plan in a format that assembly participants can follow. Committees often find that a clear, documented assessment makes it significantly easier to build consensus around necessary improvements.

Execute Phase 1 Interventions

With assembly approval and a clear action plan, the committee can begin procuring contractors for Phase 1 interventions — those classified as critical or high-priority. Because our cost estimates are based on typical Santiago contractor rates, they provide a reasonable baseline for evaluating contractor quotes. Phase 1 work addresses the most significant safety and compliance gaps first.

Schedule Subsequent Phases

Once Phase 1 is complete, the committee incorporates Phase 2 and Phase 3 interventions into future budget planning cycles. The phased structure of our action plans is specifically designed to align with annual common expense budget cycles, allowing committees to make steady progress toward full compliance without requiring extraordinary assessments or large one-time expenditures.

Working with the Common Expenses Budget

One of the most common concerns committees raise is whether accessibility improvements can be funded through the regular common expenses budget or whether they require special assessments. The answer depends on the scope and cost of the specific interventions — which is exactly why having a detailed, phased action plan is so valuable.

What Typically Fits Within Regular Budgets

Many accessibility improvements are less expensive than committees initially assume. Signage upgrades, minor ramp surface corrections, grab bar installations in shared bathrooms, and accessible parking space markings are often achievable within normal budget cycles. Our reports identify these "quick wins" clearly so committees can begin making progress immediately.

What May Require Special Planning

More significant interventions — such as elevator modifications, major ramp construction, or corridor widening — typically require more substantial investment and may need to be funded through special assessments or spread across multiple budget periods. Our phased approach ensures these items are planned well in advance, giving committees time to build the necessary financial reserves.

How Our Reports Support Budget Discussions

Our action plans include cost ranges for every intervention, organized by phase. This structure allows committees to calculate the approximate total cost of each phase and determine which phases can be absorbed into existing budgets and which may require supplemental funding. The transparency of this information typically makes budget discussions at assembly meetings more productive and less contentious.

The goal of our phased approach is to make accessibility compliance financially manageable — not to minimize the importance of the work, but to make it possible to do consistently over time rather than all at once.

Building committee members reviewing accessibility documents during a formal meeting in a Santiago condominium

Common Questions

What Committees Ask Us Most

Do we have to comply if our building is old?

Yes. OGUC accessibility requirements apply to existing buildings, not just new construction. The specific obligations depend on your building's characteristics, which our assessment will clarify.

How long does an assessment take?

The on-site inspection for a typical residential building takes between three and six hours. The written report is usually delivered within two weeks of the site visit.

Does the assessment include contractor recommendations?

Our assessment identifies what needs to be done and provides cost ranges. We do not recommend specific contractors, which allows committees to obtain competitive quotes independently.

Can we use the report for regulatory purposes?

Our reports are structured as internal planning documents for committee use. For formal regulatory submissions, you should consult with a licensed architect or the relevant municipal authority.