Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the 2025/26 RHF Buildings Without Barriers Challenge.
Organizations must:
- Organizations pledge and commit to having at least 3 sites rated during the rating period (May 2025 – August 2026).
- Organizations must own or manage the buildings they are pledging.
Participating buildings must:
- Be eligible to be rated under the RHFAC Program.
- Be located in Canada.
- Have completed their rating by July 30, 2026 (submitted to adjudication by August 21, 2026).
- Commercial buildings, public spaces and multi-unit residential buildings can be rated, both existing sites and pre-construction.
- Commercial spaces include retail shops, malls, offices, and light industrial sites.
- Multi-unit residential buildings include condominium dwelling units and shared common areas. Single family homes are not eligible.
FAQs
What do I need to do to participate?
- Show you are willing to take the Challenge – Take the pledge!
- Identify a minimum of three (3) sites that you would like to have RHFAC rated by October 31, 2025.
- Work with an RHFAC Professional to get your buildings rated by August 21, 2026.
What is the cost of participating in the Challenge?
Standard RHFAC rating costs apply. There is no additional cost for participating in the Building without Barriers Challenge.
What are the Awards?
The following awards will have winners in two categories, <250,000 SF and > 250,000 SF gross leasable area.
- Commitment Award: Organization with the most buildings or pre-construction plans RHFAC rated.
- Most Improved Award: Previously RHFAC rated building with the highest overall improvement in their rating.
- Innovation Award: Building with the highest number of innovation points on their RHFAC rating.
- NEW: Culture of Accessibility Award: Organization with the most number of staff trained in any RHFAC training offering.
In order to be eligible for all the awards except for Commitment Award, your RHFAC rating score must be publicly listed on the RHFAC registry hosted by the CSA group.
What is the RHFAC program?
The ratings conducted as part of the Buildings Without Barriers Challenge will be rated based on RHFAC v4.0. Learn more about our accessibility rating and certification program here.