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Henry Prais Building

Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS

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Access Guide

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Summary

  • Building View
    • Services / Facilities within the building include; teaching rooms.
  • Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities View
    • Accessible toilet facilities are located to the right as you enter.
    • Female standard toilet facilities are located to the right as you enter, and next to the lift on the second floor.
    • Male standard toilet facilities are located on the first and second floors, along to the right from the lift.

Getting Here (Edinburgh Campus)

Site/Campus Car Park (Car Park J)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located to the south of the campus, beyond Cameron Smail Road.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are the Cameron Smail Library.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked.
    • There is/are 11 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 260cm x 480cm.
    • The Blue Badge parking bays have a marked zone to both sides but not at the rear.
    • The marked zone is 150cm wide.
    • The dimensions of the designated bays do not vary in size.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by permit holders.
    • Signs are provided to give information on parking charges/restrictions.
    • Signs are clearly presented.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is step free access from this car park.
    • Buildings are not clearly signposted from this car park.
    • There is not a campus map available within the car park.
    • The nearest designated bay is 80m (87yd 1ft) from the Cameron Smail Library main entrance.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building, opposite the Cameron Smail Library.
    • This entrance gives access to the ground floor.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with 'Henry Prais Building'.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • A key code is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the key code reader is 146cm.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 156cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 158cm.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located leading up to the entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
  • Lift View
    • The key code reader was not required during standard opening hours at the time of survey in November 2024.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step-free access throughout the building .
  • Circulation View
    • There are doors in corridors/walkways which have to be opened manually.
    • The type of flooring in corridors/walkways is carpet.
    • Handrails with a rounded or oval profile are not provided in corridors/walkways.
    • There is high visual contrast between the walls and floor in the majority of corridors/walkways.
    • There are sofas at regular intervals.
    • The lighting levels are good.
  • Signage View
    • Wayfinding signage is provided.
    • The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout the building.
    • Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
  • Safe Place(s) View
    • There is not a designated place of safety which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
  • Audio View
    • This venue does not play background music in communal areas.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system in the communal areas of the building.

Lift

  • The lift is located on the left as you enter.
  • The lift is clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 5m (5yd 1ft) from the entrance.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • A member of staff does not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are ground, first and second floors.
  • The weight limit for the lift is 630 Kg.
  • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on lift lobby landings.
  • There is a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
  • Lift doors do contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
  • The external controls for the lift are within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
  • The clear door width is 80cm (2ft 7in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 98cm x 133cm (3ft 3in x 4ft 4in).
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • There is not a list of floor services available within the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does have an audible announcer.
  • The internal controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • There is a hearing loop system.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting levels in the lift are moderate to good.

Other Floors

  • Stairs View
    • Stairs can be used to access other floors.
    • The stairs are located to the left as you enter.
    • The stairs are approximately 10m from the entrance.
    • Signs indicating the location of the stairs are clearly visible from the entrance.
    • There are manual, heavy, single doors to enter and exit the stairwell on all floors.
    • The floors which are accessible by the stairs are ground, first and second floors.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 20cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • The depth of the steps is 27cm.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
    • There is a landing.
    • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on landings.
    • The lighting levels at the steps are good.
  • Other Information View
    • There is a further staircase at the opposite end of the building.

Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)

  • There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located to the right as you enter.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 30m (32yd 2ft) from the main entrance.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
    • This is a gender neutral toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is tactile, pictorial, written text and ‘Not All Disabilities Are Visible’ signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The visual contrast between the external door and wall is medium.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is heavy.
    • The door is locked by a locking handle.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 75cm (2ft 6in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is medium.
    • The door has a horizontal grab rail.
    • The visual contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is medium.
  • Toilet Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 160cm x 196cm (5ft 3in x 6ft 5in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The height of the light switch/pull cord is 135cm from floor level.
    • The lighting levels are low to moderate.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 80cm (2ft 7in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a female sanitary bin and a waste disposal bin.
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
    • There is not a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is low.
    • There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is low.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is high.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
    • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are female sanitary and general waste (with no lid) disposal units.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Additional Fixtures View
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • The toilet has a backrest.
    • There is a lid attached to the toilet seat.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 44cm (1ft 5in).
    • The toilet seat visual contrast is low.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 114cm (3ft 9in).
    • The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is low.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The height of the wash basin is 75cm (2ft 6in).
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the left hand side of the wash basin.
    • The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is low.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
    • There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 83cm.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the towel dispenser is 110cm (3ft 7in).
    • The visual contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is low.
    • There is not a hand dryer.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The female toilet is located to the right as you enter.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 25m from the main entrance.
    • The visual contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is medium.
    • There is tactile and pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 82cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
    • Lighting levels are good.
  • Toilet Facilities 2 View
    • The male toilet is located on the first floor, along to the right from the lift.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 30m from the lift.
    • The visual contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is medium.
    • There is tactile, pictorial and written text signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 83cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
    • Lighting levels are good.
  • Baby Changing Facilities 2 View
    • There are further male and female toilets on the second floor.

SafeZone

  • SafeZone is a free app based system for students and staff that enhances their personal safety. SafeZone extends the reach of campus safety and security, to cater for the real time needs of the people who use campus every day. It provides a quick and easy way for users to alert SafeGuarding Services, when help or assistance is needed.
  • For information about the SafeZone please click here.