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Adam House

The University of Edinburgh, Central Area, 3 Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1HR

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step-free.
  • Adam House has three entrances. The side entrance and 7-8 Chambers Street link entrance provide step-free access via slope to the ground floor.
    The main entrance provides stepped access to the ground floor.
    There are automatic doors at the side entrance and manual doors at the 7-8 Chambers Street link entrance and main entrance.
  • The entrances are unsigned.
  • The side entrance provides step-free access via a steep slope to the entrance foyer on the ground floor.
  • The main entrance is located at the front of the building and has stepped access.
    The 7-8 Chambers Street link entrance is located near the stairs in the adjoining building and has step-free access via slight slopes.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout the building on all floors.
  • Floor surfaces along all circulation routes are hard and smooth, with some having a shiny finish, and some being patterned.
  • There are resting areas in some circulation and lobby areas with a mixture of seating.
  • Limited wayfinding signage is provided on all levels.
    Floor information signs are provided on each floor.

Emergency Egress for Building

  • General Building Information View
    • Please note the fire evacuation strategy from the upper floors of this building relies on the ability to self-transfer into an evacuation chair.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There are 3 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located to the rear of the entrance foyer, on the basement floor and on the third floor.
    • The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.
    • The male and female step-free toilet facilities are located on the basement floor .
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located within the basement floor toilet with adaptations.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking

Entrance (Side)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building, to the left.
  • The entrance area is not clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via slope at the entrance.
  • The slope has a steep gradient with resting areas.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with no handrails.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 115cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 118cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a medium visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 105cm.
  • There is step-free access via slope as you enter.
  • The slope has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with no handrails.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located to the right as you enter the side entrance, across the entrance foyer.
  • The distance from side entrance is 20m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The basement, ground, first, second and third floors are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a high visual contrast.
  • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 80cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 115cm (width) x 118cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a low visual contrast.
  • None of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a mirror to aid reversing, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
  • Lighting levels were low at the time of the survey.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located on either side of the entrance foyer.
  • The basement, ground, first, second and third floors can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps have low visual contrast markings and have a handrail on the right going up.
  • The handrail is easy to grip.
  • The handrail does not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail does not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 15cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the right as you enter, across the entrance foyer beyond the lift.
    • The distance from entrance is 25m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 85cm.
    • The door has a locking handle.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 148cm (width) x 208cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the right as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 89cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula flush on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 108cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 73cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rails are on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 105cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 99cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a medium visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a full length mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 169cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Toilet with Adaptations (Third Floor - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the third floor, across from the lift.
    • The distance from lift is 10m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access and a lift.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens inwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 73cm.
    • The door has a locking handle.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a medium visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 168cm (width) x 310cm (depth) and there is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet.
    • The lateral transfer space is 100cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 105cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 77cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rails are on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 106cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 95cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a medium visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 106cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a full length mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 169cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.