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Alison House

The University of Edinburgh, Central Area, 12 Nicolson Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9BH

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • The Alison Building is medium sized building with 5 floors.
    • There is 1 lift and 2 main staircases in the building.
      There are also 3 smaller staircases, 1 between the ground and basement floors only, 1 between the ground and the first floor and 1 between the second and third floors only.
    • The floors are signed as Basement, Ground, First, Second and Third floors.
  • Parking and Public Transport View
    • The venue does not have its own car park.
    • There is on-street Blue Badge Bay parking.
    • The nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverley.
    • The nearest bus station is Edinburgh Bus Station.
    • The on-street Blue Badge bay is located outside of 29 George Square.

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the venue is via pavement.
  • The is 1 main entrance into the building which has 2 sets of manual doors which can be accessed by a slight ramp overcome steps.
  • The entrance is signed as Alison House Reid School of Music.
  • The entrance provides ramped access to the ground floor.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free access throughout the majority of the building.
    Some of the floors around the building are uneven.
  • There is a steep ramp on the basement floor with handrail on either side leading to room B.14 - B.20 and B.22 - B.25.
  • There is a step to access room G.11 on the ground floor.
  • A swipe card is required to use the lift.
    There is no step-free access to the third floor.
  • The majority of the floors in the building are carpeted however some corridors have hard and smooth surfaces with a shiny finish.
  • There are resting areas on the ground, first and second floors.
  • There is signage located throughout the building.
  • There are manual doors throughout the majority of circulation routes within the building.
    Some circulation routes have widths of less than 120cm.

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 is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located to the rear left of the building on the ground floor.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a transfer space on both sides.
    • The male and female step-free toilet facilities are located on the basement floor.
    • The gender inclusive step-free toilet facilities are located on the ground and third floors.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Entrance

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a steep gradient.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with handrails on both sides.
  • The ramp bypasses the steps.
  • There are 5 steps with handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are not easy to grip.
  • The handrail covers the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The steps are unmarked.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 18cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • There is an intercom at a height of 126cm.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • There is a push pad at a height of 110cm.
  • The width of the opening is 144cm.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 100cm.
  • There is a second set of double manual doors .
  • The second set of doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 146cm.
  • The second set of doors have a high visual contrast.

Reception

  • The reception is located between the first and second entrance doors.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 109cm.
  • There is not a lowered section at the desk.
  • The reception has glazed screens.
  • There is a clearly signed fixed hearing assistance system.
  • The hearing assistance system could not be tested at the time of the survey.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located in the ground floor music store.
  • The distance from the entrance is 35m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access, manual doors and narrow walkways.
  • The basement, ground, first and second floors are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a high visual contrast.
  • The lift does not have 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 low 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 110cm (width) x 140cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a mirror to aid reversing and a visual floor indicator.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • A key card is needed to use the lift with controls at a height of 105cm.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located to your left on entrance.
  • The ground, first, second and third floors can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have a handrail on the left going up.
  • The handrail is not easy to grip.
  • The handrail covers the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail does not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the step is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 18cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade and unshaded light sources.
  • The stairs from the second to the third floors have a handrail on the right going up.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Shared - Transfer Both Sides)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the rear left of the building.
    • The distance from the entrance is 35m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access and manual doors.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is no signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 92cm.
    • The door has a twist lock.
    • 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 178cm (width) x 222cm (depth) and there is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is lateral transfer space on both sides of the toilet .
    • The lateral transfer space on the left is 90cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • The lateral transfer space on the right is 82cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush on the right transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the right as you face the toilet.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There are vertical grab rails on both sides of the toilet.
    • The vertical grab rails have a high visual contrast.
    • There are dropdown rails on both sides of the toilet.
    • The dropdown rails have a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet has a padded backrest.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 97cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 82cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 107cm 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 106cm from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 165cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.