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ECA Main Building

The University of Edinburgh, Central Area, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9DF

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • The ECA Main Building is a large building with 6 floors.
    • There is 1 main lift and 4 staircases within the building.
      One of these staircases is shared between the ECA Main Building and the ECA North East Studios Building and goes between floor C, D and E in the ECA Main Building and J, K and L in the ECA North East Studios Building.
    • The floors within the ECA Main Building are signed as A, B, C, D, E and F.
    • There is internal level access into the ECA North East Studios Building Floor J via floor C of the ECA Main Building.
      Access into floor L of the ECA North East Studios Building is available via 6 clearly marked steps without handrails from floor E of the ECA Main Building.
      ECA Main Building and ECA North East Studios also share a staircase which goes into floor J, K and L.
  • Parking and Public Transport View
    • There is a campus car park, with Blue Badge parking available.
    • The nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverley.
    • The nearest bus station is Edinburgh Bus Station.
  • Related Access Guides View

Getting Inside

  • There are slight slopes on approach to the building from the ECA Courtyard to the East Entrance.
  • There are 2 external entrances into the ECA Main Building.
    Both entrances are accessed via slight slopes.
    There is a level access into floor C from floor J of the ECA North Studios.
    There is stepped access into floor E from floor L of the ECA North Studios.
  • The main entrance is not signed.
    The east entrance is signed as the East Entrance.
  • Both entrances provide level access into floor C.
  • Both entrances are accessed off the ECA Courtyard.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout floor C of the building as well as step-free access to the majority of floor E.
  • There is a slight ramp to access Studio E.18 with a handrail on the right on level E.
    There is stepped access into rooms D.05 and D.05a which are located on the stairs between floors C and E on the staircase to the left of the building.
    There are a set of 6 clearly marked 16cm steps with a handrail on the right going up to access room E27B on floor E.
    There are 6 unmarked steps with no handrails and a height of 16cm to access rooms E.01 - E.08 on level E. These steps can be bypassed by the use of a stair lift.
  • The surfaces along all circulation routes are hard and smooth, with some having a shiny finish.
  • There are some circulation routes within the building.
  • There is clear directional signage within the building.

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 2 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located on floors C and B.
    • The toilets with adaptations have a transfer space on both sides.
    • The male step-free toilet facilities are located on floor B, on floor E after using the E.01 - E.08 lift and between floor E and F .
    • The female step-free toilet facilities are located on floor B, on floor E after using the E.01 - E.08 lift and on floor F.
    • The shared toilet facilities are located on floor E halfway up the stair linking the building to floor F of the ECA North East Studios Building.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located in the floor C and floor B toilet with adaptations.
  • Washroom and Shower Facilities View
    • Standard shower facilities are located on floor B.

Parking

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located in front of the building.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There are 2 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 250cm (width) x 488cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to both sides and rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 135cm.
    • The nearest designated bay is 10m from the main entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has a slight ramp or slope.
    • There is a dropped kerb with tactile paving from the designated Blue Badge parking.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for permit holders only.
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • Clearly presented parking signs are not available.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Entrance (Main Entrance)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building.
  • 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 ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a steep gradient.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with no handrails.
  • The ramp bypasses the steps.
  • There are 2 steps with no handrails.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 15cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 95cm.
  • The key card reader is for the second set of doors.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 160cm.
  • The doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double manual doors .
  • The second set of doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 140cm.
  • The second set of doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 100cm.

Entrance (East Entrance)

  • This entrance is located to the east of the entrance.
  • The entrance area is not clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 100cm.
  • There is an intercom at a height of 97cm.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 190cm.
  • 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 automatic doors .
  • The second set of doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 160cm.
  • The second set of doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 110cm.

Reception

  • The reception is located to your left on entrance.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 5m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 106cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the desk.
  • The height of the lowered section is 77cm.
  • The reception has glazed screens.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • The flooring is shiny.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre in the seating area (150cm x 150cm).
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest in the seating area.
  • Seating available in this area includes: benches.
  • The chairs are fixed.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located towards the rear of the building.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 30m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and doors permanently held open.
  • Floors B, C and E 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 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 120cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 200cm (width) x 170cm (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.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located next to the main entrance foyer on floor C.
  • Floors B, C, D and E can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are unmarked and have handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are not easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails do 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 17cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Lift (Floor A)

  • The lift surveyed is located towards the left of the building on floor B.
  • This lift is a stair lift.
  • The distance from the main lift is 55m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access, a lift and doors permanently held open.
  • 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 internal dimensions of the lift are 80cm (width) x 94cm (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 hearing assistance alarm system, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Lift (E.01 - E.08)

  • The lift surveyed is located towards the rear left of the building on floor E.
  • This lift is a platform lift.
  • The distance from the main lift is 15m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and a lift.
  • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have a high visual contrast.
  • Some of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 85cm (width) x 104cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have a high visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The button needs to be pressed constantly when in use.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

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

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to your right on entering the building via the main entrance.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 25m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access, doors permanently held open and automatic doors.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • The automatic push pad to open the door is at a height of 100cm.
      The push button control to lock and open the door inside the toilet are at a height of 105cm.
    • 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 84cm.
    • The door has a push button 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 220cm (width) x 255cm (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 75cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • The lateral transfer space on the right is 93cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush on the right transfer side.
    • There is no horizontal grab rail for the toilet.
    • 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 low visual contrast.
    • The toilet has a padded backrest.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 73cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 80cm 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 low visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 98cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 98cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The shelf does not meet the AccessAble criteria for Stoma Friendly Toilets.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 173cm from the floor.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 75cm.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.