Access Guide
Overview
-
About
View
- Old College South is a large building with 8 floors.
- There are 2 main lifts, 1 of which is for the tower and is generally out of use.
There are 5 staircases within the building. - The floors are signed as Basement, Ground, Mezzanine, first, second, third, fourth and fifth.
- The third, fourth and fifth floors are only present in the areas of the building located off South Bridge and this includes the College Dome.
They are generally only used for storage and require a key to access.
-
Parking and Public Transport
View
- The venue does not have its own car park.
- There is on-street standard parking.
- The nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverley.
- The nearest bus station is Edinburgh Bus Station.
- For the latest travel options and information you can plan your travel using Google Maps (opens new tab).
- Related Access Guides View
Getting Inside
- There is ramped access to Old College Quad and the majority of entrances.
- The approach to the ground floor ramped entrance has two sets of permanently held open doorways on approach with width of over 100cm on approach. These doorways can be accessed from West College Street.
Old Court and the entrance access from south bridge have a steep slope or steps on approach. - There are 5 entrances into Old College South including accesses to the Tower Lift which can be accessed externally to the building.
The most accessible entrance is the ground floor ramped entrance which provides ramped access via one automatic door and one manual door. The entrance is only step free on approach from West College Street. - The ground floor step-free entrance is signed as 'Registry Wheelchair Access Only'.
The Edinburgh Law School South Lower Ground entrance is signed as 'Edinburgh Law School South Lower Ground'.
The Post Room entrance is signed as 'University Post Room'.
The main entrance is signed as 'University of Edinburgh Old College - Playfair Library Hall'.
The Tower lift is accessed off the steep slope to Old Court and can be used if unlocked with a key to access floors 1, 3, 4 and 5. - The ground floor step-free entrance provides step free access via a slight ramp to the ground floor.
This entrance has 1 automatic and 1 manual door. - The Edinburgh Law School South Lower Ground entrance accesses the basement floor.
The Post Room entrance accesses the University Post Room on the lower ground floor.
The main entrance accesses the reception area on the ground floor.
The Tower lift entrance is accessed off the steep slope to Old Court and can be used if unlocked with a key to access floors 1, 3, 4 and 5. The lift is generally for staff use only and does not provide access to the mezzanine or second floors.
Getting Around
- There is step-free access to the majority of the building.
- There is a slight slope between the office area towards the west of the building on the ground floor and the reception area.
There is a slight slope between the reception and the east of the building, including the toilet with adaptations on the ground floor.
There is a steep slope further towards the east of the building on the ground floor between the main lift as well as the Raeburn and Casteres rooms and toilet area near the reception.
There is a slight ramp between the main lift and Raeburn, Casteres, Lee and Elder rooms on the ground floor which bypasses 2 steps. - There is a slight slope to access the staff post room on the basement floor.
There is a steep ramp with a handrail to your right going up between the main corridor on the basement floor and the lift.
There is a slight slope along the basement corridor to access the Law PHDs office.
There is a slight slope to access the office area on the first floor. - There is no step-free access to the Mezzanine floor. The mezzanine floor contains staff offices.
- The floor areas throughout the building are carpeted much of which is patterned.
- There are resting areas located on the basement, ground and first floors of the building.
- There is limited directional signage located around the building.
- There are manual doors in the majority of the circulation areas.
There are automatic doors along the corridor on the ground 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 2 toilets with adaptations.
- Toilets with adaptations are located on the ground floor near the reception and along the basement corridor.
- The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.
- The male step-free toilet facilities are located on the ground floor near the reception and along the basement corridor.
- The female step-free toilet facilities are located on the ground floor near the reception, along the basement floor corridor, next to the Playfair Library on the first floor and on the staircase between the first and second floors.
- The shared toilet facilities are located just inside the basement level entrance.
-
Changing Places and Changing Facilities
View
- Parent and baby changing facilities are located in the ground floor adapted toilet on the ground floor near to reception.
-
Washroom and Shower Facilities
View
- Standard shower facilities are located along the basement floor corridor.
Rooms and Services in the Building
Entrance (Ground Floor Ramped Entrance)
- This entrance is located towards the west of the south wing past the Talbot Rice Gallery.
- 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 slight gradient.
- The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with no handrails.
- There is an intercom at a height of 112cm.
- There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 100cm.
- There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
- The door opens away from you.
- The width of the opening is 92cm.
- The door has a high visual contrast.
- There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 110cm.
- There is a second single manual door.
- The second door opens towards you.
- The width of the opening is 90cm.
- The second door has a low visual contrast.
Reception
- The reception is located in the centre of the building just inside the main entrance.
- The distance from the ground floor ramped entrance is 35m.
- The most accessible route to reception has manual doors.
- There is step-free level access to reception.
- The height of the reception desk is 99cm.
- There is a lowered section at the desk.
- The height of the lowered section is 79cm.
- The reception has glazed screens.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- There is 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: armchairs.
- Furniture available in this area includes: coffee tables.
Lift
- The lift surveyed is located towards the east of the building.
- The distance from the ground floor ramped entrance is 50m.
- The most accessible route to the lift has a slight ramp or slope, a steep ramp or slope and manual doors.
- The basement (-1), ground (0), first and second floors are accessed by this lift.
- The lift door has a low 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 a low visual contrast.
- None 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 102cm (width) x 122cm (depth).
- The internal lift control buttons have a high visual contrast.
- None of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- Internally the lift has: a list of floor services/facilities.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
Stairs
- The stairs surveyed are located towards the east of the building.
- The ground, first and second floors can be accessed by these stairs.
- There are 20+ steps between floors.
- The steps are unmarked and have handrails on both sides.
- The handrail is 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 highest step is 16cm.
- The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
- The stairs between the first and second floors are different and only have a handrail on the right going up the majority of the length.
Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Left Hand Transfer)
-
Location and Access
View
- The toilet surveyed is located near the reception on the ground floor.
- The distance from the ground floor ramped entrance is 50m.
- The most accessible route to the toilet has a slight ramp or slope.
- 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 86cm.
- The door has a lever 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 170cm (width) x 202cm (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, however it is obstructed.
- The lateral transfer space on the left is 96cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
- There is a lever flush on the non-transfer side.
- There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
- The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
- There is no vertical grab rail for the toilet.
- 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 low 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 high visual contrast.
- The toilet roll holder is 120cm 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 rail is on the left as you face the wash basin.
- The wash basin grab rail has a high visual contrast.
- 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 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 113cm from the floor.
- There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
- The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
- The hand dryer is 116cm from the floor.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm, however it is not within 10cm from the floor.
- There is a mirror.
- There is no shelf.
- The cubicle has a waste bin, a nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
- There is one coat hook.
- The coat hook is 150cm from the floor.
- The height of the baby change facility when in use is 93cm.
- The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
Toilet with Adaptations (Basement - B.Z14 - Right Hand Transfer)
-
Location and Access
View
- The toilet surveyed is located along the basement corridor.
- The distance from the main lift is 35m.
- The most accessible route to the toilet has a lift, a slight ramp or slope and a steep ramp or slope.
- There is step-free level access into the facility.
- There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
- The door opens both ways and has a low visual contrast.
- The width of the door opening is 108cm.
- The door has a lever twist lock.
- Internally the door has a low visual contrast.
- There is a grab rail on the internal door with a low visual contrast.
-
Dimensions and Features
View
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 184cm (width) x 238cm (depth) and there is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
- There is a lateral transfer space to the right as you face the toilet.
- The lateral transfer space is 110cm (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 low visual contrast.
- There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
- The vertical grab rail has a low visual contrast.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The dropdown rail has a low 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 high visual contrast.
- The toilet roll holder is 90cm from the floor.
- The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
- The wash basin is 74cm from the floor.
- The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
- The vertical grab rail is on the right as you face the wash basin.
- The wash basin grab rail has a low visual contrast.
- There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
- The soap dispenser has a high visual contrast.
- The soap dispenser is 98cm from the floor.
- There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
- The towel dispenser has a high visual contrast.
- The towel dispenser is 91cm from the floor.
- There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
- The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
- The hand dryer is 78cm from the floor.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
- There is a full length mirror.
- There is an unobstructed 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 walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.