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South College Street, 13-15

The University of Edinburgh, Central Area, 13-15 South College Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9AA

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step-free via slight slopes.
  • The building has one entrance which is the accessible entrance to the building.
  • The entrance provides access to the ground floor stair lobby via a slight ramp.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free access throughout the building on all floors via the lift.
  • There is a slight slope on the ground floor to access the stairs, lift and Student Hub entrance.
  • There is a slight ramp on the third floor to access the right hand corridor.
  • Flooring consists of stone flags which may be slightly uneven due to their nature of short pile carpet.
  • There are resting areas is some circulation and breakout areas with a mixture of seating.
  • Overhead and wall mounted wayfinding signage is provided throughout the building.
  • There are manual doors in some corridors.

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 through to the right as you enter within the Business School Postgraduate Research Hub, and ahead from the lift on the first and second floors.
    • The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.
    • The male and female step-free standard toilet facilities are located through to the right as you enter within the Student Hub, and on the first and second floors.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking (South College Street)

  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.
  • On-street Parking View
    • On-street standard parking is available.
    • There is standard pay and display parking outside the building on South College Street.

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 slight gradient.
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide with handrails on both sides.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 109cm.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance.
  • The doors are permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 192cm.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 90cm.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors.
  • The second set of doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 142cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The second set of doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is step-free access via slope as you enter.
  • The ramp has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide with handrails on both sides.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located round to the right as you enter.
  • The distance from the building entrance is 10m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has a slight ramp or slope and uneven surfaces.
  • The 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 weight limit for the lift is 630kg.
  • The external lift control buttons have tactile markings and a medium visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 90cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 95cm (width) x 133cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings and a medium 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, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located to the left as you enter.
  • 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 handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails do not 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 between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.
  • The handrail on the left going up is easy to grip but some sections of the stairs have a handrail on the right going up that is not easy to grip.
  • The steps have open risers from the landing between the first and second floors.
  • There are single doors to access the stairs on the second and third floors.

Area (Breakout Space - Second Floor)

  • The breakout space is located on the second floor, to the left from the lift.
  • There is step-free level access into this area.
  • There is open plan access into this area.
  • There is step-free level access throughout the area.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • The walls and floor have a medium visual contrast.
  • Seating available in this area includes: armchairs and sofas.
  • Furniture available in this area includes: tables, coffee tables and booths.
  • Some chairs and tables are fixed.
  • Some surface heights are suitable for wheelchair users.
  • The clear underside space of some surfaces is suitable for wheelchair users.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • There may be background noise in this area.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.

Toilet with Adaptations (First Floor - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the first floor, ahead from the lift.
    • The distance from the lift is 15m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is tactile, pictorial, written text and numbered 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 twist lock.
    • 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 158cm (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 left as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 80cm (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 medium visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a medium visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a medium 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 medium visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 93cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 72cm 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 medium visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a medium visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 90cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a medium 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 90cm 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 are multiple coat hooks.
    • The coat hooks are 104cm and 141cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were low at the time of the survey.