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Joseph Black Building (Chemistry)

The University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step-free level access.
  • Joseph Black Building has one main entrance with step-free access via a slight slope. There are double manual doors at this entrance.
  • The entrance is signed Chemistry.
  • The entrance gives access to the lifts on the ground floor, which provides step-free level access to all other floors.

Getting Around

  • It is possible to bypass most steps once inside the building.
  • On the first floor there is are a series of slight and steep ramps at the rear of the building, to access the some staff offices and labs.
  • There is internal access between Joseph Black Building and Christina Miller Building, via a link corridor on the ground and first floor.
  • Floor surfaces along all circulation routes are hard and smooth, with some having a shiny finish.
  • There are resting areas in some circulation routes which comprise of chairs with no armrests.
  • Wayfinding signage is provided in some circulation routes to assist people in finding their way around.
  • There are manual doors along circulation routes throughout 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 the ground and basement floor off the main corridor.
    • All toilets with adaptations have a right hand transfer space.
    • The male and female toilet facilities are located on every floor, off the main corridor.
  • Washroom and Shower Facilities View
    • Standard shower facilities are located on the ground and first floor, off the main corridor.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking (KB Square)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located on KB Square, straight ahead as you enter via Gate 2, off David Brewer Road.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There is 1 designated Blue Badge parking bay available.
    • The Blue Badge bay is clearly marked.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 240cm (width) x 480cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to both sides and rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 120cm.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has slight ramps or slopes.
    • There is a dropped kerb without tactile paving from the designated Blue Badge parking.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for permit holders only.
    • Parking is not free for all users.
    • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
    • Clearly presented parking signs are not available.
    • View information on parking policies/charges (opens new tab).
    • Staff and students Blue Badge holders who wish to park within the City, King's Buildings or Easter Bush Campus car parks should apply for a Disabled All Areas Permit.
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Points View
    • There are more than 10 electric vehicle charging points.
    • The dimensions of the surveyed electric vehicle charging bay are 240cm (width) x 490cm (depth).
    • The controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • The nozzle holster is not at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • The charging points require an online account.
    • There are no electric vehicle charging points designated for Blue Badge holders.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Entrance

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is not 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.
  • The ramp to the left of the entrance is steep. The ramp to the right of the entrance is slight.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 113cm.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance, however one door is locked.
  • The doors are permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 66cm.
  • The doors have a medium visual contrast.
  • There is a second single automatic door.
  • The second door opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 115cm.
  • The second set of doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Reception

  • The reception is located to the right as you enter via the main entrance.
  • The distance from main entrance is 3m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 110cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the desk.
  • The height of the lowered section is 76cm.
  • The reception has glazed screens.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • There is background noise in this area which varies depending on the time of day.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located off the main lobby area.
  • The ground and first floor 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 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 17cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.

Lift (Right Side Corridor - Ground and First Floor)

  • The lift surveyed is located at the front right of the building.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 24m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The ground and first floor are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a medium 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 Braille markings, tactile markings and a medium visual contrast.
  • Some of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 89cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 94cm (width) x 127cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have Braille markings, a low visual contrast and tactile markings.
  • 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.

Lift (Left Side Corridor - Basement, Ground and First Floor)

  • The lift surveyed is located on the left side of the building.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 55m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The basement, ground and first floor. are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a medium 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 high visual contrast and tactile markings.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 89cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 98cm (width) x 132cm (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.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the ground floor, at the front right of the building.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 29m.
    • 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 and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a low visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 75cm.
    • 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 148cm (width) x 266cm (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.
    • 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 low visual contrast.
    • There are vertical grab rails on both sides of the toilet.
    • The vertical grab rails have varying visual contrasts.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 46cm 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 low visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 114cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 69cm 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 low visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 78cm 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 98cm from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • 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 and a sanitary bin.
    • There are multiple coat hooks.
    • The coat hook is 141cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a medium visual contrast.