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William Rankine Building

The University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Thomas Bayes Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FG

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • There is a step free approach to the main entrance with uneven surfaces.
  • There are steep slopes on approach to the rear entrance.
  • The building has 2 entrances both of which have automatic single doors.
    The main entrance is accessed by a steep ramp and the rear entrance has a steep slope on approach.
  • The main entrance is signed as William Rankine Building, School of Engineering Institute of Infrastructure and Environment, William Dudgeon Laboratories, Edinburgh Fire Research Centre.
    The rear entrance has no signage.
  • The main entrance provides step-free access to the first floor.
  • The rear entrance is level although on approach there are steep slopes.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout the building on all floors.
  • The majority of surfaces along the circulation routes are hard and smooth with a shiny finish. Some areas of the building are carpeted.
  • There are resting areas in some circulation and lobby areas with a mixture of seating.
  • There is wall mounted wayfinding signage located 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 first and second floors.
    • The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.
    • The male toilet facilities are located on the ground floor.
    • The female toilet facilities are located on the ground, first and second floors.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Standard changing facilities are located in the male and female toilets on the ground floor.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking (Thomas Bayes Road)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located on Thomas Bayes Road.
    • 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 240cm (width) x 480cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to both sides but not at the rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 115cm.
    • The nearest designated bay is 60m from main entrance to The Nucleus Building.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has a slight ramp or slope.
    • 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.
  • 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 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 steep gradient with resting areas.
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide with a handrail on the left going up.
  • The ramp bypasses the steps.
  • There are 3 steps with no handrails.
  • The steps are unmarked.
  • The steps have tactile markings at the top and bottom.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 100cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • There is a push pad at a height of 117cm.
  • The width of the opening is 165cm.
  • The doors have a medium visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 104cm.
  • There is a second set of double manual doors .
  • The second set of doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 167cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The second set of doors have a medium visual contrast.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located to your right on entrance.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 4m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • 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 external lift control buttons have 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 90cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 135cm (width) x 140cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
  • Some 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 in front of you on entrance.
  • The ground, first, second and third floors can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps have faded markings and have handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails 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.
  • Some sections of this staircase have steps with open risers.

Toilet with Adaptations (First Floor - Shared - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located along the first floor corridor.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 15m.
    • 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 pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 76cm.
    • 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 150cm (width) x 255cm (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 84cm (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 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 98cm 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 rail is on the left 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 72cm 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 90cm 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 are no coat hooks.
    • The walls and floor have a low visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade and unshaded light sources.