Access Guide
Overview
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About
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- Firth Hall is a medium sized building with three floors.
- There is one main lift, a stair lift and two main staircases within the building.
- The floors are signed as B, G and F.
- There is internal step-free level access from Firth Court West and the Addison building.
- View information on Firth Hall.
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Parking and Public Transport
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- The venue has its own car park.
- The nearest step-free train station is Sheffield.
- The nearest tram stop is University of Sheffield.
- The nearest bus station is Sheffield Interchange.
- For the latest travel options and information you can plan your travel using Google Maps (opens new tab).
- View information on getting here (opens new tab) .
- Related Access Guides View
Getting Inside
- The approach to the building is step-free via a very easy ramp.
- There are three entrances into the building. Two of the entrances are step-free with push pad activated single automatic doors. The third has stepped access.
- The front entrances are named as First Court Building, Firth Court. The rear entrance is unsigned.
- The accessible entrance provides step-free level access to the ground floor and reception.
- The rear entrance provides step-free level access and the other entrance at the front of the building has stepped access.
Getting Around
- There is step-free level access via lift throughout the majority of the building.
- on the first floor there are steps leading to the male and female standard toilets.
- Some floor surfaces along circulation routes are hard and smooth with some having shiny surfaces. Other surfaces have short-pile carpet.
- Chairs with armrests are available in some circulation areas.
- Wall mounted wayfinding signage is provided throughout the building.
- There are manual doors along some circulation routes throughout the building.
Toilet and Changing Facilities
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Toilet Facilities
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- There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
- The toilet with adaptations is located on the ground floor corridor.
- The toilet with adaptations has a right hand transfer space.
- The male and female step-free toilet facilities are located on the ground floor corridor.
- The male and female toilet facilities are located on the first floor near the entrance to the Addison building.
Parking
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Car Park
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- The car park is located at the front of the building.
- The car park is open air/surface.
- The car park surface consists of tarmac.
- There are no designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
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Charges and Restrictions
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- Parking is free for all users.
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Drop-off Point
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- There is not a designated drop-off point available.
Entrance (Accessible Entrance)
- This entrance is located at the front of the building and to the left of the stepped entrance.
- 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 a very easy ramp at the entrance.
- There is an intercom at a height of 114cm.
- There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 95cm.
- There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
- The door opens towards you.
- There is a push pad at a height of 93cm.
- The width of the opening is 99cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
- The door has a high visual contrast.
- There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 96cm.
- There is step-free level access as you enter.
Reception (Enquiries)
- The reception is located next to the stepped entrance of the building.
- The distance from accessible entrance is 44m.
- The most accessible route to reception has doors permanently held open.
- There is step-free level access to reception.
- The height of the reception desk is 117cm.
- There is a lowered section at the desk.
- The height of the lowered section is 72cm.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- There is background noise in this area which varies depending on the time of day.
- Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.
- 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: chairs with armrests.
- Furniture available in this area includes: coffee tables.
Lift (Main Lift)
- The lift surveyed is located along the corridor then through the door to the left.
- This lift is a platform lift.
- The distance from the accessible entrance is 22m.
- The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and automatic doors.
- The ground and first 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 400kg.
- 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 110cm (width) x 148cm (depth).
- The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings and 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.
Lift (Platform lift to Quadrangle Entrance)
- The lift surveyed is located on the ground floor at the far end of the main entrance hall.
- This lift is a stair lift.
- The distance from the accessible entrance is 41m.
- The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access, manual doors and doors permanently held open.
- 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 225kg.
- 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 98cm (width) x 78cm (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.
- The button needs to be pressed constantly when in use.
- Internally the lift has: a separate door to exit.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
Stairs (Main Staircase)
- The stairs surveyed are located in the main hallway opposite the stepped entrance.
- The basement, ground and first 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 are not easy to grip.
- The handrail covers 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 16cm.
- The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
Entrance (From Firth Court West Building)
- This entrance is located on the first floor of Firth Court West Building.
- The entrance area is not clearly signed.
- There is step-free level access at the entrance.
- There are double manual doors at this entrance.
- The doors open away from you.
- The width of the opening is 156cm.
- The doors have a high visual contrast.
Entrance (From Addison Building)
- This entrance is located at the end of the first floor corridor in Addison Building.
- The entrance area is not clearly signed.
- There is step-free level access at the entrance.
- There are double manual doors at this entrance.
- The doors open away from you.
- The width of the opening is 136cm.
- The doors have a high visual contrast.
- There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 116cm.
Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Shared - Right Hand Transfer)
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Location and Access
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- The toilet surveyed is located on the ground floor corridor.
- The distance from the accessible entrance is 23m.
- The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access and doors permanently held open.
- There is step-free level access into the facility.
- There is Braille, pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
- The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
- The width of the door opening is 87cm.
- The door has a locking handle.
- Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
- There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
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Dimensions and Features
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- The dimensions of the cubicle are 147cm (width) x 231cm (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, however it is obstructed.
- The lateral transfer space is 78cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
- There is a lever flush on the transfer side.
- There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
- The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
- There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
- The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
- 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 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 low 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 high 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 94cm 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 108cm from the floor.
- There is not a hand dryer.
- 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 are no coat hooks.
- The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
