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The Octagon Centre

Clarkson Street, Sheffield, S10 2TQ

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Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Services / facilities within the building include a function hall, a bar, quiet spaces, disability and dyslexia support services, staff offices and meeting rooms.

Getting Here

Useful Information

Building Parking

  • The building does not have its own dedicated parking.
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
    • There is a/are Blue Badge parking bay(s) available within the car park.
    • The name of the car park is Durham Road QPark.
    • The car park is located on Durham Road.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
    • There are bollards between Durham Road and the building.
    • The minimum width between the bollards is 145cm.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
    • There is ramped/sloped or stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The door(s) is/are push pad activated.
    • The door(s) is / are single (with a locked extension leaf).
    • The width of the door opening is 89cm (2ft 11in).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is located to the right as you face the entrance.
    • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
    • The ramp/slope gradient is slight.
    • The ramp is permanent.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp.
    • The ramp does have handrails.
    • The handrails are on both sides.
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a / are step(s) at this entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are located in front of the entrance.
    • There is / are 8 step(s) to access the entrance.
    • There is tactile paving at the top and bottom of the step(s).
    • The step(s) is / are clearly marked.
    • The step(s) is / are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The handrails are on both sides.

Outside Access (Accessible Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located to the side of the building on the lower level.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The width of the door opening is 108cm (3ft 7in).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is located on the left and right approach to the entrance.
    • The ramp/slope gradient is slight.

Level Change (Car Park to Accessible Entrance)

  • There is a ramp/slope to access this area/service.
  • The ramp/slope is slight.
  • The ramp/slope is permanent.
  • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
  • The ramp does have handrails.
  • The handrails are on the left going up the ramp.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the building via lift(s).
    • There is a slight ramp, with a handrail on the right going up, for access to outdoor seating area in the Octagon Bar.
    • There are doors in corridors which have to be opened manually.
  • Getting Around View
    • There is clear signage for building facilities/areas in the foyer/reception area.
    • There is clearly written directional signage at key points of circulation routes.
    • There is some flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • There is low visual contrast between the walls and floor in the majority of corridors.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
    • This building does play background music.
    • Music is played during performances.
    • There is a hearing assistance system.
    • The system is infrared.
    • The hearing system is located within the main hall.
    • Staff are trained to use the hearing assistance system.
    • The hearing assistance system was tested by an AccessAble surveyor.
    • The hearing assistance system was tested on 12/03/2024.
    • The hearing assistance system was working at the time of testing.

Lift

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located on the left as you enter the main entrance.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are basement, ground, mezzanine and the first floor.
  • Wall mounted information boards are not provided at lift landings.
  • The weight limit for the lift is 630kg.
  • The lift is approximately 3m (9ft) from the main entrance.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 80cm (2ft 7in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 110cm x 140cm (3ft 7in x 4ft 7in).
  • There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does have an audible announcer.
  • The lift does not have a hearing enhancement system.
  • The lift does not have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • The lighting level in the lift is moderate to good.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, M, 1.
    • The stairs are located ahead as you enter the main entrance.
    • The stairs are approximately 10m from the main entrance.
    • There are 9 steps between floors.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • There is not a landing.
    • There are stairs to access level M-1 There are stairs to access level G-M There are similar stairs from G-B. These are narrower & have handrails both sides. They are accessed through a single, heavy door. The door opens towards you (pull). The door is 74cm wide. There is a landing on these stairs.

Eating and Drinking (The Octagon Bar)

  • Location and Access View
    • The following information is for the bar.
    • The bar is located on the first floor.
    • There is step-free access, via lift, to the bar.
    • For access there are double manual doors which may be difficult to open.
  • Service and Menus View
    • Tables cannot be booked in advance.
    • There is a bar where food and drink can be ordered.
    • Staff can bring food and/or drinks to tables.
    • Staff can read menus to customers if requested.
    • The type of food served here is drinks and snacks.
    • Takeaway cups are available.
    • Adapted cups are not available.
    • Adapted cutlery is not available.
    • Drinking straws are available.
    • This area does play background music.
    • Background music is only played during certain functions.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Service Counter(s) View
    • The height of the counter is 110cm.
    • There is a moveable card machine available for payment.
  • Tables and Seating View
    • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • The majority of tables are accessible to wheelchair users.
    • The distance between the floor and the underside of the lowest dining table is 71cm.
    • The distance between the floor and the underside of the highest dining table is 111cm.
    • There are also coffee tables, high tables, long tables, armchairs, sofas, bench seats and high stools.
    • The surface height of the lowest table is 44cm.
    • No tables are permanently fixed.
    • Some chairs are permanently fixed.
    • Some chairs have armrests on both sides.
    • The type of flooring in this area is laminate.
    • There is some flooring which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • There is some flooring which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • Access to the additional seating area is via a slight ramp at the rear of the bar which leads to the outdoor seating area.
    • There are double manual doors leading to the outdoor seating area. The door width is 148cm.

Refuge Intercom System

  • Refuge intercoms are available in the lift lobby on floors G and B.
  • The intercoms are opposite the lift on each floor.
  • The button is marked in tactile and Braille.
  • The height of the button is 100cm on floor G and 98cm on floor B.

Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities

  • Accessible toilet facilities are located on the Mezzanine level, ahead and to the left as you exit the lift and on the ground floor to the left as you enter the ground floor entrance.
  • Female and male standard toilet facilities are located on the Mezzanine level, ahead and to the left as you exit the lift and on the ground floor to the left as you enter the ground floor entrance.

Toilet with Adaptations (Mezzanine Floor - Left Hand Transfer)

  • There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located on the Mezzanine level, ahead and to the left as you exit the lift.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 15m (16yd 1ft) from the lift.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The visual contrast between the external door and wall is high.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door may be difficult to open.
    • The door is locked by a lever twist.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 76cm (2ft 6in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is high.
    • The door does not have a horizontal grab rail.
  • Toilet Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 146cm x 200cm (4ft 9in x 6ft 7in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The height of the light switch/pull cord is 107cm from floor level.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 75cm (2ft 6in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a sanitary bin.
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
    • There is a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is low.
    • There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
    • The visual contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is low.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is high.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
    • There is a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are sanitary and general waste (with no lid) disposal units.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Additional Fixtures View
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • The toilet has a cistern.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 44cm (1ft 5in).
    • The toilet seat visual contrast is low.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 98cm (3ft 3in).
    • The visual contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is low.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The height of the wash basin is 69cm (2ft 3in).
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the left hand side of the wash basin.
    • The visual contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is low.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
    • There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 110cm.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the towel dispenser is 128cm.
    • The visual contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is medium.
    • There is not a hand dryer.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Left Hand Transfer)

  • There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located on the ground floor, to the left as you enter via the accessible entrance.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 60m (65yd 1ft) from the accessible entrance.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The visual contrast between the external door and wall is low.
    • The door opens inwards.
    • The door is easy to open.
    • The door is locked by a locking handle.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 75cm (2ft 6in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is high.
    • The door has a horizontal grab rail.
    • The contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is medium.
  • Toilet Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 173cm x 208cm (5ft 8in x 6ft 10in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 89cm (2ft 11in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a sanitary bin and a waste disposal bin.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • There is not a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is low.
    • There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
    • The visual contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is low.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is high.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is fully functional.
    • There is a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are sanitary and general waste (with lid) disposal units.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Additional Fixtures View
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • The toilet has a cistern.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 45cm (1ft 6in).
    • The toilet seat visual contrast is low.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 110cm (3ft 7in).
    • The visual contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is low.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The height of the wash basin is 72cm (2ft 4in).
    • There are vertical wall-mounted grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The visual contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is low.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
    • There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 89cm.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer requires hands to be inserted into the top.
    • The hand dryer is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the hand dryer is 84cm (2ft 9in).
    • The visual contrast between the hand dryer and the wall is high.
  • Baby Changing Facilities View
    • Baby changing facilities are located within the accessible toilet.
    • There is a flip down baby change table available.
    • The height of the baby change table is 90cm.

Standard Toilet(s) (Mezzanine)

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The female and male toilets are located on the Mezzanine level ahead and to the left as you exit the lift.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 12m from the lift.
    • The visual contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is high.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 80cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is push.
    • Lighting levels are good.
  • Baby Changing Facilities View
    • Baby change facilities are available in the female toilets.
    • There is a flip down baby change table available.
    • The height of the baby change table is 89cm.

Standard Toilet(s) (Ground Floor)

  • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The female and male toilets are located on the ground floor, round to the left as you enter through the accessible entrance.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 60m from the accessible entrance.
    • The visual contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is low.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 80cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is push.
    • Lighting levels are good.

Standard Shower (Performers)

  • Shower facilities are available.
  • The shower(s) surveyed is/are located on the ground floor at the end of the corridor.
  • There is level access to the services from the shower facilities.