Access Audit An Lanntair

Robk

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• Publié par: Phawying
• Nombre de lectures: 100
• Langue: English

Extrait

HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY
Inclusive Environmental Access and Design Course
Module 5
An Lanntair Arts centre
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
Access Audit Report
Carried out by Joseph Thomas
1Contents
Introduction 1
2External Environment and Approach
3Entrance and Reception
Horizontal Circulation 4
Vertical Circulation 5
W.C Facilities 6
Auditorium 7
8Emergency Evacuation
9Audit Summary
Recommendations 10
References 11
12Legislative Context
Appendix A 13
1. Introduction
This audit is being carried out as an exercise for module 5 of the
Heriot-Watt University access course.
This is a report of an Access Audit of the An Lanntair Arts Centre
conducted by Joseph Thomas. BS8300 standards will used for this
audit.
The An Lanntair Arts Centre is situated On the Stornoway seafront with
the main entrance on the corner of Kenneth Street and Francis Street.
The centre opened its doors on 1st October 2005 and was officially opened
thby the First Minister on the 13 February 2006.
The building comprises of two floors of which the ground floor is on two
2levels accessed by a lift or short flight of stairs. The reception, shop and
gallery are found on the upper ground floor, the artists dressing rooms and
lounge area, which include an accessible toilet and shower are on the lower
ground floor. There is also an art room and an accessible toilet on this level,
as well as access to the auditorium, which is the largest area and
encompasses all floors.
On he first floor is the restaurant and bar areas, again there is an
accessible toilet on this floor also.
The third floor is mainly given over to offices, with a community room and
access to the auditorium at the upper level. This floor is mainly for staff
use.
The audit follows a tour sequence with the approach to the building from
a drop off area, into reception then horizontal circulation on the ground
floor and progressing upwards with horizontal circulation on each floor.
The report will highlight areas of good practice as well as identifying
possible hazards and barriers; recommendations will be given in section 10.
A priority code will be used as follows:
1. An area, which gives immediate concern for the safety of
disabled people and should be dealt with as a matter of some
urgency.
2. An area, requiring design work and/or expense funded from a
capital expenditure budget.
3. An item of minor cost that could be covered as minor work or as
part of a routine maintenance schedule.
4. An item requiring little or no expense, which may be
dealt with immediately.
2. External Environment and Approach
There are no designated accessible parking bays adjacent to the building or
within convenient walking distance of the centre; the footpaths are narrow
and unsuitable for wheelchair users.
The main entrance is on a busy thoroughfare; the main car park and bus
station is a two-minute walk away on the seafront. The surfacing leading
up to the front of the building is made up of stone blocks which although
they give a level surface at this time there is the potential in the future
for a trip hazard to occur.
The centre is easily identifiable and is well lit in the evenings. There is a
drop off area in front of the centre with dropped kerbs from Kenneth
3Street and there is sufficient space for possibly three, but at least two
accessible parking bays adjacent to the building. It is recommended that
accessible parking bays should be marked out in the forecourt adjacent
to the building. This is a code 1 priority. Photographs 1 to 6 Annex A
3. Entrance and Reception
The main entrance door is a revolving glass door with a clearly
distinguishable façade, immediately to the right of this is an accessible
power operated glass door, although the door opens outwards it does so
slowly enough to allow a wheelchair user to easily manoeuvre through it,
signage could be better on this door.
The reception area is very spacious and clear of any obsructions; the
reception desk is suitable for approach and use from both sides by people
either standing or seated. The reception area is well lit; the shop is next to
reception and is open plan with plenty of space to allow wheelchair users
access purchases are made at reception.
There is however a noticeable lack of signage in this area.
It is recommended that an inductive loop be installed, code 3 Priority
and that signage that is both large enough for people with vision
impairments to be able to see and place at ideally two levels so that
wheelchair user are not having to constantly look up in order to see the
signs. This is a code 4. Priority. Photographs 7 to 12 Annex A
4. Horizontal Circulation
The gallery is spacious and easily accessible from the reception area, on
leaving the gallery a small flight of stairs takes you to the lower ground
floor areas, there is a lift to this floor also from the reception. There is an
accessible toilet that well meets the needs of wheelchair users but is spoil
by the fact that it is not easily recognisable as a toilet, larger signage
needed.
Connecting doors are easily opened; corridors are well lit and wide enough
to allow wheelchair users to manoeuvre. The art room is accessible and
spacious, the artists dressing room and rest area is well equipped, spacious
and has an accessible toilet and shower room. Signage is not very good
throughout this floor and is a code 4 priority
The first floor is a restaurant and bar area that is open plan and is well laid
out, with a good variety of seating available. It is well lit both by natural
4light from the large glass area in the restaurant affording customers a view
of the Stornoway sea front. The restaurant seating arrangements are
suitable for disabled people including wheelchair users, both the bar and
restaurant are table service, even so the bar is at two levels to allow use by
standing and seated persons. This floor has an accessible toilet close to the
lift. The staff in these areas have received disability awareness training
and are most helpful. Again signage is not very good and is a code 4
priority.
Photographs 13 to 20 Annex A
5. Vertical Circulation
Vertical circulation is by lift or by stairs. The lift car is large enough for a
wheelchair user and carer and it has suitable support rails. The controls are
easily visible, tactile and within easy reach of all users, it has audio floor
indication, it has separate entrance and exit facilities, therefore a
wheelchair user will be facing the exit when they reach their desired floor
and the door operation is slow enough to allow entry and exit.
There are stairs to all floors, which in the main are carpeted with easily
identifiable nosings and handrails on both sides. There are fire doors
leading to the stairwells on each floor, the stairwells have a refuge area on
all levels and are well lit. There are no tactile surfaces at the top or bottom
of the stairs.
However the main stairway to the first floor from the reception area has
four fully carpeted stairs with nosings, but the remaining steps consist of
treads and no sings but there are no risers, this is a trip hazard for
visually impaired, and ambient disabled people. There are handrails with
clear glass panels on both sides; the glass panels could be made more
tactile for visually impaired people.
It is recommended that wooden risers be fitted flush with the treads
on the main stairs from the reception area to the first floor; this is a
code 1 priority. A tactile surface be placed at the top and bottom of
each flight of stairs, this is a code 3 priority.
The clear glass panels could be made more visible, by the use of
suitably sized Stickers similar to those on the revolving doors, this
is a code 4 priority Photographs 9 to 12 and 25 to 28
6. W.C. Facilities
5The toilet facilities in the centre are very good, with several accessible
toilets located on the floors that the public have access to. As well as in
the artists dressing room and rest area. The facilities within the
accessible toilets meet BS 8300 standards. It is recommended that
toilet signposting could be better and at a height that can easily be
seen by wheelchair users. This is a code 4 priority.
7. Auditorium
This is the largest area in the centre and encompasses all levels there is
access from the ground floor and the second floor (Restaurant). Seating is
in rows that step up from front to rear, several of the front rows of seats
are removable to accommodate wheelchair users, who can also access the
rear from the second floor where there are suitable areas for wheelchair
users to view the event.
There are steps down both sides of the auditorium with some blue lights
on the sidewalls, but there are none that actually illuminate the steps.
There are no handrails fitted making it hazardous for ambient disabled
and visually impaired people.
It is recommended that handrails be fitted as soon as possible as this
is a code 1 priority.
A method of illuminating the steps when the auditorium is in darkness
should be considered, as this is a potential hazard for visually
impaired and ambient disabled people. This is a code 2 priority.
An inductive loop should be fitted to allow people with hearing
impairments can enjoy the ent