Accessibility gradings

Hearing impairment

Access grade H1: moderate to profound hearing loss

Group study/ teaching

  • General requirements: information to be available in the room re type of system fitted and collection of any equipment required (e.g. IR Receiver)
  • Building requirements: assistive listening systems available in teaching rooms, and visual alarms in adjacent sanitary facilities, or sanitary areas included in the ‘floor sweep’ carried out by fire wardens. 
  •  Room requirements: induction loop or IR system installed. Space for a BSL interpreter at the front of the room, with suitable lighting.

Working alone

  • General requirements: information to be available on entry into the building re collection of any equipment required (e.g. vibrating pager)
  • Building requirements: vibrating pager system installed and linked to fire alarm, and visual alarms in adjacent sanitary facilities, or sanitary areas included in the ‘floor sweep’ carried out by fire wardens.
  • Room requirements: visual beacon to fire alarm in room (if the building has no vibrating pager installation).

Visual impairment

Access grade V1: moderate to complete sight loss

General requirements

  • The person may have guide dog that requires access to spending pens. 
  • The building GEEP incorporates a means of ensuring that an assisted evacuation is in place and facilitated when necessary. This is unlikely to require use of an evac chair.

Building requirements

  • Contrast nosing on stairs Handrails on both sides of steps to room.
    Stair Risers that are not open.

Furniture requirements

  • Chairs that contrast to the floor finish. 

Mobility impairment

Access grade M1: person does not use a wheelchair

General requirements

  • Timetable sessions within a zone to limit transit distances/time. 
  • The building GEEP incorporates a means of ensuring that an assisted evacuation is in place and facilitated when necessary. This may not require use of an evac chair.
  • Preferably Badge Holder parking spaces should be within 50 m of the building entrance.

Building requirements

  • Limited number of steps on access route to room, with lift access preferable. 
  • Handrails on both sides of the stairs.
  • Stair risers that are not open. 
  • WC close in the building (preferably on the same floor).

Furniture requirements

  • Some height adjustable seats with backs/arms. 

Access grade M2: wheelchair user able to independently transfer to an evac chair (wheelchair is no larger than a ‘standard reference wheelchair’)

General requirements

  • Evac chairs are available for an assisted evacuation from a building. 
  • Staff are trained to use an evac chair.Refuges and Evac Chairs are located nearby.
  • The building GEEP incorporates a means of ensuring that an assisted evacuation is facilitated when necessary.
  • Preferably – Badge Holder parking spaces within 50 m of the building entrance.

Building requirements

  • Level or ramp access into the building. Preferably - powered entrance doors to the building.
  • Preferably corridor doors that are held open on rote to the teaching space. For access to rooms above ground floor level, a minimum eight-person lift with powered door with a platform lift at any intermediate changes in level.
  • Wheelchair accessible WC close in the building (preferably on the same floor).

Room requirements

  • A minimum of 800mm clear opening width to entrance / exit doors into the room.
  • 2% of spaces for wheelchair users with adequate circulation space 

Furniture requirements

  • Minimum 700 mm clearance beneath the table surface (and frame).
  • One height adjustable desk per space (Preferably power operated) with adequate manoeuvring space.
  • Some height adjustable seats with backs/arms. 
  • Tiered Lecture Theatres: easily relocatable and (preferably power operated) height adjustable writing surfaces with 700mm clearance underneath the surface and knee recess 500 mm deep.
  • Flat floor to teaching area and height adjustable lectern (with adequate manoeuvring space).

Access grade M3: wheelchair user unable to independently transfer to an evac chair and may have limited manual dexterity. (The wheelchair is no larger than a ‘standard reference wheelchair’)

General requirements

  • The room is on the ground floor with level access/egress
  • Or rooms above ground floors are served by a fire evacuation lift with refuges located nearby
  • Or there is a route for horizontal evacuation to an adjacent building
  • Or there is an alternative means of moving a person in their wheelchair, such as a Stair Climber.

Building requirements

  • Level or ramp access into the building.
  • Powered entrance doors to the building.
  • Preferably - corridor doors that are held open on route to the teaching space.
  • For access to rooms above ground floor level - a minimum 13-person lift with powered door.
  • Wheelchair accessible WC close in the building (preferably on the same floor).

Room requirements

  • A minimum of 800 mm clear opening width to entrance / exit doors into the room 
  • Preferably powered entrance doors to the room.
  • 2% of spaces for wheelchair users with adequate circulation space 
  • Wheelchair accessible WC close in the building (preferably on the same floor).

Furniture requirements

  • One power operated height adjustable desk in each wheelchair position(with adequate manoeuvring space).
  • Some height adjustable seats with backs/ arms. 
  • Tiered Lecture Theatres: easily relocatable and (preferably power operated) height adjustable writing surfaces with 700 mm clearance underneath the surface and knee recess 500 mm deep 
  • Flat floor to teaching area and height adjustable lectern (with adequate manoeuvring space).

 

Colleges

Professional Services