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Old Sessions House

Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1PH

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The main entrance is located off the building car park and there is a tactile drop kerb on approach.
  • There is a slight ramp on approach from the rest of the Canterbury Campus.
  • Old Sessions House has two entrances.
    Both entrances provide step-free access to the ground floor via a steep ramp.
    There are double automatic doors at the main entrance into the building.
  • Both entrances are signed as Old Sessions House.
  • The main entrance at the front of the building gives access to the reception area of the ground floor via automatic double doors.
  • The rear entrance is located to the rear of the building and is accessed via a steep ramp and has manual double doors.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free access throughout the majority of the building.
  • There is a slight slope with a handrail on either side which provides access to Lecture Theatre OS.0.19 stepped entrance and rooms OS.023 - OS.0.29.
    This ramp also leads to the steps to access OS.0.20 - OS.0.22 and OS.1.18 - OS.1.19.
  • There are four 16cm steps with a handrail to the right on approach to room OS.0.22.
    There is a separate staircase to reach rooms OS.1.18 and OS.1.19 located after the four steps to reach room OS.0.22.
    After the four steps mentioned above there are an additional six 18cm steps with handrails on both sides to access OS.0.20 and OS.0.21.
  • The majority of the circulation routes are carpeted however some are hard and smooth with a shiny finish.
  • There are resting areas in the circulation and lobby areas throughout much of the building.
  • There is wayfinding signage located throughout the building.
  • There are manual doors throughout the circulation routes. Some of these doorways only have a width of 75cm.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located on the first floor.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a right hand transfer space.
    • Ambulant toilet facilities are located in the male and female toilets on the ground and first floor.
    • The female step-free toilet facilities are located on the ground floor with doors accessing them halfway up the ramp just inside the main entrance and on lower part of the ground and on the first floor.
    • The male step-free toilet facilities are located on the ground and first floors.

Parking

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located at the front and rear of the building.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There is 1 designated Blue Badge parking bay available.
    • The Blue Badge bay is clearly marked.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 230cm (width) x 630cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to both sides and rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 125cm.
    • The nearest designated bay is 6m from the main entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has step-free level access and uneven surfaces.
    • There is a dropped kerb with tactile paving from the designated Blue Badge parking.
    • The area to the front of the building is for visitor and Blue Badge parking, the area to the rear is for staff permit holders.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for visitors, permit holders and staff permit holders only.
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • Clearly presented parking signs are available.
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Points View
    • There are 2 electric vehicle charging points.
    • The dimensions of the surveyed electric vehicle charging bay are 240cm (width) x 460cm (depth).
    • The nozzle holster is not at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • The charging points require an app.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Entrance (Main)

  • 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 level access at the entrance.
  • There are 8 steps with a handrail on the left going up.
  • The handrail is easy to grip.
  • The handrail does not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail does not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The steps are clearly marked.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 15cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 150cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is step free access to the lecture theatre. It can be accessed prior to reaching the main entrance level change.
  • There is step-free access via ramp as you enter.
  • The ramp has a steep gradient.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with a handrail on the right going up.
  • The ramp bypasses the steps.
  • There are 8 steps with a handrail on the left going up.
  • The handrail is easy to grip.
  • The handrail does not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail does not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The steps are clearly marked.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 15cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • There is a handrail on the lower part of the ramp but not on the upper part of the ramp.
    There is a handrail on the left of the first five steps and none for three last steps of the level change.
    The ground floor female toilets can be accessed via a door part of the way up the entrance ramp and stairs.

Reception

  • The reception is located to your left at the top of the entrance ramp.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 25m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 106cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the desk.
  • The height of the lowered section is 76cm.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • 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, benches and stools.
  • Furniture available in this area includes: coffee tables.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located towards the right of the building.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 35m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The basement, 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 external lift control buttons have tactile markings and a high visual contrast.
  • The lift door opening width is 80cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 110cm (width) x 144cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile 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 and a visual floor indicator.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located towards the right of the building.
  • The basement, ground and first floor can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 19 steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail extends horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is not between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 19cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Toilet with Adaptations (First Floor - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the first floor.
    • The distance from the lift is 10m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has manual doors and step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • The door is automatic and is open via a push button. .
    • There is tactile, written text, pictorial and Braille signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens by sliding and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 78cm.
    • The door has a push button lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is not a grab rail on the internal door .
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 150cm (width) x 210cm (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 80cm (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 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 45cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet has a padded backrest.
    • 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 90cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 73cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rail is on the right 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 90cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is no mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has 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.