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Abacus House

Northampton Square, Clerkenwell, London, EC1V 0HB

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Access Guide

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Introduction

  • The services in this building, by floor are:
    Basement Floor: IS Service Desk, Training Room.
    Ground Floor: Enterprise Technology Services.
    First Floor: IT Business Management, Chief Information Officer.
    Second Floor: IT Services.

Getting Here

Useful Information

Building Parking

  • The building does not have its own dedicated parking.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located on Gloucester Way.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • The bell is not in a suitable position to allow wheelchair users to gain access.
    • The bell is at a height of 142cm.
    • The intercom is not in a suitable position to allow wheelchair users to gain access.
    • The intercom is at a height of 142cm.
    • A key card is required for access at this entrance.
    • The card reader/lock is not in a suitable position to allow wheelchair users to gain access.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is / are double (with one leaf locked).
    • The door(s) is / are permanently held open.
    • The width of the door opening is 84cm (2ft 9in).
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
  • Second Set of Doors View
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is / are single.
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
  • 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 5 step(s) to access the entrance.
    • There is not tactile paving at the top and bottom of the step(s).
    • The step(s) is / are not clearly marked.
    • The step(s) is / are medium (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 on Meredith Street.
    • There is ramped/sloped and stepped access at this entrance.
    • A key card is required for access at this entrance.
    • The card reader/lock is in a suitable position to allow wheelchair users to gain access.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The door(s) is / are single.
    • The width of the door opening is 93cm (3ft 1in).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is located in front of the entrance.
    • The ramp/slope gradient is easy.
    • The ramp is permanent.
    • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp.
    • The ramp does not have handrails.
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a / are step(s) at this entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are located immediately beyond the entrance.
    • There is / are 5 step(s) to access the entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are clearly marked.
    • The step(s) is / are deep (18cm+).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The handrails are on the right going up.
  • Lift View
    • There is a lift to access this entrance.
    • The lift does bypass the step(s).
    • The lift does not bypass the ramp.
  • Comments View
    • There is a gate outside the entrance (photograph 1). The pedestrian entrance to this gate is always open with 119cm width and a dropped kerb leads into it.

Lift

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located to the left immediately after the accessible entrance.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are B, Entrance, G, 1, 2.
  • Wall mounted information boards are provided at lift landings.
  • There are manual, heavy, single doors to access the lift lobby on all floors.
  • The lift is approximately 2m (2yd 7in) from the accessible entrance.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 81cm (2ft 8in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 114cm x 155cm (3ft 9in x 5ft 1in).
  • There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is 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 have a hearing loop 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 low.
  • Comments View
    • In the lift, the controls are backlit to improve visibility. Floor names in the lift are different to include accessible entrance so -2 is for B, -1 is for the entrance, 0 is for ground and 1, 2 are the same. There is a separate door, but is only for ground floor and exits to right, as you face the lift from other floors.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the building via lift(s).
    • There is an easy slope, with no handrails, for access to B floor from the lift.
    • The width of the ramp is 120cm (3ft 11in).
    • This level change is shown in photograph 6.
    • 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 and pictorial directional signage at key points of circulation routes.
    • There is good colour contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • This building does not play background music.
    • Portable hearing loops are available from the Rhind Building reception.
  • Comments View
    • Photograph 2 shows the offices which are identical on floor 1 and 2, with photograph 3 showing the kitchens attached (both identical on floor 1 and 2).
    • The computer training room on ground floor is shown in photograph 5. The conference room on the second floor is shown in photograph 3.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are B, G, 1, 2.
    • The stairs are located in front of the main entrance.
    • The stairs are approximately 3m from the main entrance.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • There are manual, heavy, single doors to access the stairwell on all floors.
    • The lighting levels are bright.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are deep (18cm+).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • There is a landing.

Accessible Toilet

  • Accessible toilet facilities are available.
  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet is not for the sole use of disabled people.
    • There is pictorial, tactile and written text signage on or near the toilet door.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 33m (36yd 3in) from the lift.
    • This accessible toilet is located in the stairwell on the second floor.
    • Other accessible toilets are found on each floor in the same location.
    • There is level access to this accessible toilet.
    • This is by lift.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is a unisex toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 97cm (3ft 2in).
    • The door is heavy.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 147cm x 230cm (4ft 10in x 7ft 7in).
    • There is not a clear 150cm x 150cm manoeuvring space in the accessible toilet.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 79cm (2ft 7in).
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • The tap type is lever.
    • There is a mixer tap.
    • There is an emergency pull cord alarm in the cubicle.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is not fully functional.
    • The alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
    • There is a/are female sanitary and general domestic waste disposal units.
    • There is a/are coat hook(s).
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • Wall-mounted grab rails are available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rails are on both sides.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • There is a mirror.
    • Mirrors are placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The hand dryer is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • 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).
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • There is a medium colour contrast between the internal door and wall.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is fair.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • There is a good colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall.
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is good.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is fair.
    • The lighting levels are medium.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Location of Standard Toilet(s) View
    • There are male standard toilets facilities on the basement floor, the ground floor and the second floor.
    • There are female standard toilets facilities on the first floor.
  • Standard Toilet Surveyed View
    • A male standard toilet was surveyed.
    • The toilet surveyed is located in the second floor stairwell.
    • There is step free access to the standard toilet(s) surveyed from the entrance.
    • The standard toilet surveyed is approximately 34m from the lift.
    • There is a/are cubicle(s) suitable for ambulant disabled people in the standard toilet(s) surveyed.
    • There are horizontal grab rails on both sides of the seat and a vertical rail on the left.
    • Lighting levels in the standard toilet surveyed are good.