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Abbey House

Abbey House, Palace Green, Durham, DH1 3RS

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Access Guide

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Summary

  • Building View
    • Services / Facilities within the building include; offices, Seminar Rooms B and C, and the Centre for Catholic Studies Offices, Learning and Technical Support Office.
  • Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities View
    • Female standard toilet facilities are located on the basement floor next to the rear entrance.
    • Male standard toilet facilities are located on the basement floor next to the rear entrance.

Getting Here

Useful Information

Building Parking

  • The building does not have its own dedicated parking.
  • Site/Campus Car Parks View
    • There is a site/campus car park for staff within approximately 200m.
    • The name of the car park is Palace Green Car Park.
    • The car park is located off Palace Green.
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is not a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
  • On Street Parking View
    • Clearly signed and/or marked on street Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The dimensions of the marked Blue Badge bays are 200cm x 1200cm (6ft 7in x 39ft 4in).
    • The on street Blue Badge parking bay(s) is/are located on along North Bailey.
    • Clearly signed and/or standard marked parking bays are not available.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View
    • The Blue Badge bay can be seen in photograph 1.
    • The Blue Badge bay is only available for a maximum stay of three hours between 08:00 and 18:00 with no return within one hour.
    • Photograph 2 shows the Palace Green Car Park.
    • The Palace Green Car Park is only for the use of authorised staff permit holders and authorised visitor permit holders.

Palace Green Car Park

  • At the entrance to the car park there is an intercom with controls at a height of 110cm.
  • There are bollards that will sink into the ground allowing for access.
  • The car park is situated around Palace Green.
  • There are no fixed bays within the Car Park standard or otherwise.
  • The car park is for only for Staff Permit Holders, Visitors Permit Holders and Visitors and Staff with Blue Badge bays.
  • Blue Badge parking should be arranged in advance.
  • The surface of the car park is tarmac.
  • There are no parking fees at the car park.
  • There is an automatic bollard on exiting the car park.

Approach (Main Entrance)

  • Approach View
    • The surface of the approach is block paving.
    • There is step-free access on the approach.
    • There is a slope with a very easy incline.
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a drop kerb immediately outside the entrance.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
    • This entrance gives access to the ground floor.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with 'Theology and Religion Abbey House'.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • A key card is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the key card reader is 116cm.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 145cm.
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
    • The width of the door opening is 83cm.
  • Step(s) View
    • The step(s) is/are located in front of the entrance.
    • There is/are 5 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 18cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The handrail(s) is/are on both sides of the step(s).
    • Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
  • Comments View
    • Between the two entrance doors are located the Learning and Teaching Support Office 001 and Office 007.

Approach (Rear Entrance)

  • Approach View
    • The surface of the approach is block paving.
    • The approach surface is uneven in places.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope on the approach.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent, has a steep gradient and has no handrails.
    • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • The width of the ramp/slope is 122cm (4ft).
  • Comments View
    • At its narrowest point due to a drain the width of the slope is 65cm.

Outside Access (Rear Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located to the rear left of the building on the basement floor.
    • This entrance gives access to the basement floor.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with 'Department of Theology'.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • A key code is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the key code reader is 112cm.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 87cm.
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 80cm.
    • The canopy is located in front of the second entrance door.
      There is a key code lock at the second entrance door. which is 125cm high.
  • Step(s) View
    • The step(s) is/are located before the entrance.
    • There is/are 3 step(s).
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 15cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are between 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is not step-free access throughout the majority of the building.
    • There are nine clearly marked medium steps to reach the offices on the basement floor from the rear entrance.
  • Circulation View
    • There are no doors in corridors/walkways which have to be opened manually.
    • There are corridors/walkways with a surface width of less than 120cm (excluding any permanent obstructions over a small distance).
    • The type of flooring in corridors/walkways is carpet.
    • There is high colour contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
    • The lighting levels are good.
  • Signage View
    • Wayfinding signage is not provided.
  • Safe Place(s) View
    • There is not a designated place of safety which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
  • Audio View
    • This venue does not play background music in communal areas.
    • There is a hearing assistance system in the communal areas of the building.
    • The system is a fixed loop.
    • Hearing loops are located within Seminar rooms B and C.
    • The hearing assistance system was not tested at the time of the survey.

Step(s)

  • Stepped Level Change 1 View
    • There is a/are step(s) located to the rear of the building on the basement floor.
    • The step(s) is/are used to access basement floor offices.
    • There is/are 9 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 16cm.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
    • The lighting levels at the step(s) are good.
    • The first six steps have a handrail on the right going and have a depth of 26cm. These are shown in photograph 1.
      The last three steps have handrails on either side and a depth of 30cm. These are seen in photograph 2.
  • Stepped Level Change 2 View
    • There is a/are step(s) located to your right on entering the building via the rear entrance.
    • The step(s) is/are used to access male and female toilets on the basement floor.
    • There is/are 1 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 11cm.
    • The step can be seen in photograph 3.

Other Floors

  • Stairs View
    • Stairs can be used to access other floors.
    • The stairs are located in front of you on entrance.
    • The stairs are approximately 5m from the main entrance.
    • Signs indicating the location of the stairs are clearly visible from the entrance.
    • There are manual, heavy, single doors to enter and exit the stairwell on the first floor.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are B, G, 1 and 2.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 15cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The steps have a handrail on the left going up.
    • Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are not easy to grip.
    • There is a landing.
    • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are provided on landings.
    • The lighting levels at the steps are good.
  • Other Information View
    • The room(s) on the floors which are not accessible is/are Centre for Catholic Studies Offices, Many Faculty Offices, Seminar Room B and C.
    • Offices 003, 106, 206 are located in the landings between the floors. On the landing between the basement and ground floors there are seven steps leading to Seminar Room B and office 005. These steps can be seen in photograph 3. On the landing between the ground and first floors there are seven steps leading into Seminar Room C and office 108.

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The female and male toilets are located to your right on entering the building via the rear entrance.
    • There is stepped access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 6m from the rear entrance.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is good.
    • There is written text signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 91cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is lever mixer.
    • Lighting levels are good.