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Cosins Hall

Cosins Hall, Palace Green, Durham, DH1 3RL

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Access Guide

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Summary

  • Building View
    • Basement floor - university college laundrette.
      Ground floor - IALS Area including seminar room and offices.
      First floor - Department of History Offices 101 - 109.
      Second floor - Department of History Offices 206 - 210.
    • The laundry on the basement floor is for the use of students living in university college accommodation.
  • Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities View
    • Accessible toilet facilities with an accessible shower are located towards the rear right of the building on the ground floor.
    • Shared standard toilet facilities are located towards the rear left of the building on the ground, first and second floors and on the first and second floors of the building towards the rear right of the building.
    • Standard shower facilities are located in the first floor standard toilet to the rear right of the building.
  • COVID-19 Information View

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.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building off Palace Green.
    • This entrance gives access to the ground floor Institute of Advanced Study Area of the Building.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with 'Institute of Advance Study / Department of History'.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • There is a dark mat or floor marking at this entrance that might be perceived as a hole.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is a bell/buzzer.
    • The height of the bell/buzzer is 132cm (4ft 4in).
    • There is not an intercom.
    • A key code is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the key code reader is 120cm.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is/are double width but one door is locked.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 56cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
  • Step(s) View
    • The step(s) is/are located in front of and immediately beyond the entrance.
    • There is/are 6 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 15cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are 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 at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
  • Comments View
    • The handrail only covers the first four steps.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is not step-free access throughout the majority of the building.
  • Circulation View
    • There are 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.
    • There are no seats/chairs at regular intervals.
    • The lighting levels are good.
  • Signage View
    • Wayfinding signage is provided.
    • The colour, design and typeface of signs is not consistent throughout the building.
  • 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.

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 6m from the main entrance.
    • The stairs are clearly visible from the entrance.
    • There are manual, heavy, single doors to enter and exit the stairwell on all floors.
    • 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 not between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 19cm.
    • 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 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 not a landing.
    • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on landings.
    • The lighting levels at the steps are good.

Laundry

  • The laundry is located on the basement floor of the building.
  • It is accessed by a single door with a width of 70cm.
  • There are washing machines with controls at a height of 105cm.
  • There are drying machines with handles at a height of 170cm.

Standard Shower

  • Shower facilities are available.
  • The shower(s) surveyed is/are located in the first floor standard toilet to the rear right of the building.
  • There is not level access to the shower facilities.
  • There is a deep step to access the shower. The step is 19cm in height.

Accessible Toilet(s) (Ground Floor - Shared - Left Hand Transfer)

  • There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located to the rear right of the building.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 15m (16yd 1ft) from the main entrance.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is written text signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is heavy.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 83cm (2ft 9in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is good.
    • The door has a horizontal grab rail.
    • The contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is good.
  • Toilet Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 200cm x 160cm (6ft 7in x 5ft 3in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 140cm (4ft 7in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a female sanitary bin and a waste disposal bin.
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
    • There is a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is good.
    • There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on the left.
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is not a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) to the left of the toilet and wall is fair.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • There is not an emergency alarm.
    • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are female sanitary and general waste (with lid) disposal units.
    • There is a/are coat hook(s).
    • The height of the coat hook is 183cm from the floor.
  • Additional Fixtures View
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • The toilet has a cistern.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 120cm (3ft 11in).
    • The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is good.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The height of the wash basin is 72cm (2ft 4in).
    • There are vertical wall-mounted grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is fair.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
    • There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 110cm.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the towel dispenser is 120cm (3ft 11in).
    • The contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is good.
    • There is not a hand dryer.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The shared toilet is located to the rear left of the building on the ground floor.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 10m from the main entrance.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is fair.
    • 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 80cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
    • Lighting levels are good.
  • Toilet Facilities 2 View
    • The shared toilet is located to the rear right of the building on the first floor in room 105.
    • There is stepped access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 15m from the stairs.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is fair.
    • 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 81cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
    • Lighting levels are good.
    • There is a slight threshold 2cm in height which may serve as a trip hazard. There is a stepped shower cubicle located next to the toilet.