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The Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage

1A Dryden Terrace, Edinburgh, EH7 4NB

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • Then venue is located in Edinburgh City Centre, telling the story of Scottish firefighting from its inception to present day.
    • Facilities available in the venue include: a gift shop, standard and accessible toilets, displays of antique fire engines, equipment and historical artefacts.
    • View information on opening times
  • Parking and Public Transport View
  • Getting In and Around View
    • There is step-free level access at the most accessible entrance.
    • There is step-free level access throughout, this may include the use of a lift.
    • Access throughout may include manual doors.
    • The museum gallery and reception area can be accessed via a standard lift and stairs.
  • Getting Help and Assistance View
    • There is seating available.
    • There is no hearing assistance system.
    • You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair.
    • Additional equipment which can be borrowed or hired includes: folding stools and educational backpacks for families and younger visitors.
    • Documents are available in the following formats: large print, different languages and audio.
    • There is a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
    • There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.
    • Additional facilities/services include: Wi-Fi.
    • Staff receive the following training: diversity and inclusion training.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located in the reception area.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a left hand transfer space.
    • The gender inclusive step-free toilet facilities are located on the lower, gallery level, accessible via lift.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located inside the toilet with adaptations in the reception area and inside one toilet on the lower level.

Entrance (Main Entrance)

  • This entrance is located on Dryden Terrace.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
  • The door opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 127cm.
  • The door has a low visual contrast.
  • There is a second single automatic door.
  • The second door opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 129cm.
  • The second door has a medium visual contrast.

Reception (including Gift Shop)

  • The reception is located directly ahead after entering the venue.
  • The distance from the entrance is 5m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 116cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the desk.
  • The height of the lowered section is 85cm.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • The height of the touchscreen display ranges from 85cm to 100cm from the floor.
  • The touchscreen at reception is for museum donations.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • The flooring is shiny.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.
  • 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: benches.
  • The seating is fixed.
  • There are free storage lockers for visitors in this area.

Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located in the reception area.
    • The distance from the entrance is 5m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The door is easy to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 85cm.
    • The door has a twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a medium visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 180cm (width) x 252cm (depth) and there is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet.
    • The lateral transfer space is 109cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a push button flush on the wall above the cistern.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a medium visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a medium visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a medium visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm 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 medium visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 112cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 72cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rails are on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a medium visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a medium visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 85cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a medium visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 115cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a medium visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a full length mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a nappy/incontinence items bin, a sanitary bin and a pedal bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 176cm from the floor.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 90cm.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located to the right of the reception desk.
  • The distance from the entrance is 5m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The museum gallery and reception area 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 medium visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 90cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 108cm (width) x 160cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings and a medium visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a separate door to exit, a mirror to aid reversing, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located to the right of the reception desk, past the lift.
  • The museum gallery and reception area can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 6 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 handrails extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 17cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.

Entrance (Museum Gallery)

  • This entrance is located on the lower level of the venue.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • The doors require effort to open.
  • The width of the opening is 162cm.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.

Exhibition Space (Museum Gallery)

  • This area is indoors.
  • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • The flooring is shiny.
  • The walls and floor visual contrast varies between low and high.
  • The following may be experienced here: lighting effects, interactive video effects and audio triggered by the visitor.
  • There may be background noise.
  • Lighting levels were low at the time of the survey.
  • Display information includes: tactile, pictorial, audio description, audio guides, information boards, touchscreens, televisions/screens, interactive exhibits at a suitable height for a wheelchair user and subtitles.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Seating available in this area includes: benches and stools.
  • Furniture available in this area includes: tables.
  • Some seating is fixed.
  • The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
  • It is recommended that visitors circulate through the museum in a clockwise direction. There are some children's activity areas in the museum space.