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Hall 1

The NEC, North Avenue, Marston Green, Birmingham, B40 1NT

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Access Guide

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Getting to the NEC and Useful Information

Piazza

Entrance (Hall)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located next to the Piazza entrance P1.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance.
    • There are no doors at this entrance.
    • There is a member of staff available for assistance at this entrance.

Event Room(s) / Space(s) (Hall 1)

  • Access to the Room View
    • The hall surveyed was Hall 1.
    • Hall 1 is located next to the Piazza entrance P1.
    • There is wayfinding signage for the space.
    • There is clear signage for the room(s) (on or near the door).
    • There is numerical signage for the room(s), that is clearly visible.
    • Staff can provide assistance getting to the room(s)/space(s).
    • The corridor/walkway leading to the room(s)/space(s) is sufficiently wide enough (150cm+) to allow wheelchair users to pass.
    • There is step-free access.
  • Room Details View
    • The layout of the hall varies depending on the function or event taking place.
      The type of flooring in the hall varies depending on the function or event taking place.
      During some events there may be additional food and drink services available.
      The lighting levels in the hall varies depending on the function or event taking place.
      For some of the events have flexible tiered seating.
      For these events the designated wheelchair spaces will vary depending on the layout of the seating.
    • There is stepped access from this hall into Hall 4.
      There are 15+, 15cm high, clearly marked steps with handrails on both sides leading up to Hall 2.
      .

Eating and Drinking (The Food Market)

  • Location and Access View
    • The following information is for the food hall.
    • The food hall is located inside Hall 1.
    • There is step-free access to the food hall.
    • For access there are double manual doors which are easy to open.
  • Service and Menus View
    • Tables cannot be booked in advance.
    • There is a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
    • Staff can bring food and/or drinks to tables.
    • Menu types include: menu boards and written wall menus.
    • Menus are clearly written.
    • Menus are presented in contrasting colours.
    • Staff can read menus to customers if requested.
    • The type of food served here is hot and cold meals and snacks.
    • Plastic/takeaway cups are available.
    • Adapted cups are not available.
    • Adapted cutlery is not available.
    • Drinking straws are not available.
    • This area does not play background music.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system .
    • There is a portable card machine available for payment.
  • Service Counter(s) View
    • The height of the counter is 100cm.
    • There is a moveable card machine available for payment.
    • The type of flooring in this area is vinyl.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Tables and Seating View
    • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • The majority of tables are accessible to wheelchair users.
    • The height between the floor and the underside of the lowest dining table is 65cm.
    • The distance between the floor and the underside of the highest dining table is 71cm.
    • The surface height of the lowest table is 74cm.
    • The surface height of the highest table is 76cm.
    • No tables are permanently fixed.
    • No chairs are permanently fixed.
    • Some chairs have armrests on both sides.
    • There are also armchairs, sofas, stools and high stools.
    • The type of flooring in this area is vinyl.
    • There is some flooring which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
    • There is a small Subway counter which operates during some events.
      The Subway counter height is 125cm from floor level.
      The seating in the food market can be changed to suit individual events within Hall 1.

Eating and Drinking (The Edge)

  • Location and Access View
    • The following information is for the restaurant/bar.
    • The restaurant/bar is located at the rear of Hall 1.
    • There is step-free access to the restaurant/bar.
    • For access there is a single manual door which are permanently held open.
  • Service and Menus View
    • There is a bar where food and drink can be ordered.
    • Menu types include: written wall menus and menu boards.
    • Menus are clearly written.
    • Menus are presented in contrasting colours.
    • Staff can read menus to customers if requested.
    • The type of food served here is hot and cold meals and snacks.
    • Plastic/takeaway cups are available.
    • Adapted cups are not available.
    • Adapted cutlery is not available.
    • Drinking straws are available.
    • Background music is only played at certain times.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system .
  • Service Counter(s) View
    • The height of the counter is 90cm.
    • The height of the lowered section at the counter is 76cm.
    • There is not a clear knee recess beneath the low/lowered section of the counter.
    • There is a moveable card machine available for payment.
    • The type of flooring in this area is vinyl.
    • The lighting levels are good.
  • Tables and Seating View
    • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • The majority of tables are accessible to wheelchair users.
    • The height between the floor and the underside of the lowest dining table is 71cm.
    • The distance between the floor and the underside of the highest dining table is 100cm.
    • The surface height of the lowest table is 73cm.
    • The surface height of the highest table is 106cm.
    • Some tables are permanently fixed.
    • No chairs are permanently fixed.
    • Some chairs have armrests on both sides.
    • There are also high tables and stools.
    • The type of flooring in this area is vinyl and laminate.
    • There is some flooring which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.

Accessible Toilet(s) (Hall 1 - Left)

  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located on the left hand side of Hall 1 next to the food market.
    • 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 pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door may be difficult to open.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 94cm (3ft 1in).
    • 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 186cm x 276cm (6ft 1in x 9ft 1in).
    • The accessible toilet does 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 115cm (3ft 9in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a waste disposal bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • There is spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is poor.
    • There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is 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) and wall is poor.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
    • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are sanitary and nappy/incontinence items bin disposal units.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Additional Fixtures View
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The toilet has a cistern.
    • There is a lid attached to the toilet seat.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 44cm (1ft 5in).
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can 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 112cm (3ft 8in).
    • The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is fair.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • 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 poor.
    • 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 87cm.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The contrast between the hand dryer and the wall is good.
  • Baby Changing Facilities View
    • Baby changing facilities are located within the accessible toilet.
    • There is a flip down baby change table available.
    • The height of the baby change table is 77cm.

Standard Toilet(s) (Hall 1 - Left)

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The female toilet is located on the left hand side of Hall 1, next to the Food Market.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is good.
    • There is pictorial 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 sensor.
    • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Toilet Facilities 2 View
    • The male toilet is located on the left hand side of Hall 1, next to the Food Market.
    • There is step-free access to the toilet(s).
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is good.
    • There is pictorial 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 sensor.
    • Lighting levels are moderate to good.

Accessible Toilet(s) (Hall 1 - Rear)

  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located at the rear of Hall 1, next to the Edge Restaurant.
    • 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 pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door may be difficult to open.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 93cm (3ft 1in).
    • 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 183cm x 278cm (6ft x 9ft 1in).
    • The accessible toilet does 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 right.
    • The lateral transfer space is 115cm (3ft 9in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a waste disposal bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • There is spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is poor.
    • There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is 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) and wall is poor.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is fully functional.
    • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are nappy/incontinence items bin and sanitary disposal units.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Additional Fixtures View
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The toilet has a backrest and a cistern.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 47cm (1ft 7in).
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can 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 105cm (3ft 5in).
    • The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is fair.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • 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 poor.
    • 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 97cm.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The contrast between the hand dryer and the wall is good.
  • Baby Changing Facilities View
    • Baby changing facilities are located within the accessible toilet.
    • There is a flip down baby change table available.
    • The height of the baby change table is 75cm.

Standard Toilet(s) (Hall 1 - Rear)

  • Standard toilet facilities are not available.
  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The female toilet is located at the rear of Hall 1.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is good.
    • There is pictorial 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 sensor.
    • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Toilet Facilities 2 View
    • The male toilet is located at the rear of Hall 1.
    • There is step-free access to the toilet(s).
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is good.
    • There is pictorial 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 sensor.
    • Lighting levels are moderate to good.