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Alan Gilbert Learning Commons

The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9NR

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step-free and level.
  • Alan Gilbert has one entrance.
    The entrance provides step-free level access to the ground floor.
    It is a single automatic key card operated door (the alternative being an automatic revolving door to the right of the accessible entrance).
  • Neither entrance is named.
    There is signage on the building near both the entrances which reads 'Alan Gilbert Learning Commons'.
  • The accessible entrance provides step-free level access to the reception foyer located on the ground floor.
  • The revolving door, at the alternative entrance, does not have a slow down button.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout the building on all floors.
  • On the lower ground floor, the most direct route from the lift to the toilet with adaptations, has a narrow passageway.
    There is an alternative passageway to the left.
  • Floor surfaces along circulation routes are hard and smooth or carpeted and smooth.
    Some flooring has a shiny finish.
  • There are resting areas in some circulation and lobby areas with a mixture of seating.
  • Wayfinding signage is very limited in this building.
  • There are no manual doors in the circulation corridors.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • There are 5 toilets with adaptations.
  • Toilets with adaptations are located on the LG, G, 1, 2 and 3.
  • All toilets with adaptations have a left hand transfer space.
  • The male toilet facilities are located on the LG, G, 1, 2 and 3 floors.
  • The female toilet facilities are located on the LG, G, 1, 2 and 3 floors.
  • The shower facilities which have adaptations are located on the LG floor.
  • Standard shower facilities are located on the LG floor.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Entrance (Accessible Entrance)

  • This entrance is located to the right side of the building.
  • 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 towards you.
  • There is a push pad at a height of 103cm.
  • The width of the opening is 100cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a medium visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 109cm.
  • The entrance and exit pads are key card activated.

Reception

  • The reception is located to the right of the accessible entrance.
  • The distance from the accessible entrance is 4m.
  • The most accessible route to reception has automatic doors.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 75cm.
  • There is not a lowered section at the desk.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • Some flooring is shiny.
  • 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: stools.
  • There are security barriers with a wider opening which are operated by key card.
  • The width of the accessible security barriers is 91cm.
    They are located at either end of the row of security barriers.
    There is not a hearing loop located at the reception, although there is signage.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located on the ground floor beyond the security barriers.
  • The distance from the accessible entrance is 23m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and automatic doors.
  • The LG, G, 1, 2 and 3 floors are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a low 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 low visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 107cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 120cm (width) x 229cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have a low visual contrast and tactile markings.
  • 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 and an audible announcer.
  • There are other lifts available at this location which are of a similar size.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located to the left of the lifts.
  • The Lower Ground, Ground, 1, 2 and 3 floors can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ 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 between 30cm and 45cm.

Toilet with Adaptations (Lower Ground Floor - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the lower ground floor.
    • The distance from the lift is 25m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has a lift, step-free level access and automatic doors.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens inwards and has a low visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 95cm.
    • The door has a locking handle.
    • Internally the door has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 500cm (width) x 298cm (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, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 437cm (from the side of the toilet pan to the wall).
    • There is a lever flush on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 46cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a high 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 colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 86cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 73cm 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 high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a medium visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 122cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 89cm 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 waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.

Shower with Adaptations (Within the Toilet with Adaptations - Lower Ground Floor)

  • Location and Access View
    • There is a very slight slope around the shower chair.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre in the shower (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is an adjustable shower head which can also be detached.
    • The shower controls are twist turn mixer.
    • There is a flip-down shower seat.
    • The shower seat is 42cm from the floor.
    • There are grab rails and dropdown rails for the shower.
    • The grab rail has a low visual contrast.
    • The dropdown rails have a low visual contrast.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm for the shower within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a full length mirror.
    • The facility has a waste bin and a nappy/incontinence items bin.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the right of the main entrance.
    • The distance from the accessible entrance is 7m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access and automatic doors.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a low visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 96cm.
    • The door has a locking handle.
    • Internally the door has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 196cm (width) x 198cm (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 124cm (from the side of the toilet pan to the wall).
    • There is a spatula flush on the non-transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a medium colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 90cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 71cm 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 high 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 118cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 96cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is no mirror.
    • There is an unobstructed shelf.
    • The shelf does not meet the AccessAble criteria for Stoma Friendly Toilets.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.

Toilet with Adaptations (First Floor - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the first floor.
    • The distance from the lift is 21m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access, a lift and automatic doors.
    • 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 low visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 96cm.
    • The door has a locking handle.
    • Internally the door has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 153cm (width) x 198cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 85cm (from the side of the toilet pan to the wall).
    • There is a spatula flush on the non-transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 46cm 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 high colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 108cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 68cm 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 high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 118cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 88cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a full length mirror.
    • There is a shelf, however there is an obstruction in front of it.
    • The shelf meets the AccessAble criteria for Stoma Friendly Toilets.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.