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Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience (Physiology Building)

University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Downing Place, Cambridge, CB2 3DY

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step-free and level.
  • The Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience (Physiology Building) has one entrance, which provides step-free level access to the reception on the mezzanine floor.
    There are double manual doors with one leaf locked, followed by a single permanently-held open door with a locked extension leaf at this entrance.
  • The entrance is signed as "Physiology.".
  • The Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience (Physiology Building) has one entrance, which provides step-free level access to the reception on the mezzanine floor. From here, a platform lift gives access to floor A, from which floors B-I can be reached via the main lift.
    Floor J is accessible by stairs only.
    .

Getting Around

  • There is not step-free level access throughout the building.
  • On Floor C, there are 6 clearly-marked steps, 19cm high and with a tread depth below 30cm, to access office C6. These have a handrail on the right going up.
    Additionally, there are 6 clearly-marked steps, 19cm high and with a tread depth below 30cm, to access meeting room C4. These have a handrail on the right going up.
  • On floor D, there is a steep ramp to access the toilet with adaptations, standard toilets, small meeting room D1 and the Hodgkin Huxley seminar room D2. This has a handrail on the right going up.
    On floor F, there are 4 clearly-marked steps, 16cm high and with a tread depth between 30cm and 45cm, to access rooms F1 - F11. These do not have any handrails.
  • On floor H, there are 3 clearly-marked steps, 14cm high and with a tread depth below 30cm, to access room H21. These have a handrail on the right going up.
    What is marked as floor I in the main lift (and with step-free level access from the main entrance via this lift) is treated as a part of floor H according to signage on the room doors. There are 5 clearly-marked steps, 16cm high and with a tread depth between 30cm and 45cm here (between floor H and floor I according to the main lift). They have a handrail on the right going up.
    From "floor I" (rooms H24 and H25), there are then a further 5 clearly-marked steps, 14cm high and with a tread depth below 30cm, up to access room H19, as well as the standard shared toilet and toilet with adaptations on floor H. These do not have any handrails.
    There is then a slight ramp with no handrails to access rooms H1-H12 and the stairs to floor J.
  • Floor surfaces along most circulation routes consist of hard, smooth, shiny vinyl flooring, with some small areas having low pile carpet.
  • There are resting areas in some circulation and lobby areas with a mixture of seating.
  • Wall-mounted floor signage is provided on the main stairs. There is limited wall-mounted wayfinding signage provided elsewhere in the building.
  • There are some manual doors along circulation routes throughout the building.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There are 2 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located on floor D and the upper part of floor H.
    • All toilets with adaptations have a left hand transfer space.
    • The male and female toilet facilities are located on floor B and floor D.
    • The shared toilet facilities are located on floor E and floor H.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Entrance (Main Entrance)

  • This entrance is located to the front of the building.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a key pad at a height of 145cm.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 141cm.
  • There is also a bell at a height of 120cm. All three of these are required only for out of hours access.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance, however one door is locked.
  • The doors open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 74cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a medium visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 138cm.
  • The push button is only required to exit out of hours.
  • There is a second single manual door.
  • The door has a locked extension leaf.
  • The second door is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 97cm.
  • The second door has a medium visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 140cm.
  • There is a key card reader at a height of 134cm at the second set of doors, used only for out of hours access. There is also a bell at a height of 144cm, but it is out of use.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Reception

  • The reception is located straight ahead as you pass through the first set of doors at the main entrance.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 2m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 109cm.
  • There is not a lowered section at the desk.
  • The reception has glazed screens.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • Some flooring is shiny and patterned.
  • 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.
  • Furniture available in this area includes: coffee tables.
  • The chairs are fixed.

Lift (Platform Lift)

  • The lift surveyed is located straight ahead as you enter through the second set of doors at the main entrance.
  • This lift is a platform lift.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 5m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The reception mezzanine level and floor A are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a medium visual contrast.
  • The lift does not have a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have a medium visual contrast and tactile markings.
  • Some of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 79cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 78cm (width) x 132cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings and a high visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift is slow moving and the button needs to be pressed constantly when in use.
  • Internally the lift has: a separate door to exit.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Stairs (Reception Mezzanine Floor to Floor A - Bypassed by Platform Lift)

  • The stairs surveyed are located straight ahead as you enter through the second set of doors at the main entrance.
  • The reception mezzanine floor and floor A can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 7 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 do not 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 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Stairs (Reception Mezzanine Floor to Floor C)

  • The stairs surveyed are located to the right as you enter through the second set of doors at the main entrance.
  • The reception mezzanine floor and floor C can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 17 steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have a handrail on the right going up.
  • The handrail is easy to grip.
  • The handrail does not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail does not 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 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Lift (Main Lift)

  • The lift surveyed is located in the centre of the building.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 21m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and a platform lift.
  • Floors A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I 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 medium visual contrast.
  • Some of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 88cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 93cm (width) x 201cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have a medium visual contrast and tactile markings.
  • The majority of the internal controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a separate door to exit, a visual floor indicator and a list of floor services/facilities.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.

Stairs (Main Stairs)

  • The stairs surveyed are located in the centre of the building.
  • Floors A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 12 steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have a handrail on the right going up.
  • The handrail is easy to grip.
  • The handrail does not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail does not 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 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Stairs (Upper Part of Floor H to Floor J)

  • The stairs surveyed are located at the far end of the upper part of floor H, at the top of the ramp.
  • Floor H (upper part) and floor J can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 17 steps between floors.
  • The steps have low visual contrast markings and have a handrail on the right going up.
  • The handrail is easy to grip.
  • The handrail covers the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail does not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is not between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 22cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were low at the time of the survey.

Toilet with Adaptations (Floor D - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the rear of floor D, up the ramp opposite the main stairs.
    • The distance from the main lift is 8m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has a steep ramp or slope.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 87cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high 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 150cm (width) x 211cm (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.
    • The lateral transfer space is 78cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • 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 low visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a low 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 low visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 110cm 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 low visual contrast.
    • There is a soap dispenser, however it is not wall mounted.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 128cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm, however it is not 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.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.