Skip to main content

Firth Court - West Block

Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN

View Accessibility Symbols

Accessibility Symbols

For more information about what these symbols mean, view our Accessibility Symbols Guide.

Close this popup window.

Access Guide

Show Easy Read

Introduction

  • Services / facilities within the building include the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology - labs and staff offices; the Krebs Institute for Biomolecular Research; the Bateson Centre - labs and Prayer Room.
  • This block is accessed internally from Firth Hall and the North Block.
    Please see the separate guides to these buildings for access and parking information.
    There is a step free access route on floor D through this building, and all the Firth Court blocks, from the Perak Laboratories to the Addison Building and into the Alfred Denny Building from there.
    An authorised UCard is required to access some areas of this route.
  • Firth Court - Firth Hall link (new tab) - click here.
  • Firth Court - North Block link (new tab) - click here.

Rooms and Spaces Links

Getting Here

Useful Information

Building Parking

  • The building does not have its own dedicated parking.

Outside Access (West Quadrangle Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located to the north west of the Quadrangle.
    • There is ramped/sloped or stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • The height of the card reader/lock is 134cm (4ft 5in).
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 172cm (5ft 8in).
  • Second Set of Doors View
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The door(s) is / are permanently held open (at the time of the survey).
    • The width of the door opening is 114cm (3ft 9in).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is located immediately beyond the entrance.
    • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
    • The ramp/slope gradient is steep.
    • The ramp is permanent.
    • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp.
    • The ramp does not have handrails.
    • The width of the ramp is 113cm (3ft 8in).
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a / are step(s) at this entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are located immediately beyond the entrance.
    • There is / are 3 step(s) to access the entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are clearly marked.
    • The step(s) is / are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do not have handrails.

Entrance (Firth Hall Link Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located in the corridor to the front left of Firth Hall.
    • There is step free access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The door(s) is / are permanently held open (at the time of the survey).
    • The width of the door opening is 144cm (4ft 9in).
  • Comments View
    • There are similar entrances on the floors above.
    • The heavy double doors on Level D are 144cm wide.

Entrance (North Block Link Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located on the upper floors between the North and West Blocks.
    • There is step free access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 152cm (4ft 12in).
  • Comments View
    • There are similar entrance on the levels above.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the majority of the building.
    • There are doors in corridors which have to be opened manually.
  • Getting Around View
    • There is clear signage for building facilities/areas in the foyer/reception area.
    • There is clearly written directional signage at key points of circulation routes.
    • There is some flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • There is some flooring in corridors which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
    • There is good colour contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • This building does not play background music.
    • There is a hearing assistance system.
    • The system is a fixed loop.
    • There are hearing loops located within some lecture theatres and teaching rooms, please refer to each section for details.
    • Staff are trained to use the hearing system.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are C, D, E, F.
    • The stairs are located at the West Quadrangle entrance.
    • The stairs are approximately 2m from the West Quadrangle entrance.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • There are manual, heavy, double doors to access the stairwell on all floors.
    • The lighting levels are bright.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on the right going up.
    • There is a landing.
    • Rooms G3 - G7 are accessed by 2 sets of 15+ deep, clearly marked, steps off the floor F corridor (photographs 5 and 6). There are also similar stairs in Firth Hall which access all the floors in this building.
  • Other View
    • The area(s)/service(s) on the floors which are not accessible is/are the tutorial and meeting rooms, prayer room, and staff offices on floor G.

Lift

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located to the rear of the building.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are C, D, E, F.
  • Wall mounted information boards are not provided at lift landings.
  • The weight limit for the lift is 680kg.
  • The lift is approximately 55m (60yd 5in) from the Firth Hall Link Entrance.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 119cm (3ft 11in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 98cm x 148cm (3ft 3in x 4ft 10in).
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does have an audible announcer.
  • The lift does not have a hearing enhancement system.
  • The lift does not have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • The lighting level in the lift is medium.

Prayer Room

  • The prayer room is located on Level H, accessed via the stairs from Firth Hall.
  • There is not level access to this level.
  • There are no ablution facilities for this prayer room.

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located on Level F, to the left from the lift.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 60m (65yd 1ft) from the lift.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet, via lift.
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is tactile and pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is fair.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is heavy.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 87cm (2ft 10in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is fair.
    • 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 150cm x 200cm (4ft 11in x 6ft 7in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The height of the light switch/pull cord is 85cm from floor level.
    • The lighting levels are low to moderate.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 79cm (2ft 7in).
    • There is a flush 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 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 good.
    • 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 female sanitary and general waste (with no lid) 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.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is good.
    • 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 106cm (3ft 6in).
    • 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).
    • The height of the wash basin is 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the left hand side of the wash basin.
    • The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever.
    • There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 106cm.
    • 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 fair.
    • There is not a hand dryer.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The male toilet is located on Level D, to the right from the lift.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s), via lift.
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 19m from the lift.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is fair.
    • 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 88cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is push.
    • Lighting levels are good.