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Student Union - Graves Building

Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TG

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Access Guide

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Introduction

Getting Here

Useful Information

Building Parking

  • The building does not have its own dedicated parking.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
    • There is step free access at this entrance, via lift.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • A UCard is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the card reader/lock is 66cm (2ft 2in).
    • There is not 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 132cm (4ft 4in).
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
  • 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 heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 152cm (4ft 12in).

Lift (Main Entrance)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located immediately beyond the entrance.
  • The lift is a stair lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are G, LG.
  • Wall mounted information boards are not provided at lift landings.
  • The weight limit for the lift is 225kg.
  • The lift is approximately 1m (3ft 3in) from the main entrance.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 81cm (2ft 8in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 81cm x 101cm (2ft 8in x 3ft 4in).
  • There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • The lift does not have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does not 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 bright.

Outside Access (Interval Garden Area)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the rear of the building.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is not 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 105cm (3ft 5in).
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is located in front of the entrance.
    • The ramp/slope gradient is slight.
    • The ramp is permanent.
    • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp.
    • The ramp does not have handrails.

Entrance (Link Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located in the adjoining Link building.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is an intercom.
    • The height of the intercom is 110cm (3ft 7in).
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 174cm (5ft 9in).
  • Second Set of Doors View
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • 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 170cm (5ft 7in).
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a/are step(s) at this entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are located leading down to the entrance.
    • There is / are 5 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 have handrails.
    • The handrails are on both sides going up.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the lower ground floor.
    • There is/are 3 clearly marked step(s), with handrails on both sides, for access to the ground floor standard toilets.
    • The step(s) is/are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps are se shown in photographs 2 and 3. Photograph 3 shows 2 similar steps leading to this area from the raised seating area.
    • There is/are 9 clearly marked step(s), with no handrails, for access to the first floor upper corridor.
    • The step(s) is/are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The first floor steps are shown in photographs 7 and 8.
  • 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 play background music.
    • Music is played in the cafĂ©/bar.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1.
    • The stairs are located to the left as you enter.
    • The stairs are approximately 1m from the main entrance.
    • There are 15+ steps between 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 both sides.
    • There is a landing.
  • Other View
    • The area(s)/service(s) on the floors which are not accessible is/are staff offices.

Eating and Drinking (Interval)

  • Location and Access View
    • The following information is for the restaurant/bar.
    • The restaurant/bar is located to the rear of the ground floor.
    • There is step-free access to the restaurant/bar.
  • Service and Menus View
    • Tables can be booked in advance.
    • There is a bar where food and drink can be ordered and table service (on request only).
    • Staff can bring food and/or drinks to tables.
    • Menu types include; handheld menus 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 available.
    • This area does play background music.
    • Background music is played at all times, the volume can be adjusted if requested.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system .
  • Service Counter(s) View
    • The height of the counter is 116cm.
    • The height of the lowered section at the counter is 105cm.
    • 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 wood and laminate.
    • Lighting levels can be adjusted by a member of staff upon request.
  • Tables and Seating View
    • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • The majority of tables are accessible to wheelchair users.
    • The distance 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 72cm.
    • The standard height for the underside of dining tables is 72cm.
    • There are also high tables.
    • The surface height of the highest table is 97cm.
    • No tables are permanently fixed.
    • Some chairs are permanently fixed.
    • No chairs have armrests on both sides.
    • The type of flooring in this area is wood and laminate.
    • There is some flooring which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • There is some flooring which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located to the right from the entrance lift.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 4m (4yd 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 pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is heavy.
    • The door is locked by a sliding bolt.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 86cm (2ft 10in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is good.
    • The door does not have a horizontal grab rail.
  • Toilet Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 210cm x 290cm (6ft 11in x 9ft 6in).
    • The accessible toilet does have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The lighting levels are 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 142cm (4ft 8in).
    • There is a flush, however it is not 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 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 fair.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
    • There is a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are female sanitary and nappy/incontinence items bin disposal units.
    • There is a/are coat hook(s).
    • The height of the coat hook is 131cm from the floor.
  • 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 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 not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 86cm (2ft 10in).
    • The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is poor.
    • 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 73cm (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.
    • 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 107cm.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the hand dryer is 104cm (3ft 5in).
    • The contrast between the hand dryer and the wall is poor.
  • 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 94cm.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The female and male toilets are located to the right as you enter.
    • There is stepped access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 9m from the main entrance.
    • 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 82cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
    • Lighting levels are good.