BYTNAR - TALKS
EPISODE 030 - APPROVED DOCUMENT M - ACCESS TO AND USE OF BUILDINGS - VOLUME 2
This episode is for people who want to know more about Approved Document Part M – Access to and Use of Buildings– Volume 2 – Buildings Other Than Dwellings.
You should like this episode if you ask yourself questions like:
What is the Approved Document M and how does it relate to building accessibility?
What are the accessibility requirements for new buildings according to Approved Document M?
How does the Equality Act 2010 influence building accessibility standards?
What are the guidelines for creating accessible routes to building entrances?
What features must entrances have to comply with Approved Document M?
How should horizontal and vertical circulation be designed in non-residential buildings?
What facilities must be accessible in public buildings under Approved Document M?
What are the requirements for accessible sanitary accommodations in public buildings?
Are there specific dimensions or standards for ramps and pathways to ensure accessibility?
This is Bytnar Talks the Engineer Takes on Construction Episode 30 hi I'm Piotr Bytnar each day I help my clients plan and design building projects through Bytnar Limited a Consulting Chartered Structural Engineers practice my biggest passion and the cornerstone on which I've built my business is finding clever solutions for construction projects I am a chartered structural engineer and a buddying software developer. so you can rest assured that I will strive to talk about the best practices and the use of new technologies in the industry and if you're embarking on a construction project or are involved in planning designing and building the world around us you'll find this podcast useful approv document M access to and of buildings volume two buildings other than dwellings hi and welcome to bitnar talks your favorite podcast on all matters of architecture engineering and construction it is Sunday the 13th of October 2024 and I'm here back with you with the 30th episode and information on approved document M access to and use of buildings volume two buildings udit and dwellings it's been another bus buy period including a smashing day at this year's Kent construction Expo 2024 at our stand 365 we had the pleasure to meet and greet many great people of Kent's construction sector we were luckily placed next to the Brunell theater do not mistake forbid now where many great people were addressing building safety act it was great to see people hopefully standing in the queue before the doors of the theat opened and talk talking to to us and then seeing them more confused than ever before when they when they left the doors of the theater no doubt the building safety act takes time to get used to and we'll see some amendments in near future all right never mind the day is gone let's move on to this [Music] episode the last episode treated on the accessibility of dwellings let's get quickly through the rec up and see what was covered last week in the last episode I talked about the first volume of the approved document M access to and use of buildings dealing with dwellings in section zero which always directs us into a meaning of it all the document covered access and usability requirements for new dwellings and material alterations excluding extensions it categorizes dwellings into visitable m41 accessible and adaptable m42 and wichter user m43 dwellings that is requirement M4 and paragraph 1 2 and three planning permission May impose optional requirements which are this for the paragraph two and three part M takes precedence over part K in cases of conflict and should be used alongside the equality act and other regulations Section one category one visitable dwellings visitable dwellings must enure basic access for disabled visitors a toilet should be available on the entry or principal floor with step-free access and re reachable controls for individuals with limited Mobility section 1A approach to the dwelling covers the approach it must be safe unobstructed at least 900 mm wide with a surface that's not slippery ramps and step RS must meet gradient and size requirements communal entrances must be accessible with doorways at least 7 75 mm wide and lifts should accommodate wheelchairs section 1B private entrances and spaces within the dwellings private entrances should provide level access with internal doorways and corridors wide enough for wheelchairs water closet facilities must allow wheelchair access and electrical fixture should be installed at accessible Heights section two covers categ two accessible and adaptable dwellings these dwellings should accommodate diverse needs allowing future adaptation for disabled or ear elderly occupants the design should allow easy modification like installing grab rails or ster lifts without major structural changes section 2A covers approach to that dwellings approaches must provide step-free access allowing for future adaptability ramps entrances and routes should be designed to support easy modifications to meet changing accessibility needs over time section 2B covers private entrances and spaces within the dwelling where internal spaces should be adaptable for future needs ensuring during ensuring door wids and circulation areas accommodate AIDS or adaptations this design flexibility ures that spaces remain accessible as occupants needs evolve and then we move to section three which is category three dwellings which are wheelchair user dwellings these dwellings must either be fully accessible to wheelchair users or adaptable to meet their needs if planning requires Category 3 compliance this standards override Category 2 Section 3A deals with approach to the dwelling approach routes must offer step free access from parking or extended our areas with ramps stairs and lifts designed to accommodate wheelchairs this ensures full accessibility from any point to the dwelling section 3B private entrances and spaces within the dwelling private entrances must be level with doorways rooms and circulation spaces spaces designed for full wheelchair use kitchens bathrooms and other facilities should be preconfigured or adaptable to meet wheelchair users needs in this episode I will move to approve document M access to and use of buildings volume two buildings other than dwellings luckily a new change to the regulation just kicked in last week hence we are fresh on the delivery so without further Ado let's dive straight into this in this episode I'll talk about the statutory guidance contained within the approved document M access to and use of buildings Volume 2 buildings other than dwellings the requirements of part M are contained within four parts but only the part one to three are applicable to buildings other than dwellings I will therefore start with reading you the requirements M1 M2 and M3 paragraphs and then move to what is covered in the approved document all these three requirements are covered in five SE sections of the documents section 0 1 2 3 4 and 5 so let's get into the nitty-gritty of this approved [Music] document all right guys starting with the text of the legislation access to and use of buildings ordered than dwellings requirement M1 reasonable reasonable provision must be made for people to a gain access to and B use the bill building and its facilities requirement M1 does not apply to any part of a building that is used solely to enable the building or any service or fitting in the building to be inspected repaired or maintained requirement M2 which deals with access to extensions to buildings or the than dwellings suitable independent access must be provided to the to the extension where reasonably practicable requirement M2 does not apply where suitable access to the extension is provided through the building that is extended it now sanitary conveniences in extensions to buildings ordered and dwellings requirement and3 if sanitary conveniences are provided in any building that is to be extended reasonable provision shall be made within the extension for sanitary conveniences required requirement M3 does not apply where there is reasonable provision for sanitary conveniences elsewhere in the building such that people occupied occupied in or otherwise having occasion to enter the extension can gain access to and use those sanitary conveniences as however the requirements are simple the interpretation of them may not be such though but the only dictionary between us and the legislators are approved documents so let's have a look what does this one say starting with the section zero which follows the typical introduction of the guidance the legislator is happy that the requirement is met if it meets the performance allowing everyone who wants to gain access to the building or within the building or to use the building facilities to do so without inhibitation concerning their age gender or disability and that goes for visitors and people who work there the requirements apply to new buildings as well as the existing buildings that undergo material alteration extension or material change of use to a hotel boring house institution public building or a shop the guidance also reminds us about the equity act 2010 to think about as an employer about physical bias created by features in the building when it comes to the extensions these should be treated as new builds so the accessibility needs to be addressed in some way and it concerns the route all the way from the side boundary or on side car parking to the new building similarly with sanitary conveniences Provisions in either case we can rely on the existing building to provide it but it needs to be appropriate and if it is not we may need to think about upgrade should we like to use it instead of providing such in the new building now as material alterations cannot make the situation worse and material change of use will likely lead to the necessity of an upgrade in the gist when the requirement M applies people should be able to navigate to and in between buildings or buildings and should be aided whenever needed and possible educational establishments should have proper regard to the requirements and in the case of historical buildings some concessions may need to be made as designers or specifiers we need to demonstrate to the building control how we address the functional requirements of the regulation which in most cases will be by following this document moving on to section one which deals with access to buildings which covers guess what access to buildings access is considered from the boundary or park into the building and between buildings within a complex many things to consider here including people with different abilities traversing these routes the document directs us to the publication called inclusive Mobility a guide to best practice on access to pedestrian and transport infrastructure for the detailed Guidance the section then goes on to cover level approach from the boundary of the side and car parking ons side car parking and setting down ramped access stepped access hand rails to external stepped and ramped access Hazard on access routes level approach from the boundary or parking space should be exactly that leveled for as long as it's possible gradients over one in 20 should be ramped surface should be easy through Traverse and wide enough to allow uninhibited passing by users generally at least 1.8 m wide but down to 1.2 M may be acceptable in certain more constrained circumstances people should not be prone to hurting themselves when passing around the perimeter of the building under all light conditions the level approach should be at least 1 and 1/2 M wide with passing places and threee of obstructions to the a height of 2.1 M passing places should be 1.8 m wide and at least 2 m long and space no further than 50 m apart but visible between each other so that the users can plan to rest at one to all or to allow passing of someone else cross fall to be Max one in 40 and gradient usually Max one to 60 generally but if ramped it can be up to 1 in 20 with a landing every 500 mm rise the surface should be firm durable and sleep resistant with undulation no more than 3 mm and 1 M straight edge for formless materials in the material used varies along the way it should maintain its frictional characteristics you know the feeling when you slip all of a sudden when stepping on the wet floor in the stores yeah we want to avoid that for Paving the units should be leveled to within 5 mm difference with joints up to 10 mm when filled and 5 mm when not filled the route to the principle engine should be well lit and signed walking puth should be generally separated from the vehicular axis but when there is a crossover it should be marked with buff colored blister surface you know the stuff you see at every pedestrian crossing the size of it should be at least 1.2 M wide and and 800 mm deep to give enough warning to people people with impaired s onsite car parking and setting down should be sufficient for people wishing to access the side by car Mobility impaired people should not struggle to get out of the car and onto the wheelchair or generally to go about the car and access the main access to the building British standard 8,300 gives guidance on the provision of parking base for different building types ticket dispensing dispensing machines vehicle control barriers and multistory car Parks this standard will be generally applicable in many different circumstances for this buildings so whenever you go about designing such building BS 8,300 will be a handy companion for you disabled parking Bay should be positioned as close to the principal entrance as possible on the level ground be at least 3.6 M wide and 6 M long allowing 1.2 M Zone to the side of the car and it's back all front depending how you'll Park a dropped cab will be needed when accessing The Pedestrian route and the surface needs to be sound sleep resistant and not angulating more than 3 mm per 1 M straight edge ticket machines will need to have controls at 750 mm to 1200 mm above the ground for setting down Point surface should also be proper the space clearly Mark and as close to the building access entrance as possible and level where it's so to allow easy access ramp's requirements should follow part K unless part M says otherwise it is beneficial to have ramp and steps when needed and for gradients up to 1 in 20 Landing should be every 500 mm rise but Max every 10 m of flight length and for maximum gradients of 1 in 12 the going should be no more than 2 m or each 16 166 mm rise railing should be provided on both sides should be lit and of good surface it is all about providing easy access for all different types of disabilities some people will be better at walking some will need one-sided support some will struggle to propel or stop a wheelchair therefore the access route should be as easy for them as is feasible when the total race is more than 2 m and Minds you that the longest going is 10 m for 500 100 mm rise we will need to provide an alternative access lift could do the trick or an alternative entrance Ram should be at least 1.5 M wide with Landing STP and bottom of of at least 1.2 M length and any intermediate Landing of 1.2 1.5 M length at least 1.8 m by 1.8 m Landings for passing should be provided if the users cannot see the the other side of the ramp all the ramp has three or three or more flights Landings should be leveled but Max gradient of one in 60 and cross fall of one in 40 with hundreds on both sides ramp should have at least 100 mm height visually distinct curb on its open side and clearly signposted stairs for the level change of at least 300 mm meaning two steps the stepped aess should be be marked to signal to the vision impaired people that it is there especially at the top where the hazard of falling down the flight upstairs is the greatest frictional characteristics of all surfaces form in the axis so Rams Landing stairs should be similar steps should not be slippery and easily to identify avoiding open Rises further guidance can be sought guess where in British standard A3000 level Landings is a must to top and bottom of at least 1.2 M length with so-called cold droy Hazard warning top and bottom to alert people of impending stairs it will need to be long enough so no one can stride over it without noticing so at least 800 mm wide when the approach is head on and half T if we need to turn to go on the stairs the spacing of the hazard marking and the stairs to be 400 MM top and bottom certain requirements for the spacing of strips in and their size is also provided in document being 20 mm rips at 6 mm elevation with gaps of 30 mm between them there should be no single steps Max 12 Rises for goings less than 300 50 mm and 18 for goings greater than 350 mm contrasting nosing markers of at least 55 mm width should be placed at the rising and going part of the step and the nosings to be more than to be no more than 25 mm Rays should be between 150 and 170 mm and going between 280 and 425 mm preferred dimensions for school stairs are though 150 mm rise and 200 mm going Rays may be different adjacent to existing buildings but that needs to be agreed with the building control Riser should be open and stairs should have continuous handrail on each side of the stairs and Landing extra wide stairs should be divided into not less than 1 M portions but not greater than 1.8 m width sections giving that OD jump to 2 m when the stairs become more than 1.8 m wide hand rails as however 300 mm post the bottom and top nosing at between 900 to 1 M height over the pitch line of the stairs H should be grippable soft to touch and preferably usable as a forearm support it should be rigidly supported and anyway from the wall to avoid away from the wall to avoid finger gripping which means at least 50 mm away from from from the wall and any other points where your fingers could get snapped in between round hand rail should be between 32 and 50 mm diameter and other shape should be rounded at edges with radius of minimum 50 mm but otherwise to be 50 mm wide and 39 mm deep a diagram shows some additional Dimensions that are worth considering it should not protrude overly into the stairs to impede its use usually the limit is set at 100 mm protrusion which is allowed Hazard on access routes are generally addressed in sections of approved document K section 6 and 10 in their gist though there should be no protrusion permanent or temporarily that could injure a pedest during normal use of the access route off to section two which addresses access into buildings in that gist it is again we need to consider all users of the building and that access into the building should be easy to use for all and as Hazard free as possible the document goes on to cover accessible entrances doors to accessible entrances manually operated non-powered entrance doors powered entrance doors glass doors and glaze screens entrance lobes accessible entrances May sometimes be difficult to be part of the principal access route in such circumstances we need to provide an alternative entry point such entrance should also be clearly signposted the entry threshold should not cause unduly difficulty for wheelchairs or trip hazards ideally they should be leveled but provide weather protection accessible entrances should be clearly signed and guess what there are expectations for the type of the signage also which should be clearly visible and Incorporated The Intern national symbol of access the signage should be visible from the edge of the site and from the principal entrance if it is not accessible accessible entrance should be clearly identifiable among other elements of the building Landing in front of the doors should be clear and proper easy for use by wheelchair so 1 and 1/2 M by 1 and 1/2 M turning space is generally needed level threshold is preferred but otherwise cannot be higher than 50 mm and any abstant over 5 mm should be rounded or chamfered any door access system needs to be accessible to death and and hard of hearing people and people who cannot speak whether protection should be provided at manual nonp powerered entrance doors the flow material behind the doors should be able should be also good for wheelchair user and if the entrance is is the alternative the internal accessible route should be provided to the space otherwise accessible by the primary entrance those two accessible entrances should be easy to use by all and be capable of being held closed when not in use power or manual operated it does not matter it should should be noted that the self closing doors capable of closing Against the Wind forces with draft proofing are not likely to be user friendly so preference is given to power assisted those preferably or prefer sliding doors people should be able to see other people approaching from the other side So to avoid Collision but in special circumstances for security or privacy reasons those may be obscured figures wise it means that the door if operated manually should be easy to do so using less than 30 Newtons of force at the Leading Edge of the opening from 0 to 30° and 22 and A2 Newton from 30° to 60° this is universal for any doors anywhere in the building for used by used by wheelchair users used by people that are less able to move around effective clear width of the door will be between 750 mm to 775 mm in existing buildings and for new buildings between 800 mm and 1 m in both cases former is for straight on approach or to the side of 1 and 1/2 M wide axess route or in general public access building and approach to the side of the smaller access route tables and diagrams show nicely the dimensions and clearances required so have a look at these for manual doors we need to think easy use and a 300 mm nip to the Leading Edge of the doors operated manually the latches and those should be pleasant to touch and be operated with a closed fist unfortunately the not all can rely on the dexterity of the hand and fingers powered entrance doors should be easy and safe to use along people enough time to react to the movement the elements used to prepare them manually should be clearly visible it should be noted that revolving doors are not considered accessible so such should be provided immediately adjacent and signposted other doors the doors should be easy to operate using a closed fist far away from the leading edge of the door and if the doors are opening towards the traffic it should let the people know with with audio and light that they are opening these doors should not open into access routes controls should be at least at the level between 750 and 1 m above the floor level glass doors and glaz screens should be visible so people do not walk into them and they will be if they follow recommendation of section seven of the approved document k so let's talk about the entrance lobbies now the document gives us a handy diagram with six different Arrangements showing different doors arrangements and their locations in the G there should be enough space to operate the wheelchair and open the door so typically 300 mm nip at the Leading Edge and at least, 1570 mm length and 1200 mm wide Lobby the actual size will depend which way the doors open the lobby should be easy to Traverse and free of Hazards if there are elements that protrude more than 100 mm into the lobby this should be protected by clearly visible guard rails now section three addresses horizontal and vertical circulation in buildings other than dwellings it is all about moving uned and with ease around the building especially for the wheelchair user this section goes to cover entrance hall and reception area internal doors corridors and passageways internal lobes vertical circulation within the building provision of lifting devices General requirements for lifting devices passenger lifts lifting platforms wheelchair platform stair lifts internal stairs internal ramps hundreds to internal steps stairs and ramps so plenty starting with the entrance hole and reception area this being the first point of contact with the building need to be particularly easy to navigate and move around if there is a reception desk part of it should be at a lower level to be able to talk sitting on both sides of the counter we always think about all users visitors and stuff alike we should think about the choice of materials and layouts so people who need to LEAP read or here badly can gain appropriate information from either reception stuff or notice boards so ideally the reception desk should be away from the entrance to alleviate external noise issues but it should remain visible and easily accessible from the doors witch will need a bit of maneuvering space in front of the desk and the extent will depend on whether there is a knee space at the desk of at least 500 mm or not so 1200 d by 1,00 mm wide in the former case and 1400 14400 by 2 200 in latter and the reception desk should be able to accommodate both seated and standing visitors so at least one section of it for at least 1 and A2 meter at a level not higher than 7 760 M mm should be provided with a near recess of at least 700 mm all the enhancements should be provided as well as the floor should remain sleep resistant regarding internal door this should be open whenever possible or of proper size and detail and easy to open in Fire case scenario that may be achieved by release magnets if need be as however BS 8300 offers some additional guidance on those systems doors whether opened or closed should also be apparent for visually impaired people so in real terms think how much force we need to open the doors with the 30 and 22 and A2 Newtons are Universal the clear width of doors between 750 and 1 M depending on the position of the approach if it's an existing building or a new 300 mm nip to the Leading Edge unless the doors are automatic or lead to a standard hotel bedroom be be capable to Open Door LS with closed feets fists or opening them with FS that would be something surely some people can door opening Furniture contra with the doors and door frames contrast with the wall if the door remains open the edge should contrast also so no one walks into the open doors also think Vision panels to Door leaves wider than 450 mm providing the view of other side at the level of 500 to 1500 mm above Flor level glass doors to be Mark so visible and electromagnetic door holders to relase self closing doors when activ ated by the alarm system or when the power supply fails and activated by a hand operated switch fire doors should be generally closed by a swing free device especially if leading to individual rooms any power operating swing door system should be operational in all states manually power assist assisted or in power mode corridors and passageways should be wide enough for a wheelchair to reverse or people with luggage and crutches to pass each other some localized narrowing however may be necessary but that should not in general make the corridor unusable the contrast between walls and ceilings and floor should be considered as well as the good use of materials colors textures and lights to assist people with s impairments the acoustic of the places should also be as natural as possible avoiding excessive rev vibration or absorption of sound so there should be at least 12200 mm wide in general some protections into the some projections into the space may be unavoidable but in general their width is less than 1,800 mm we need to provide such at intervals for people to pass each other so that space 1.8 m by 1.8 m every now and again will be likely needed and is well placed at Corridor Junctions generally gradient should shouldn't be more than one in 60 and if needed gradient steeper than one in 20 should be treated as an internal ramp for in between gradients every 500 mm rise we need to provide a rest place of 1 and 1/2 M long typically no doors open onto the passageway and any sloping are identified and edged when needed utility or cboard doors may open onto the corridor unisex accessible toilets doors May project onto not main or Escape Routes if the route is at least 1 and 1/2 M wide on the same Escape Route all doors to be of the same orientation so people do not guess between doors which way or how to open them textures anti-s sleep surfaces and manifested glass in general should be used for schools preferred Locker Corridor should be 2.7 M wide internal lobes in the gist there need to be enough space between the doors for a wheelchair user to use both uned typically 1,570 mm between the door swings at least 1200 mm wide but though plus 300 mm nip whichever is the greater glazing to not distract people any projections into the width to be visible and guard railed and there should be no trioset between different materials typically pavement to m m to internal surface vertical circulation should ideally be served by a lift always by an ambulant person accessible stairs maybe also ramps readily Apparent from the lift flow identification should be provided at each level lifts are always the most suitable for all lifting platforms may be used in constrained situations or even a wheelchair platform St LIF but it's all within the reason and allowing proper circulation of people when such are in use General requirements for lifting devices are included in other legislation concerning lifts including lifting equipment and even management of health and safety at work act think lift regulations 1997 lifting operations and lifting equipment regulation 1998 the provision and use of work equipment regulations 1998 the management of health and safety at work regulations 1999 and and on lighting should be proper balanced and people should not have difficulty operating the lift space in front of the lift should be the typical 1.5x 1.5 M or approach straight from a 900 mm wide space buttons should be positioned between 900 and 1.1 m above the the floor and at least 500 mm away from any return the floor should not be tuck with same or better frictional power meters than the landing with a rail at 900 mm not obstructing controls or a mirror emergency Communication System should be provided passenger lifts should be typically minimum of 1.1 M wide by 1.4 M deep however 2 m wide will be more functional for mixed passengers use all the D tactile numbers buttons Visual and audible communication about the flow and operation of the lift should be provided if planning allows a lift between two levels may be provided with two doors to allow straight through wheelchair use have a look into lift regulations and b81 for more information th clear width should be at least 800 mm and controls position between 900 to 1.2 M at least 400 MM from any return lift landing and door should be visually contrasted with the adjoining walls if the lift is to be used for evacuation it should conform to BS 5588 part 8 fire precaution in the design construction and use of buildings code of practice for means of Escape for disabled people lifting platforms should be provided only between levels or stories with continuous pressure control and as ever good for all people using them so signals Visual and audible tactile features contrasting elements and so on should be considered they should abide by relevant standards and if they travel more than 3 m they should be certified by notif body lift traveling more than 2 m will need to be enclosed and the speed of s should not exceed 0.15 m/ second controls so one step a second controls should be at between 800 to 1.1 M mm of the floor and 400 MM from any return wall Landing core buttons should be at 900 mm to 1.1 M and 500 mm away from any returns minimum dimensions for not enclosed platform is 800 wide and 1250 mm deep and 900 by 1400 mm when enclosed or 1100 wide if doors are at 90° to each other doors should have a clear width between 800 and 900 mm depending on the case on the ease of aess there should be a clear instruction for use for the user of the of the Le lift fitted wheelchair platform s lifts are intended for wheelchair users only and should not restrict the safe use of of the stairs otherwise should be constantly pressure controlled supervised during use and easy to instruct the person in their operation they should meet supply of Machinery regulation and b b81 or have notified body approval minimum size of the platform to be 800 mm wide by 1250 mm deep fitted with clear instruction for use and clear access of at least 800 mm controls should be designed to prevent unauthorized use internal stairs should have a hazard warning surface on the landing apart from otherwise meeting approved document K considerations it should be noted that Mobility impaired people benefit from goings of at least 300 mm internal ramps should be avoided but if they are for more than two Rises we should also provides alternative steps as ambulate disabled people often struggle up the ramps meeting guidance of approved document K will be sufficient otherwise hundreds to internal steps stairs and ramps will be sufficient if they follow approved document K section one to section 3 guidance this leads us nicely to section four which addresses facilities in buildings which should be provided so everyone can use the building in full no matter if they are visitor or work in the building no matter the sex age or ability that includes spectator places where wheelchair users should be capable of watching without obstructing the views or others in refreshment facilities bars and counters wheelchair users should have at least part of them made accessible and all fls should also be accessible a proportion of the sleeping accommodation in hotels motels and student accommodation should be designed for for independent use by wheelchair users the remaining should have facilities that at least cater to people with mild disabilities the document goes on to cover audience and spectator facilities refreshment facilities sleeping accommodation switches outlets and controls and AIDS to communication starting with the audience and spectator facilities you may expect it is all about the balance and making the venues accessible the document recognizes three primary categories lecture conference facilities entertainment facilities like theaters and Cinemas sports facilities like stadia this guidance mainly concerns sitting Provisions for the guidance on reception and sales counter we are referred to in section three of this document now audience facilities will concentrate on not segregating the wheelchair person from the rest allowing a company including a space for a dog and position close enough to allow the person to LEAP or sign read all that space can be temporarily used in the in by provision of removable seating which can be removed whenever needed the spaces should contrast with the rest and it should be assured that moving around the facilities should be a straightforward Affair and a safe making and making sure that people are safe and they can easily locate their seats there should be at least 1% of total seting capacity in the form of permanent wheelchair spaces up to 10,000 seatings numbers should be rounded up and for larger venues we are directed to the publication called accessible stadia a good practice Guide to the design of facilities to meet the needs of disabled Spectators and other users when it comes to the removable whe spaces for up to 600 people venue should be at least six in total spaces that can be made made up with removable chairs for venues over 600 people we may provide some as desired for lecture and Conference facilities we should make sure all participants can see and hear clearly so light and position of speakers and screens is important entertainment Leisure and social facilities can be packed more densely so we need to make sure that provision of wheelchair accommodation does not obstruct other people we are refering to the technical standard for places of entertainment for sport facilities on the other hand we are directed to the guide to safety at sports CRS accessible studia a good practice guide to design of facilities to meet the needs of disabled Spectators and other users and accessible sports facilities in the gist though the route to wheelchair spaces should be accessible stepped access routes to audience setings are provided with handrails some wheelchair spaces come in twos more than two wheelchair spaces should be spread to allow different views spread should be typically front back and sides the minimum space for access to wheelchair is 900 mm and the parked wheelchair space is 900 by 1400 the floor should be horizontal the document says I think they mean leveled some seats should be located so the assistant dog can rest in front or under the seat and the standard seats next to the wheelchair space or the edge should have removable or lift up arms step terrist floor seting should have wheelchair spaces to the back and where the podium or stetch is provided the wheelchair users should benefit of a ramp or a lifting platform to gain access to it hearing aids may also be necessary for refreshment facilities let me reiterate accessible accessible accessible including for the imped staff counter to be accessible needs to be at not higher level than 850 mm with clear space under to 700 mm above the FR level witer accessible thresholds are installed between the exterior and interior interior and 1 and 1/2 by 1 and 1/2 M wheelchair working space should be considered sleeping accommodation should also accommodate everyone and where accessible bedrooms are provided this preferably should be with and sweet showers and have doors curtains and windows operated remotely even bedrooms that are not the designated accessible should have doors wide enough to admit a wheelchair accessible bedrooms may be connected with the adjacent companion room and generally the use of electronic locks and lever in bathrooms is preferential to accommodate people with lower dexterity all bedrooms should have widen enough doors building Ward ropes and other storage system to have doors open in 180° handles and hinges and sliding doors should be easy to grip Windows controls at 800 mm to 1 M over the floor visual fire alarm and any door number should be indicated with embosed characters for wheelchair accessible bedrooms we should think of at least one room per 20 bedrooms located on accessible route that leads to all other facilities in the building they need to be of the same standard as other rooms those leading to the room should have the typical nip and low Force operation have enough space to maneuver around the room and into the bed approaching it from the side there are some expectations to the angle views in the doors that if provided to be at m 50 mm to 1 and 1/2 m above row level balcony doors not to have transoms at 900 to 1.2 M we also also need to think about the alarm code and alarm signal outside the bedroom so people can react switches outlets and controls simply need to be visible accessible and easy to operate preferably so placed and specified so person using it does not inadvertently use it or the adjacent switch by mistake they should be positioned depending on the function so sockets are 400 to 1 m above the floor switch is 400 to 1.2 m unless needed higher all precise hand movement controls controllers at 750 to 1.2 M simple push buttons not higher than 1.2 M on you get the gist when you design the room just check the dimensions first and some other expectations too like the switches should indicate whether they are on or off aids to communication meaning way finding public address system and hearing enhancement when design in and spacing spaces we should think colors textures and acoustic of rooms and use of systems like induction Loops for example and this leads us nicely to section five which addresses sanitary accommodation in buildings other than dwellings again here we need to think about the needs of all users of the building but in the case of ambulance sanitary accommodation we are being directed to the new approved document T we are also reminded that keeping layouts of buildings simple will assist people with learning difficulties this section goes to cover sanitary accommodation generally provision of toilet accommodation wheelchair accessible unisex toilets toilet in separate sex washrooms witer accessible changing and shower facilities witer accessible bathrooms sanitary accommodation generally should cater for a plethora of people especially those less capable of going about their daily life doors to the WC cubicles or toilets should whenever possible be open to the outside but capable to be in open if someone collapses inside and should allow enough space for the wheelchair large push parts for the operation of light switches should take precedence to pull cords so think automatic or leave it operation the aspect of controlling things with a closed fist per permeates the whole document terminal fitting should comply with guidance note g18.5 of the guidance document relating to schedule two requirements for water fittings of the water supply water fittings regulations 1999 iron mongery needs to be operated by Clos Fist and contrast visually those should be easily to use with the Newton Force for the operation that applies universally everywhere water closed compartment doors and doors to whe accessible unisex toilets changing rooms or shower rooms should have a a release mechanism that allows them to be open outwards in case of an emergency doors should not obstruct emergency escape brouts and any fire alarms adits a visual and audible signal for hearing or visual impairments any emergency assistance alarm should be should have Visual and audible confirmation of the emergency call being received a wheelchair reachable reset button and they signal that is different to the fire alarm switches and controls should be proper and heating emers either be guarded or under 43° Centigrade temperature to not scold people the space elements should be visually contrasting to one another so wall to flow to sanitary fitting should be easily distinguishable by people with impaired Vision toilet accommodation again should be suitable for wheelchair user ideally located in a separate room as should be a unisex wheelchair user room even if there is a provision in the separate sex toilet already the unisex type should not be used for the baby changing facilities though also consult approved document T to facilitate the reasonable provision of Single Sex toilets in buildings other than dwellings the guidance found in BS 8300 is useful here when it comes to the provision of enlarged cubicles or simply rooms with changing facilities what does all of it means and it means if there is space only for one toilet it should be of unisex type wheelchair accessible but with greater width to accommodate a standing wash basin at least one such toilet to be provided at the location with sary facilities there should be at least one water cubicle provided for the ambulant disabled person in separate sex toilet accommodation if there is four or more cubicles in such toilet one should be of increased space in addition there should be at least one changing places toilet provided in the assembly Recreation and entertainment buildings with a capacity for 350 people or more or in cohort of buildings used for an assembly Recreation or entertainment with a capacity of 2,000 people and more places like zoos theme parks venues for sport shopping centers malls retail parks with a gross flow area of 30,000 M square or more retail premises with a gross flow area of 2,500 M square or more Sports and Leisure buildings of 5,000 m square or more hospitals Primary Care Centers ceremonial and cemeter buildings or any other building that falls under this threshold admitting general public for the purpose of assembly Recreation or entertainment for changing places in school seeks gu seek guidance of the department for Education guidance for schools providing Community facilities it if the number of person is unknown we are directed to methods of approved document B to to establish such let's now consider wheelchair accessible unisex toilets we need to make sure there is enough provision for this and it needs to be easy to use by a plethora of people on wheelchairs so approach points of support and transfer to and from the wheeler as well as the capability to wash and dry your hands seated On The Water Closet should be considered the toilet should be separated and as close to the entry to sanitary facilities as possible the idea for space inside is to allow a wheelchair user and up to two people in WC puns following BSN 997 standards will be acceptable as the level of the pan is too critical and different people will require its position at a different level so to achieve this the toilet should be provided as close to the entrance or waiting area of the building as possible and it should not compromise the privacy of the user in multistory buildings they should be provided in a similar position and allow alternating transfer sides at alternate stories or as the case may be between other such toilets on one story in a single story building if there is only one such toilet it should be wider than the standard 1 and 1/2 M it should be 2 m to allow for the standing height wash basin in addition to the finger rings Basin the toilet doors should be preferably open to the outside and they should be located on the accessible Roots 40 meters of travel is generally the limit for travel the size and the arrangement of such toilets either on plan or elevation are given in diagrams contained within the document I Tri the picture T much more than talk but you can expect that all bases have been covered including the relative position of these elements for the overall size the bathroom starts at the size of 1 and 1/2 M wide and 2.2 M length and the center line of the toilet 500 mm away from the side wall and the front edge of the pan 750 mm away from the back wall the finger Bas in Edge 140 to 160 mm to the edge of the water closet pan and so on have a look in the diagram the toilet should be fitted with an alarm assistance system and coal signal outside the toilet should be located so people can react to it expectation for the heat emitters alarm codes access water closed pants Conformity to British standard European gome 997 and the position of the flushing mechanisms is all regulated toilets in separate sex washrooms here we go as far as making sure ambulant disabled people are cater for so at least one compartment with support trails and minimum activity space is required with a water closed Pond capable of accepting variable High toilet SE Rises there are some additional provision dealing with minimum space for movement within the water closed compartment and these are contained in approved document T we should also think about the provision of fold down table and larger space for people with luggage of baby strollers in toilets of certain sizes when these toilets can be accessed by wheelchair users it should be possible for them to use Ur urinals and wash basins it is being considered that in general there should be as many water closets for women as urinals for men but for large buildings like retail at least twice as many also we need to think about little Lots using man's toilets in part in practice it looks like this there needs to be at least 465 mm space between the swing of the inward Swinging Doors and anything else dimensions for the compartments suitable for ambulant disabled people should be at least 920 mm wide by 1465 mm long also see approv document T for more details and large compartment to at least 1200 mm wide and room generally have all belts and whistles needed to assist the use of the compartment including the water closing pan to BS 997 for wheelchair accessible compartment some same rules apply as for the unisx one wheelchair accessible changing and shower facilities in the gist should be fit for purpose and may include a WC but then a separate one will need to be provided too the case is always the same enough space to move around and have a person helping you out and enough support to assist use not to mention any possible Hazard of scolding or injury removed from the areas and if possible two-way transfer to the seating area should be provided sizewise we talk at least 2 m by 2 and a half 2.2 M for changing rooms and shower rooms increasing to 2 and 1/2 by 2.4 M for the shower room incorporating water closet alarm cords and all the bells whistles the document provides sufficient diagrams and directs us for more to BS 8300 when the shower is positioned in the communal area shower control should be between 750 to 1 M over the floor now with the witer accessible bathrooms the logic follows the previous parts and the minimum size of such rooms with' Incorporated what their closet should be 2 and 1/2 M by 2.7 M the guidance of this part applies to buff rooms in hotels motels relatives accommodation in hospital and the student accommodation and sports facilities provided as an alternative to the showers different rules apply apply to Hotel and Suites [Music] so this is it folks the approved document M access to and use of buildings volume two buildings other than dwellings let's sumon up section by section the document alins accessibility requirements for buildings emphasizing that the key to compliance is meeting functional performance allowing all individuals regardless of age gender or disability to access and use the building's facilities these requirements apply to new builds as well as existing buildings undergoing major alterations extensions or changes in use referencing the equality act 2010 to ensure a physical Biers do not impede access designers must demonstrate compliance with this requirements particularly for public spaces educational establishments and historical buildings where some concessions may be needed when designing extensions accessibility must must be considered for all routes from the side boundary or car park to the new building with Provisions for appropriate sanitary facilities material alteration must not woren existing access and material changes in use May necessite necessitate upgrades to meet modern standards the general principle is to ensure that people can navigate to within and between buildings with appropriate assistance where needed particularly in complex developments section one focuses on access to buildings deta in requirements from the side boundary or parking area to the building entrance including consideration for ramps steps hand hand rails and Hazards access route should be level firm sleep resistant well lead and unobstructed with Dimensions provided for different elements like Pathways parking bays and ramps the document also references best practices such as inclusive Mobility guides and provides detailed specifications for slopes surfaces signage and tactile marking to assist people with different disabilities section two addresses access into buildings specifying that entrances must be easily usable and Hazard free for all users including those with disabilities it covers requirements for accessible entrances doors and lobbies emphasiz includ signage level thresholds appropriate door wids and easy to operate doors whether manual or powered power doors if used must be safe with clear controls and notifications and revolving doors must always have accessible Alternatives glass doors should be visible to prevent accidents and entr trans lob and entrance lobes must be spacious enough to accommodate Wheelchairs and prevent hazards Section 3 takes us to horizontal and vertical circulation in buildings focuses on ensuring ease of movement for all users especially wheelchair uses in non-residential buildings it covers the design of entrance holds internal corridors lobes stairs and lifts promote promoting accessible circulation across all areas the section emphasizes proper layout space requirements and materials including specific guidance for maneuvering spaces D widths and gradients compliance with safety standards for lifts ramps and stairs is mandatory to facilitate seamless movement for individuals with varying Mobility varied Mobility needs section four facilities in buildings andurs that all users including visitors and staff can accent as use a building regardless of their ability sex or age it covers seting Provisions for wheelchair users in Spectators areas accessible refreshment counters and adaptable sleeping accommodation in hotels and student residences specific guidelines are provided for lecture Halls entertainment venues and sports facilities to ensure wheelchair access without segregating user es along with details on whe spaces and sitting Arrangements the importance of accessible switches controls and communication AIDS like induction Loops for hearing enhancement is mentioned section five sry accommodation in buildings outlines requirements for toilets changing facilities and showers to accommodate all users particularly wheelchair users and those with disabilities it mandates that sanitary facilities be spacious accessible and fitted with proper support rails emergency alarm systems and user friendly controls special Provisions are made for wheelchair accessible unisex toilets which should be located near building entrances and on accessible routes furthermore guidelines ensure that separate sex washrooms changing rooms and bathrooms are suitable for disabled users offering proper maneuvering space and necessary aids for safety and comfort in the next episode we will move to approve document o [Music] overheating I hope you enjoyed this episode and that the considerations of the approved document M access to and use of buildings Volume 2 buildings other than dwellings are clear for you now I know this type of content needs to be listened to as you go on specify and design and things otherwise it is nearly impossible to intake it all at once but here it is for you should you ever need it if you have any questions reach out to me on LinkedIn or send me an email I'm more than happy to help you out in betna we deal with planning designing and managing of your projects and we are always glad to facilitate a free initial consultation to steer you in the right direction visit www.bit.ly advice at bitna we help our clients design and execute their dream homes or Investments if your building is falling apart we can also help investigate the reasons behind it and to provide you with an appropriate strategy design and specifications for the repair thank you again for listening please voice up your opinions I'm waiting for you on LinkedIn and I want to hear from you see you next week Bytnar Designs The World Around You, Toodloo!
Piotr Bytnar BEng (Hons) MSc CEng MIStructE
Chartered Structural Engineer who deals with the Architecture of buildings. His Master's Studies led him to an in-depth understanding of risk and contract arrangements in construction as well as specialist knowledge in soil mechanics.
He and his team help homeowners and property developers to design and deliver construction projects reducing waste in time and the cost. He believes that the construction project is an iterative process that can be well managed and it is best managed if all the aspects of the project definition and management are dealt with in-house or coordinated by one organisation. His team works to all stages of RIBA and ISTRUCTE stages of work and enables contractors to deliver projects on-site providing risk evaluations, methodologies for execution of works and temporary works designs.
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