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Location 2 - From Glanrafon Hill (Memorial Arch elevation)

At the lower end of the site, the Fire Service will approach the building as shown here, driving onto the hard landscaping behind the Memorial Arch. This will allow direct access to the fire fighting shaft at the corner of the Main Auditorium block. The vehicle is allowed enough space to reverse and turn in order to leave the site front first, avoiding unnecessary danger to pedestrians.

This means of approach is suitable for all emergency services

kEY PLAN

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EMERGENCY ACCESS

Fire Brigade vehicles may approach the perimeter of the building in two locations as shown on the key plan below.

Location 1 - From Penrallt Isaf (below hairpin bend)

In order to allow a fire tender to reach the upper building entrance, via the hairpin bend, the bollards lining the bend need to be relocated. This gives a wider effective access route. Form here, emergency vehicles are able to arrive alongside the upper building entrance in close proximity to the Student’s union block

This means of approach is suitable for all emergency services

kEY PLAN

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INCLuSIVE DESIGN

INTRODuCTION

This section sets out the process adopted by the team to create an accessible and inclusive environment within the Pontio Project in Bangor.

CONTExT

Documents which relate to access and inclusivity within the project have been developed under a document hierarchy as follows:

1. Access Statement (this document) A detailed document containing expanded descriptions explaining how the framework has been implemented in the individual schemes.2. Building Regulations Access Statement A document accompanying the building regulations application. This document contains a further level of detailed description to accompany the increased level of detail of the Building Regulations submission.

SCOPE

The inclusivity statement contains an explanation of measures that will be incorporated within the proposals to facilitate access and use by all people including disabled people and indicates how the design meets the required design standards, good practice guidance and Building Regulations access requirements.

The report takes into account the needs of people with mobility impairments including wheelchair users and those with sensory and cognitive impairments. However, it is recognised that the issues considered in the report will affect the convenience of access for all occupants, not just disabled people.

This statement is based on the following:

Explanation of policy and approach to access;•

Sources of advice and guidance on accessibility;•

Details of consultations undertaken or planned;•

Details of access consultant involvement;•

Explanation of specific issues affecting accessibility and details of •

access solutions adopted; and

Details of potential management polices and procedures to be •

adopted to enhance and maintain accessibility.

The areas covered in the buildings include entrances, horizontal circulation, vertical circulation, facilities and sanitary accommodation.

At this stage the statement does not cover the operational aspects in detail, but it identifies and comments on areas where management procedures are likely to be required to ensure good accessibility.

The report is based on current information and drawings provided by the architects. This information should be referred to while reading the report.

CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT AND DESIGN GuIDANCE REFERENCES

The following documents and guidance are used for assessment and advice:

Building Regulations Part M of the Building Regulations Approved •

Document M 2004 edition;

British Standard BS8300:2009 Design of buildings and their •

approaches to meet the needs of disabled people – Code of

Practice;

British Standard BS5588 part 8:1999 Fire precautions in the design, •

construction and use of buildings: Code of practice for means of

escape for disabled people

Parking for Disabled People, Traffic Advisory Leaflet 5/95 (DETR •

1995)

Current guidance on the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA);•

The All Wales Parking Standards 2008 states that disabled parking provision should be •

provided as a percentage of total non-operational provision. Specifically the guidance

states that: ‘a minimum of one space for each employee who is a disabled motorist plus

6% of the total car park capacity for visiting disabled motorists.’

Other currently recognised good practice design guidance including Sign Design •

Guide, (SDS, 2000); Guidance on the use of Tactile Paving (uk, DETR), Inclusive Mobility

(DoT); Designing for Accessibility

(CAE, 2004), The Access Manual, (Blackwell, 2006) and Manual for Streets (DfT and DCLG •

2007).

Design and access statements: how to write, read and use them CABE 2006•

An accessible building is achieved through consultation with disabled people and the implementation of accessible design. Wherever possible, the design team will go beyond minimum guidance provided in Approved Document Part M with the aim to achieve BS8300:2009 requirements. This is essential to assist the service provider in meeting their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and amendments.

CONSuLTATION

Consultation have been held regarding accessibility issues, via the universitiy’s Physical Access Working Group (PAWG), which includes representatives of key stakeholders. A meeting of PAWG has held on 1st March specifically to discuss the project. A further meeting of PAWG and supplementary representatives of Access Groups was held on 23rd April.

Solutions to specific issues raised in the meeting may not be evident in the current drawings but will continue to be assessed and implemented at further detailed stages of design.

The following issues were raised. While they are further illustrated in the text, a summary of the proposals is contained here for ease of reference:

Parking, for 11 wheelchair accessible space, has been provided approximately 65 •

metres from the front entrance. to the nearest parking bay. Studies were undertaken

on the steep site to find the optimum location and this has resulted in a level approach

with a distance of less than 150 metres which is recommended by DoT guidance.

However, resting opportunities will be provided in the form of benches etc to reduce to

a maximum the distance of 50 metres before a resting opportunity.

Possible accessible bays in the area in front of the theatre are being considered •

however these also need to be coordinated with the requirements of emergency

vehicles to this area.

Where possible ramps in the landscape are better than 1:20, where this is not possible, •

no ramp will be more than 1:15

Drop off facilities have been provided at the base of the slope, but it is also possible •

that drop off could be accommodated at the delivery entrance for the performance

space.

Lifts will be centrally located, and large to allow either through use or generous turning •

circles.

Seating choice is being investigated in all of the venues and handrails will be provided •

on seating systems.

Internal, ramped routes will always be accompanied by stepped alternatives.•

Accessible WC’s will be provided wherever toilet accommodation is provided (this may •

not be on every floor – which is a principle accepted in the British Standard).

A “changing places” toilet will be provided in the building to meet best practice •

guidance and the notes contained in the appendix to the British Standard

Accessible WCs will generally exceed the requirements of Part M and have left and right •

hand transfer options.

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Disabled parking : 11 bays are provided adjacent to the Thoday Building in the outlined area, giving level access to the Memorial Arch entrance across Glanrafon Hill

* Possible accessible bays in the area in front of the theatre are being considered however these also need to be coordinated with the requirements of emergency vehicles to this area.

CONSuLTATION (CONTINuED)

The building is delivered over many levels – pains will be taken in lighting, signage and •

internal finishes enhancing the architectural legibility of the building.

Communication enhancement for people with hearing disabilities will be developed •

for the project that takes into account the varying needs of each of the venues and

uses in the complex.

FACTORS CONTRIBuTING TO ACCESSIBILITY

This report considers accessibility at an early stage in the design. Detailed design issues such as fixtures, fittings, furniture, equipment, internal decoration, lighting, communication systems, management and other issues which contribute to the accessibility of the services and facilities provided have been considered in outline and may require detailed development.

The individual needs of visitors cannot always be known in advance, thus it is acknowledged that further adjustments to management policy or procedure or to the physical features of the buildings may become necessary.

However, it is the intention of the design team to ensure that the need for further physical alteration to the fabric of the buildings, and the inevitable cost implication of this, is reduced to a minimum.

THE PROPOSALS

The proposed Pontio Project brings a variety of facilities under one roof for the first time. The scale of the building should not be under-estimated.

The building complex has been articulated with a main auditorium and the implementation of an ‘internal street’ feature which links the whole complex. The centre of the complex is also articulated with an external amphitheatre. These divisions will be further developed to provide extremely clear intellectual architectural legibility. These arrangements substantially assist intellectual access for people with learning disabilities as the building contains a wide range of facilities.

Disabled Parking

+17.50

Distance = 65m+19.00

Access*

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Sanitary Accommodation

Accessible toilet accommodation has been provided in all sanitary accommodation and will meet or exceed Part M of the Building Regulations and BS8300:2009.

Cubicles for people with ambulant disabilities have also been added to the sexed toilet accommodation.

A personal care suite has been provided and will be detailed in conjunction with the advisory access group of disabled users.

ESCAPE ARRANGEMENTS

Safe, efficient egress depends upon a combination of management procedures and building design. An evacuation strategy for disabled people will be devised as part of the fire strategy, with reference made to guidance such as BS 5588 part 8.

The scheme incorporates a number of physical measures that will facilitate means of escape for disabled people.

These physical measures include:

• Refugesateachlevelateachstair;•

• Acommunicationintercomand/orassistanceineachrefuge•

• Visualalarmsystemsasrequired;•

• Suitablydesignedescapestairs.•

These features will be designed following guidance in BS5588 Part 8 Code of practice for means of escape for disabled people and specified following consultation with the Fire Consultants.

Management procedures will be put in place to ensure that refuges are checked in the event of an emergency and/or for staff to respond to a disabled person in the refuge. Staff will need to be suitably trained to assist disabled people and to assist with use of evacuation chairs where provided.

The layout is designed so that an individual is responsible for their own safety – to get to a ‘secure area’ and then for the organisation to take over their escape from there.

It should be ensured that the “policy, procedures and practices” are developed together with a means of escape strategy for disabled people whether staff or visitors. Personal Emergency Egress Plans (PEEP) for individual disabled users will be developed as required.

The project is intended to provide exemplary access for disabled people to the new facilities.

ExTERNAL AREAS

Parking and access routes from parking

CAR PARk

11 parking spaces (the only parking in the scheme) have been provided approximately 65 metres away from the front of the building across Allt Glanrafon. The route from parking spaces is considerably below the 150 metres recommended by the Department of Transport.

A series of options were considered on this steep site, such as Deiniol Road, Glanrafon Hill, Thoday, Tanrallt and in the square in front of the War memorial. The site chosen provides the shortest travel distance, a virtually level route (many of the options either presented a parking space on a steep gradient and/or a steep route from the parking space to the entrance) and adequate capacity for the size of the building.

As the journey from the car parking to the entrance is longer than 50 metres, resting opportunities will be provided in the landscape in the form of benches and/or other resting opportunities.

DROP OFF

A drop off facility has been maintained on Deiniol Road. This is approximately 4 metres below the level of the entrance of the building and a series of 1:20 slopes takes the user from the drop off to the entrance.

BuILDING DETAILS

ENTRANCES AND ExITS

There are 3 principal entrances to the building.

These areas will be well lit and clearly articulated using materials and lighting.

The entrances will consist of automated entrance doors containing draught lobbies, which will have solid entrance matting systems for the removal of dirt and water.

All new fire exits have level thresholds and opening widths in line with guidance in Part M of the Building Regulations.

VERTICAL CIRCuLATION

StairsThe central atrium, which runs up all levels of the building, contains a generous staircase.

The staircase is clearly articulated and will have handrails, risers and goings that meet Part M of the building regulations.

A feature stair is used to continue the ‘street’ through the building and up to the Main University Building.

LiftsA lift core with a pair of lifts has been provided to the centre of the main foyer and connects directly or indirectly to all of the other levels in the building.

A further lift (in a through lift format) is used to access from Level 05 to the Lecture theatre and offices on Level 04 and the Student Union on level 03

To allow use by buggy and large wheelchair users these lifts will have minimum clear internal car dimensions of 1600mm deep by 2100mm wide (when they are used in an in-out orientation. If they are used in “through lift” orientation then smaller dimensions may be utilised.)

All lifts will meet or exceed the requirements of Part M of the Building Regulations of the Building regulations and BS/EN 81-70 2003.

HORIzONTAL CIRCuLATION

RampsInternal ramps will generally be designed to be a slope of 1:20 or better. Where ramps are provided an alternative stepped route will be availible. Where the total climb of a ramped series is more than 2000mm then an alternative lift route will be provided.

DoorsDoors in all instances will provide a minimum clear opening width of 850mm (1000mm for entrances) and be provided with visual manifestations where glazed, and/or vision panels where solid (and on an access route).

Floor FinishesFloor finishes in public areas will generally contrast with the walls and provide a slip resistance equal to or greater than R11. (To meet DIN51130:2004)

Corridor WidthsGenerally corridors within the building are 1200mm or larger.

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INCLuSIVE DESIGN

Legend

Entrance Point

Pedestrian Route

Wheelchair Route

Stair Core

Lift

Steps

Ramp

Level 00. Entrance Level 01. Mezzanine

Level 02. Central Foyer Level 03. Design Studio