Access to and use of buildings: Approved Document M

HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL CIRCULATION IN BUILDINGS O N L I N E V E R S I O N M1/M2 OTHER THAN DWELLINGS Corridors and passageways d. the floor is level or predominantly level (with a gradient no steeper than 1:60), Design considerations with any section with a gradient of 1:20 3.11 Corridors and passageways should or steeper designed as an internal ramp be wide enough to allow people with and in accordance with Table 1 and buggies, people carrying cases or people Diagram 3; on crutches to pass others on the access e. where a section of the floor has a route. Wheelchair users should also have gradient, in the direction of travel, access to adjacent rooms and spaces, steeper than 1:60, but less steep than be able to pass other people and, where 1:20, it rises no more than 500mm necessary, turn through 180°. Corridors without a level rest area at least 1500mm narrower than indicated in this guidance, long (with a gradient no steeper than 1:60); or localised narrowing (e.g. at archways), f. any sloping section extends the full might be reasonable in some locations, width of the corridor or, if not, the such as in existing buildings or in some exposed edge is clearly identified by extensions. visual contrast and, where necessary, 3.12 In order to help people with visual protected by guarding; impairment to appreciate the size of a g. any door opening towards a corridor, space they have entered, or to find their which is a major access route or an way around, there should be a visual escape route, should be recessed so contrast between the wall and the ceiling, that, when fully open, it does not project and between the wall and the floor. Such into the corridor space, except where attention to surface finishes should be the doors are to minor utility facilities, coupled with good natural and artificial such as small store rooms and locked lighting design. duct cupboards; 3.13 Good acoustic design should be h. any door from a unisex wheelchair- employed to achieve an acoustic environment accessible toilet projects when open that is neither too reverberant nor too into a corridor that is not a major absorbent so that announcements and access route or an escape route, conversations can be heard clearly. provided the corridor is at least Provisions 1800mm wide at that point; 3.14 Corridors and passageways will i. on a major access route or an escape satisfy Requirement M1 or M2 if: route, the wider leaf of a series of double doors with leaves of unequal a. elements such as columns, radiators width is on the same side of the corridor and fire hoses do not project into the throughout the length of the corridor; corridor, or where this is unavoidable, a means of directing people around them, j. floor surface finishes with patterns that such as a visually contrasting guard rail, could be mistaken for steps or changes is provided; of level are avoided; b. they have an unobstructed width k. floor finishes are slip resistant; (excluding any projections into the space) l. any glazed screens alongside a corridor along their length of at least 1200mm; are clearly defined with manifestation c. where they have an unobstructed width on the glass that complies with Approved of less than 1800mm, they have passing Document K, section 7. places at least 1800mm long and with an unobstructed width of at least 1800mm at reasonable intervals, e.g. at corridor junctions, to allow wheelchair users to pass each other; Approved Document M Volume 2 Access to and use of buildings other than dwellings O N L I N E V E R S I O N 31