Access to and use of buildings: Approved Document M

SANITARY ACCOMMODATION IN BUILDINGS O N L I N E V E R S I O N M1/M3 OTHER THAN DWELLINGS d. where there are four or more WC – university buildings open to the cubicles in separate-sex toilet public; accommodation, one of these is an o r any other buildings or sites as defined enlarged cubicle for use by people by these thresholds, which who need extra space, in addition to are open to the public and used for the any provision under 5.7(c); purpose of assembly, recreation or e. at least one changing places toilet is entertainment. Capacities should be provided in the following types of derived from the combined total of a building: building’s publicly accessible facilities. Alternatively, the capacity number may i. assembly, recreation and be taken as the number of fixed seats entertainment buildings (see note) provided, if the occupants of the building with a capacity for 350 or more will normally be seated. Approved people; or a collection of smaller Document B, Volume 2 provides a buildings associated with a site used method for estimating the capacity of for assembly, recreation or a building where this is not known. entertainment, such as zoos, theme parks and venues for sport and T he Department for Education will exhibitions, with a capacity of 2000 publish separate guidance regarding people or more; changing places toilets in schools providing community facilities in 2021. ii. shopping centres/malls or retail parks with a gross floor area of Wheelchair-accessible 30,000m2 or more; unisex toilets iii. retail premises with a gross floor Design considerations area of 2500m2 or more; 5.8 Wheelchair users should be able to iv. sport and leisure buildings with a approach, transfer to and use the sanitary gross floor area more than 5000m2; facilities provided within a building. This v. hospitals and primary care centres; requires the provision of a wheelchair- vi. crematoria and cemetery buildings. accessible unisex toilet. The relationship of the WC to the finger rinse basin and other Note: Places of assembly, recreation accessories should allow a person to wash and entertainment can be defined as and dry hands while seated on the WC. The buildings such as: space provided for manoeuvring should – amusement arcades; enable wheelchair users to adopt various transfer techniques that allow independent – art galleries; or assisted use. It is important that the – cinemas; transfer space alongside the WC is kept – concert halls; clear to the back wall. When transferring to and from their wheelchair, some people – conference centres; need horizontal support rails. The rail on – further education colleges; the open side is a drop-down rail, but on the wall side, it can be a wall-mounted – hotels that provide function, sport or grab rail (which is thought to give a more leisure facilities; rigid handhold) set at a greater distance – libraries open to the public; than normal from the wall or, alternatively, – motorway service areas; a second drop-down rail in addition to the wall-mounted grab rail where the grab rail – museums; is spaced at the minimum distance from – places of worship; the wall and therefore does not give the same degree of support. – theatres; 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 49