How accessible are your buildings?

These guides have been developed with support from the Business Disability Forum (BDF), to explore how accessible your premises are.

They will walk you through:

• The arrival at the building
• At reception
• Moving around inside the building and
• Means of escape in an emergency.

The guides can be used by a Facilities Manager or a Diversity/HR Professional as an aide-memoire for ensuring accessibility within your premises is maintained.

This checklist does not take the place of a full access audit carried out by suitably qualified professionals. An audit can help you to assess how accessible your buildings are and make you aware of any barriers that someone with a disability might encounter. If you cannot remove these barriers, you should develop strategies or put adjustments in place to overcome them.

Arriving at the building– Physical Considerations

1. Does signage make it easy to find the main entrance to your building Y/N/ Action
2. If your main entrance is not accessible for disabled people is it obvious where the alternative entrance is?  Y/N
3. Do you have designated parking spaces for disabled people?  Y/N
4. If not, do you indicate where the nearest space is?  Y/N
5. Is the walkway to your building free from potholes, weeds or loose paving stones?  Y/N
6. Is your exterior signage easily visible with nothing obscuring the signage and is it in good working order if electric ? Y/N
7. Is the exterior lighting of the building adequate?   Y/N
8. If you have a temporary ramp, is it in good order and available for use?  Y/N
9. Do your staff know where to access the ramp and how to fit it?  Y/N
10. If you have a buzzer or intercom is it in good working order?  Y/N
11. If you have an entry phone system with an induction loop, is this in good order?  Y/N
12. If you have automatic doors, are they in good working order? Y/N
13. Is door matting set into a mat well and not lose? Y/N
14. Is there a call bell for those who need assistance to enter the building? Y/N
15. Are your reception or security staff confident in assisting people who may have problems opening heavy doors?Y/N
16. Are your reception or security staff confident in helping people who cannot use an intercom or entry phone system. This might be due to a hearing or visual impairment.  Y/N

At reception- Physical Considerations

1. Is the space between entrance and reception desk clear of obstacles? Y/N
2. Is the reception desk clear of obstacles so that people on either side of the reception desk see each other? Y/N
3. Is there a lower section of the desk for wheelchair users? Y/N
4. Is clearance under desks or counters free from clutter to enable wheelchair users to get close enough to use the desk when necessary? Y/N
5. Is the reception area well lit, to enable people with hearing impairments to lip read easily and people with visual impairments to navigate the areas easily? Y/N
6. Is there an amplifying device or induction loop at reception? Y/N
7. If yes, is there clear signage advertising this? Y/N
8. Does the reception area have different height seating and some seating with arms? Y/N
9. Have you provided Fire Safety and Emergency information in a clearly printed format and have alternative formats available?        Y/N
10. Are reception and security staff confident in interacting with disabled people Y/N

Moving around inside the building- Physical Considerations

1. Is there an up-to-date map of the building layout near the entrance? Y/N
2. Does the map have a high colour contrast and use an accessible font and size? (see accessible documents guidance) Y/N
3. Is internal signage in good order and lit adequately? Y/N
4. Is any temporary signage in an accessible size and font? Y/N
5. Is flooring cover slip-resistant and safely secured to the floor?        Y/N/
6. Are corridors well lit? Y/N

Are automatic doors working? Y/N

Are hold open devices for fire doors in good working order? Y/N

Lifts

1. Is there a lift available to access other floors.? Y/N
2. Is the location of the lift signposted so visitors are aware? Y/N
3. Is the lift in good working order? Y/N
4. Are the floor announcers and visual signals in the lift working?        Y/N
5. Is there an adequate delay on the lift door closing mechanism? Y/N
6. Is the access to the lift clear of obstructions? Y/N

Toilet

1. Is there an accessible toilet available? Y/N
2. Is the location of the toilet signposted so visitors are aware?       Y/N
3. Is the assistance alarm in the toilet in good order? Y/N
4. Are the toilets clean and clear of obstructions? Y/N

Hearing loop and assistance

1. Are your amplifying devices or induction loops in good working order? Y/N
2. Do staff know how to access and operate amplifying devices or hearing loops? Y/N
3. Are your staff trained to respond to and deal with calls for help raised using the assistance alarm in WC? Y/N

Means of escape in an emergency- Physical Considerations

1. Are the ground floor exit and entrance routes accessible to all, including wheelchair users? Y/N
2. Are exit routes free from obstructions? Y/N
3. If some disabled people cannot completely evacuate the building, can they reach places of safety or refuges? Y/N
4. Are refuges free from obstruction and clutter? Y/N
5. Is your audible alarm system in good working order? Y/N
6. Is your visual alarm system in good working order? Y/N
7. Do all disabled employees have a Personal Emergency Egress Plan (PEEP) Y/N
8. Are staff trained to direct and assist disabled people in case of an emergency? Y/N