Accessible auditorium / lecture room

Accessible auditorium / lecture room

1. APPLICATION

Consider the needs of all users, in particular those of the presenter who has a disability.

2. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

This Design Guide contains criteria for elements which are beyond the scope of the NCC and the Premises Standards. As far as possible it does not repeat the mandatory requirements of the NCC.

Circulation space

Provide circulation spaces to meet AS1428.1 around all furniture.

Door closers

If door closers are used (excluding fire / smoke doors), provide adjustable delayed action or a hold open function to give more time to a person using a mobility aid or assistance animal to pass through before the door closes.

If the entry door is also a fire /smoke door provide a power-assisted door opening device.

Sanitary facilities location

Locate unisex accessible toilets and ambulant use toilets near the entry doors.

Flooring

Select flooring that helps to reduce background noise, for example carpeted flooring assists people with hearing impairment using hearing aids by reducing background noise.

Where carpet is used in circulation areas, provide low-pile type without underfelt, to assist people using wheeled mobility aids.

Note that carpet backing is not the same as underfelt. All carpet has a backing but not all carpets use underfelt.

Seating spaces – where fixed seating is provided

Provide spaces for wheelchair users at a variety of locations. Provide a clear path of travel with turning spaces to AS1428.1-2009 clause 6.5.3.

Provide at least some seats with a back and armrests.

Provide a variety of seating locations to allow choice for people with particular requirements of line of sight or hearing.

Do not locate all wheelchair spaces at the sides of the theatre.

Hearing augmentation

Select equipment such as air-conditioning systems, electric windows, ceiling fans, automatic doors, etc with low background noise levels because hearing augmentation is affected by background noise levels.

Refer to AS1428.5-2010 for further details on design of various hearing augmentation systems.

Stage

Ensure that the size of the stage is such that a wheelchair user can move around other seating provided on stage.

If a temporary stage is to be provided, provide a temporary ramp that complies with AS1428.1-2009 to support access for any user with a mobility aid or access challenges that requires the need for ramp access.

Lighting

Provide glare-free illumination. People with vision impairment may require up to three times the amount of light required by a sighted person. Ageing persons may experience the same diminution relative to those who are young. Provide an illumination level of 300 lux max, adjustable by the presenter.

Use rocker-action/toggle switches with a minimum dimension of 30mm x 30mm or push pad with a minimum diameter of 25mm.

Use zoned lighting that can be manually operated, eg ability to reduce light over projector screens for ease of screen viewing, the ability to maximise lights over users if they are taking notes in a lecture or reading a screen and the ability to dim lighting over zoned areas.

Equipment

Locate all equipment and equipment controls provided for use by the presenters in an accessible position and ensure that controls are accessible.

Format all instructions for use of equipment in large print aligning with appropriate symbols to represent each element of equipment, eg data projector, computer, speakers, TV, DVD player, etc.

Ensure all presentation equipment is easy to move with the ability to make adjustments to height and location to suit presenters needs i.e. a person standing or sitting.

Ensure lapel microphone is available when required. Provide air temperature controls. Provide TVs with captioning functions. Ensure white boards can be accessed from a seated position.

Lectern

Provide adjustable lectern or alternatively an accessible desk / table. Ensure it is capable of accommodating the presenter’s laptop and is located where the presenter can see and be seen by the audience.

For accessible desk/table, adjustable height type is preferred. See Note 1. If not adjustable, in accordance with AS1428.2-1992 clause 24.1, increase minimum clear knee/toe width to 1000mm to provide space for an assistance animal.

Ticketing

See Design Guide Accessible Ticket Office .

3. REFERENCES

AS1428.1 – 2009 (Incorporating amendment No. 1 - 2010)

Design for Access and Mobility Part 1: General Requirements for Access – New Building Work

AS1428.2 – 1992

Design for Access and Mobility Part 2: Enhanced and Additional Requirements – Buildings and Facilities.

AS 1428.5 – 2010

Design for Access and Mobility Part 5: Communication for People who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired.

Note: 1  No individual table, counter or work top height and clearance under will suit all users with disabilities. A bench with easily adjustable height within the range of 700mm to 900mm from the finished floor is preferred. For occasional use such as a customer counter, support facilities and the like the height should be 850mm±20mm. For workplace use such as desks, if a fixed height is provided the height should be 750mm±20mm. If a stool is available then a height of 850mm±20mm is acceptable for ambulant staff. If more than one facility is provided then the above should apply to the first and other dimension can apply to subsequent facilities.