Hi Susan
In relation to the lift, you may want to investigate further as to whether
it can actually be used in an emergency situation. The traditional blanket
ban on using lifts in these circumstances is a very conservative approach.
There are indeed risks associated with using lifts, just as there are lifts
associated with the other options for vertical movement. An enlightened
fire engineer can advise on the technical aspects of this, and a good risk
assessment will help you to evaluate alternatives. Check out the
presentation from Derek Smith (former Technical Director of Otis Lifts UK)
on this issue from the NDA's 2009 Safe Evacuation for All conference (see
http://www.nda.ie/egress) for more advice on assessing these risks.
This new way of thinking about lifts is in line with BS9999 standard, the
NDA's Egress publication (see http://www.nda.ie/egress) and this new ISO
report - ISO/TR 25743:2010, ‘Lifts (elevators) – Study of the use of lifts
for evacuation during an emergency’, Check out the presentation from Derek
Smith (former Technical Director of Otis Lifts UK) on this issue from the
NDA's 2009 Safe Evacuation for All conference (see
http://www.nda.ie/egress) for more advice on assessing these risks.
Regards
Shane
Shane Hogan
Project Manager - Excellence through Accessibility
National Disability Authority
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.nda.ie/eta
Direct Line: 01-6080497
NDA eLearning Project - See http://short.ie/5cpaar
"Fairburn, Susan
- Corporate Core
- Partnership To
Working Unit" [log in to unmask]
<Susan.Fairburn@O cc
XFORDSHIRE.GOV.UK
> Subject
Sent by: Intercom systems
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16/06/2010 10:03
Please respond to
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CMAIL.AC.UK>
Dear All
Having received such helpful advice when I last contact this group, I am
trying my hand again.
A team is being moved into the third floor of a building to join staff
already in situ. We are renting this accommodation, other organisations
occupy floors above and below (the decision to move has been made, I don't
have any control over this). I have recently become involved and am
concerned about a couple of issues and would appreciate your comments.
The present intercom system which colleagues from other departments use is
not accessible if a colleague uses a wheelchair, as it is situated half way
up a small flight of steps (there is no public access to the building). I
would like this replaced with a system correctly positioned and,
preferably, with a video link. Does anyone know of a good system which is
relatively robust as we are in the middle of a very busy shopping precinct?
Evacuation: In the event of a fire we are unable to use the lifts, some of
the stairs (which are 1.5 M wide) are concrete, the last flight is
carpeted. We have no identified need at present, but I think we need to
have some system in place to accommodate visitors or staff with temporary
mobility restrictions. As we recruit staff with specific requirements, we
will accommodate each person individually. For the general requirement, we
are proposing to transfer an evac chair from another building - contacting
the company to ensure that the chair is appropriate for this new
environment. In the longer term, I know that many people do not like evac
chairs and would be grateful if anyone could suggest options which they
use.
Finally, there is no accessible WC on this level, although there is a
facility on the fourth floor which is very near the lifts. At present we
do not have a demand for this, but the distance someone would need to
travel is in excess of 40 M and there are H & S implications if there is
the need to evacuate the building. I am asking for an accessible WC to be
installed on the third floor - there will be some opposition to this in
terms of limited space and financial implications - what are your views.
Many thanks
Susan
Susan Fairburn
Equality and Diversity Adviser
Customer Contact Team
Corporate Core
County Hall, New Road
Oxford, OX1 1ND
direct line 01865 323 197
team line 01865 323 221
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