Category 1 Accessibility Requirements

Unassisted wheelchair access for visitors

Accommodation Requirements
All the requirements for Category 2 except as amended below:

Public Entrance
Only if there is a car park, there must be a level reservable space with a minimum width of 360 cm for each bedroom meeting the Category 1 requirements.

  1. The threshold at the entrance must be no higher than 2 cm.

Interior General

  1. All routes to be used by the disabled guest must be level or ramped.
  2. Where the guest is required to use a lift, it must have automatic doors and the controls must be 140 cm or less above the floor.
  3. Access to the restaurant/dining room, lounge, bar, bedroom, bathroom and WC (where not en suite) must be level or ramped with thresholds no higher than 2 cm.

Bedroom
Only one bedroom need meet these requirements.

  1. The surface of the bed must be between 45-54cm above the floor.
  2. Door handles, light switches, TV controls, curtain pulls, wardrobe rails, etc., should be accessible and no more than 140 cm above the floor.
  3. Light switch and telephone (where provided) no more than 50 cm from the bed.

Bathroom
Only one bathroom, separate or en suite with the bedroom(s) above, need meet these requirements.

  1. The door handle and light switch must be 140 cm or less above the floor.
  2. The horizontal or angled support rail at the far side of the bath must be no more than 30 cm above the rim.
  3. The rim of the bath must be 45 - 50 cm above the floor.
  4. Where a shower only is available to the guest the controls must be 140 cm or less above the floor.

WC
Only one WC, separate or en suite with the bedroom(s) above, need meet these requirements.

  1. The horizontal support rail opposite the transfer space must be no more than 50 cm from the centre of the seat.

Kitchens
Self-catering units only

  1. There must be a minimum clear floor space of 120 cm in front of units and worksurfaces.
  2. At least one worksurface or table should have a clear underspace between 65 - 80 cm high.
  3. The hob should not be more than 80 cm high. Hob to have clear underspace below or alongside and accessible controls.
  4. The oven should have front controls and base between 65 cm and 80 cm above floor.
  5. The sink should have lever taps and a clear underspace.
  6. The base of wall cupboards and shelves should not be more than 120 cm above floor.
  7. Light switches and door handles should not be more than 140 cm above floor.
  8. Power socket should not be more than 140 cm above floor and unobstructed (extension sockets acceptable).
  9. A fire extinguisher or fire blanket not more than 140 cm above floor should be sited between the hob and doorway, and be accessible.

Notes

  1. Removeable ramps, unless permanently in situ, are not acceptable.
  2. Thresholds to rooms to which the wheelchair user requires access must be no higher than 2 cm.

Visitor Attraction Requirements
All the requirements for Category 2 with additions and amendments as below:

Approach

  1. If there is no general public car park, there must be at least 2 dedicated parking spaces, each with a minimum width of 360 cm, capable of being reserved in advance.
  2. If there is a car park, the dedicated spaces must each have a minimum width of 360 cm (which may include wheelchair transfer space shared with an adjoining dedicated space).
  3. The route to the entrance must include no steps and must not be steeper than 1:15. Long slopes must have level resting places 150 cm long at no more than 10 m intervals.

 

NB: Category 2 waiver applies.

Entrance

  1. The immediate approach to the entrance must be level or ramped with a gradient not exceeding 1:15 and with a level landing 120 cm deep clear of any door swing, and with level resting places 150 cm long at no more than 10 m intervals.
  2. Thresholds must not exceed 2 cm.

Facilities

  1. The route to each accessible facility must be level or ramped with gradients not exceeding 1:15.
  2. Where an attraction contains more than one WC facility, all those located on Category 1 accessible routes must contain an accessible unisex facility.
  3. All such accessible WC facilities must be unisex and conform to Part T Building Regulations (Scotland). Door widths must provide a clear opening width of 80 cm.
  4. Where the route requires the use of a lift or lifts, their doors must have clear opening widths of not less than 75 cm and interval dimensions not less than 140 cm deep by 110 cm wide. Controls for the lift must not be more than 140 cm above the floor or landing.

Features
All the requirements for Category 2 with additions and amendments as below:

  1. The route to each accessible feature must be level or ramped with gradients not exceeding 1:15.
  2. Where the route requires the use of a lift or lifts, their doors must have clear opening widths of not less than 75 cm and internal dimensions not less than 140 cm deep by 110 cm wide. Controls for the lift must not be more than 140 cm above the floor or landing.
  3. Entrances and interiors of accessible features must be level or ramped with gradients not exceeding 1:15 and thresholds must be no higher than 2 cm.