FD1 - Approach and Access to Aquatic Facilities

Purpose

To establish safety guidelines for the design of access and egress ways to and in an aquatic facility.

Designing the Approach to Aquatic Facilities

Aquatic Facilities require approach routes for both vehicles and pedestrians. These should be well signed with entry points that users can find easily. Use of environmental or architectural cues, a line of trees leading to the entry or similar structures that identify the entry points can assist.

Parking spaces for vehicles of various size and use, including cars, minibuses and bicycles, should be provided in any onsite car parking area. Consideration should be given to vehicles with side and rear loading capacity for people who may be using mobility aids, as well as enough overhead clearance to load and upload items stored on a vehicle’s roof.

The amount of car parking spaces should be consistent with the Disability (Access to Premises – Building Standards) 2010 Section D.3 and your building type.

Shade and shelter over some parking bays that may be used by people who take a little longer to enter or exit their vehicle are also useful. These bays should be located as close as possible to the principal entry points of the facilities provided. The ground surface of the parking area, particularly at designated accessible parking bays, should be level and free from loose material. Use of trees or shrubs that drop foliage or seed pods should be avoided.

An uninterrupted path of travel, free from any hazards or difficult or uneven terrain, should lead users from the car park to the entry points of the facilities.

Drop-off areas that can cater for a variety of vehicles, for example, buses, taxis or cars, should also be provided as close as possible to principal entry points.

Entry Points

Entry points should be easily identifiable and incorporate effective contrasts to the background area. Points of entry, including site, paths, fields of play and building entrances, should be wide enough to cater for the access needs of all users. This includes people who may be using mobility aids such as twin prams, scooters or wheelchairs and, for example, an adult with a child who is walking but who needs to be held by the hand, or a person with an assistance animal. Other users might be people carrying bags, cases and equipment. See the Disability (Access to Premises – Building Standards) 2010 for further information.

Consideration should also be given to the type and weight of any gates or doors that may need to be used to ensure they are not too heavy or difficult to operate.

Latches that can be used easily with one hand that are located at a low height for ease of use by a smaller person or someone using a wheelchair are important. Entry points that incorporate turnstiles, chicanes or queuing lines can be difficult for some people to manage and alternatives should be provided. Appropriate access through security gates, particularly during an event, should also be considered.

Access

All buildings should be located on a continuous, accessible path of travel from the car parking and pedestrian entry points of the aquatic facility. They should provide level, step-free entry with no revolving doors or turnstiles and with wide door openings to accommodate all users, including people with mobility aids such as prams, strollers, wheelchairs or assistance animals.

Self-opening doors are preferred, with effective contrasts across any glass doors or areas that could be mistaken for a doorway to ensure that the safety of users is not compromised.

Consideration should also be given to shelter close to, but not obstructing, the principal entries where some people may wish to store mobility aids while using the building.

Wide internal walkways and doorways, clear of any obstructions on the floor surface and walls, and areas to pass easily are important. See the Disability (Access to Premises – Building Standards) 2010. Level, slip-resistant floor surfaces in both wet and dry conditions that do not incorporate any lips or tripping hazards should be maintained.

Access into each room of the building is necessary so that users can participate in all activities and utilise required facilities. Fixtures and fittings that can be accessed by a smaller person or a child, as well as someone who is seated, are necessary, for example, at customer service counters and information and display areas.

Any controls that are required to operate building elements, such as lights or doors, should be easy to grip, see, reach and operate and be supplemented with clear, concise instructions for use where necessary. These instructions should be provided in a range of formats, for example, written, audio and tactile, to ensure that all users can effectively interpret the information provided.

In multiple level buildings, either ramps with appropriate gradients or lifts should be provided to upper levels to support ease of use and movement. These should be easy to locate, with consideration given to the use of effective contrasts as well as raised tactile and Braille signage. Lifts should incorporate buttons that include raised tactile elements as well as Braille close to the buttons to support effective interpretation and way finding. Audio announcements should also be installed to identify floor levels.

Any stairs should incorporate effective contrast nosing on the stair treads. Stairs and ramps require easy to grip handrails and tactile ground surface indicators at the top and bottom.

Installations

Installations such as litter bins, seating, lighting, drinking fountains (incorporating a low height dog bowl), dog dropping collection points and other installations should be usable by everyone.

These should be located off, but connected to, a continuous, accessible path of travel. People should be able to easily approach, reach and use the installations.

All installations should incorporate low height, easy to use controls that can be reached by a smaller person.

They should incorporate adequate leg clearance underneath to accommodate someone who is seated.

Consideration of the angles of approach and clear space for a person to move around the installations is also important.

Controls with large push buttons that protrude or extend beyond the surrounding surface or large levers are usually easier to use.

Avoid any controls that require a person to use fine motor skills like ‘one pointed finger’ or that require a constant pressure to operate.

The ability for one handed operation is preferred. Sensor operated controls that activate by sensing movement underneath or close to the installation also support ease of use.

The use of effective colour and luminance contrast to adjacent and background surfaces on installations and elements within installations will make them easier to identify and also assist with understanding how they are used.

References

• AS 1428.1 – 2009 Design for access and mobility - General Requirements for Access - New Building Work
• AS 1428.2 – 1992 Design for access and mobility - Enhanced and Additional Requirements - Buildings and Facilities
• AS/NZS 4586 – 2004 Slip Resistance Classification of New Pedestrian Surface Materials
• AS 1680 - 2009 Interior Lighting - Safe Movement
• Disability (Access to Premises - Buildings) Standards 2010