Metric Data 05 – Approach Entrance and Horizontal Circulation

Metric Data 05: Approach, Entrance and Horizontal Circulation

In Visitable Dwellings

In Metric Data 05 we look at the approach to dwellings, entrance and circulation. This includes details such as requirements for ramps, steps, corridors and sanitary facilities plus much more. These dimensions are useful when planning spaces and developing designs.

The Building regulations will be met when a new dwelling makes reasonable provision for most people, including wheelchair users, to approach and enter the dwelling and is able to access sanitary facilities and habitable rooms on the ground floor or entrance storey. The following data is in accordance with the building regulations Part M for dwellings, category 1, visitable dwellings. Note there are different criteria for accessible dwellings and for wheelchair user dwellings.

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Approach to a dwelling

Route should be level, gently sloping or ramped
Approach route minimum of 900mm wide with max cross fall of 1 in 40
Where a driveway is the approach, a minimum of 900mm should be available for a wheelchair user to pass a parked car

Ramps

Individual flights of ramp

1:15 no more than 5m long
1:12 not more than 2m long

Every ramp has minimum clear width of 900mm
Every ramp flight has a top and bottom landing, with intermediate landing where required
Every landing is minimum of 1200mm long clear of any swing of door or gate

Stepped access (where ramped approach is not possible)

Steps have a uniform rise of 75-150mm, and minimum going of 280mm
No individual flight has a rise of more than 1800mm between landings
Every flight has a minimum of 900mm clear width
All landings, top, bottom and intermediate have a minimum length of 900mm
Every flight with three or more risers has a handrail on one side. Handrail must be 850-1000 above the pitch line of the flight and extend a minimum of 300mm beyond the top and bottom nosings

Private entrances and space within the dwelling

Entrance door has a minimum clear opening width of 775mm, 850mm preferable
Any threshold is an accessible threshold

Circulation and hallways

Every door to a habitable room and a room containing the WC has a minimum clear opening width according to table
Any obstruction, such as a radiator, does not occur opposite a doorway, and is no longer than 2m in length
The corridor is not reduced to below a minimum of 750mm by an obstruction

Sanitary facilities

Enable easy access to a WC, on the entrance storey.
Clear space must be provided to access the WC
Any basin is positioned so that it remains accessible
Door to the WC opens outwards and has a clear opening width

Make sure you download the pdf guide that goes with this post by filling out your details below. And get your copy of the cad files too by heading over to the FIA shop.

Click here to get the CAD files

If there is something specific you would like to see in this Metric Data series, please let us know and we can get it sorted.

Information based on UK Building Regulations Approved Documents

You might also be interested in:

We have loads of other useful posts in our Metric Data Series. Make sure you check them all out.

Metric Data 01 – Average Dimensions of Person Standing FI

Metric Data 03 - Average dimensions of wheelchair user FI

Metric-Data-05-Approach-Entrance-and-Horizontal-Circulation

Metric data 07 wheelchair accessible living area FI

Metric Data 11 Accessible Bathroom and WC FI

Metric Data 02 – Average Dimensions of Person Sitting FI

Metric Data 06 wheelchair accessible dwelling FI

Metric Data 08 - Standard Furniture Sizes

Metric-Data-10-Kitchen-Standards-for-Wheelchair-Users-FI

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