Spectator & competitor provision Area

Viewing in swimming pools falls under one of three types:

1. Informal viewing:
which is the general viewing for understanding the layout of the of he building allowing a degree of supervising. It can be both internally or externally.

2.  Formal viewing:
which require fixed seating that is usually stepped and located on the long side of the pool - usually the competitive pool-.

3. Pool surrounds:
which is the seating along the pool for competitors in events. Depending on the situation those seating can be temporary seating but it has to take the general circulation in accounts.

Seating capacity:

Dimension:

Spectator seating should be designed to meet the "Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds - (The Green Guide):

1- The maximum angle of seating rake should not exceed 34˚.

2- The ‘C value’ or distance of the sight line above the head of the person in the row in front and the ‘focus point. The minimum C value should be 0.090 m, but

0.120 m is preferred.

3. The space below the seating might be used as changing rooms or pool storage

depending on the layout and the height the seating. 

4. Sight lines should relate to a focus point at the edge of the pool, particularly in 10 lane pools where all lanes may be used (the red line in the figure above ).

5. Riser heights ( N value)  and seating row depths ( T value) will generally be a function of multiples of 0.28 m minimum goings and 0.19 m maximum risers 

Accessibility
Accessibility for wheelchair users needs to be considered early in the design. In smaller facilities, accessibility may only be practical at pool side and/or the uppermost level of the seating.

Seating Details:

Steps and levels:

Creativity:

Design for wheel chair Users

 

Dimension:

1. Corridor = 1.8 m ( for 3 wheel chairs at a time )

2. Turning Circle diameter = 1.5 m ( even in narrow and L-shaped corridors)

3. Door's clear opening = 9.25 m

4. Rounded corners desirable

 

 
Source: http://www.accesscode.info/buildings/6_6d.html

 

Cone of Vision:

 

 

 

Source: United Nations - Enable website
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/designm/AD5-03.htm

 

Changing Facilities..

General planning principles:
- Make the space close to the entrance and within sight of the reception.
- Ensure that single-sex changing areas and toilet provision are well screened from common areas for privacy.
- Routes need to be clearly defined and lockers must be positioned in close proximity to the changing benches or cubicles.

- Position toilets on the access route to the pool 

- Ensure that pre-swim showers are located after the toilets and immediately prior to the entry into the pool hall for hygiene purposes .

-To avoid cleaning problems, minimise repetitive circulation where users from the wet side use the same routes as those from the dry side.

Example 1:

Alternative example of a changing village (unisex cubicle changing) with integrated accessible changing and toilets including the unisex ‘Changing Places’ room

Example 2:

Separate male and female changing areas with integrated accessible changing and toilets and individual cubicles for families and wheelchair users

Dimensions and circulation:

Number of units/ person

Foot Baths:

- Foot baths are not the most effective method of cleaning feet because it is ignoring disabled people. 

- Foot sprays are an alternative.

- Also showersm if they where in a good position, would encourage the use prior

to swimming are the best option. 

The shower design and layout should ensure:

• Adequate warm water consistent with water economy.

• Dirty water is prevented from entering the pool or, in a deck level pool, the surround channel.

• Showers are not planned with stepped thresholds and use good falls and floor drainage channels or gullies to remove water.

• A number of fully enclosed showers for post-swim showering.

• There are waste receptacles close to the shower area for empty shampoo bottles and sachets.

• Drop-down shower seats are provided for users with disabilities.

Source: Swimming Pools, Updated Guidance for 2011 by: Sport England

Accessibility for the Disabled - A Design Manual for a Barrier Free Environment

I was looking around to find the appropriate dimensions for elevators to suit wheelchair users, and I found this article by: United Nations System and Persons with Disabilities.

First: Identifying the problems that might face wheelchair users:1- Inadequate space inside the elevator cab.
2- High position of switches, buttons and control panel.
3- Narrow entry doors.
4- Insufficient opening time interval.

Second: Planning principles:
provide well-dimensioned elevators, that can be used conveniently.

Third: Design considerations: 
3.1 General
The accessible elevator should serve all floors normally reached by the public.
Key-operated elevators should be used only in private facilities or when an elevator operator is present.
Wide elevator cabs are preferable to long ones.

3.2 Elevator cab

fig 1

The minimum internal elevator dimensions, allowing for one wheelchair passenger alone, are 1.00 m x 1.30 m (fig. 1).

The door opening should not be less than 0.80 m.

fig 2

The inside of the elevator should have a handrail on three sides located on 0.80 to 0.85 m from the floor (fig. 2).

The maximum tolerance for stop precision should be 20 mm.

3.3 Control panel



The control panel can be mounted at one of the alternative locations shown in fig. 3.

For ease of reach, the control panel should be mounted 0.90 m to 1.20 m from the floor (fig. 2).

Control buttons should be in an accessible location and illuminated. Their diameter should be no smaller than 20 mm.

The numerals on the floor selector buttons should be embossed so as to be easily identifiable by touch.

 fig 4

3.4 Call buttons

For ease of reach, call buttons should be mounted 0.90 m to 1.20 m from the floor (fig. 4). 3.5 Floor identifiers

Tactile numerals should be placed on both sides of the door jambs at an approximate height of 1.50 m to help a lone sightless passenger to identify the floor reached (fig. 4). 3.6 Hall signal

The elevator hall signal should be placed at an approximate height of 1.80 m (fig. 4).

3.7 Door re-opening activators

The door opening interval should be no less than five seconds. Re-opening activators should be provided.

3.8 Audiovisual signals

The elevator should signal arrival at each floor by means of a bell and a light to alert sightless and hearing-impaired passengers simultaneously.

3.9 Floor surface

The floor of the elevator and the area in front of the elevetor on each floor should have a non skid resilient surface or a low-pile fixed carpet.

3.10 Colour

The colour of the door should contrast with the surrounding surface so as to be easily distinguishable by persons with visual impairments.

Source: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/designm/AD2-02.htm

Sports & Fitness Center for Persons with Disabilities

The Virginia G. Piper Sports & Fitness Center for Persons with Disabilities (Spofit) is only one of two of its kind in the U.S. Designed and constructed from the ground up, 

Area: 45,000 sqft facility

Dedicated to: people with disabilities. 

Facility:

 - Fitness area with + exercise equipment

- Two full size basketball courts

- Aquatics area

- Rock climbing wall

- Jogging track

- The fitness facility is mixing the art and gorgeous from an architectural perspective. 

- A huge open air basketball courts in the middle of the building.

- The courts can be used for other sports and activities such as seated volleyball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair soccer. 

- Halfway up and suspended above the courts is a jogging track. The track is a 1/9 mile oval and can be used by runners and wheelchair users.

Source: http://www.universaldesignstyle.com/sports-fitness-center-for-persons-with-disabilities/

Retractable Stairs to Platform Lift

A common roadblock when making a commercial entrance or change in level accessible is making it accessible while still keeping the architectural integrity. Many times ramps can be installed which can easily be made to look appeasing. Platform lifts on the other hand can look very mechanical and garish. There are many ways to make platform lifts look stylish which I have wrote about before. But there is another problem, space. A small or narrow entrance could have room for stairs but no room for a platform lift. What to do then? How about hiding the platform lift under the stairs. Yes you read that right because it can be done with the retractable Stairs and platform lift from the U.K.

Different materials can be used for the stair surfaces to match the surrounding design. Stones, marble, concrete, or wood can all be used. Different stairway platform configurations can be accommodated for. Just look at the pictures and you can what I’m talking about.

video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hvpZmM9iBw

Source: http://www.universaldesignstyle.com/sesame-retractable-stairs-to-platform-lift/