National Accessible Accommodation Standards
The Tourism for All National Accessible Standard was agreed in 1993 by the Hotel and Holiday Consortium, which comprises tourism industry representatives, including the English Tourism Council and National Tourist Boards, Holiday Care and other voluntary organisations. It is used to assess the accessibility of tourist accommodation and to assist operators in the promotion of their accessible facilities. Holiday Care, the English Tourism Council and National and Regional Tourist Boards are the only agencies accredited to inspect against the standard.
The criteria the English Tourism Council and National and Regional Tourist Boards have adopted do not necessarily conform to British Standards or to Building Regulations. They reflect what these organisations understand to be acceptable to meet the practical needs of wheelchair users.
The criteria for serviced and self-catering accommodation are summarised below. Criteria in operation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may have some minor variances.
CRITERIA FOR INSPECTION UNDER THE STANDARD – Please note the criteria for Category 2 includes all the requirements for Category 3 plus the additional ones listed. Category 1 includes all the requirements for Category 2 plus the extra listed ones.
CATEGORY 3 - Accessible to someone with limited mobility but able to walk a few paces and up a maximum of three steps
GENERAL:
- All doors to have a clear opening width of 700mm
- No more than three steps at any one point. Any ramp to have gradient of 1:12 (max); removable/portable ramps not acceptable
PUBLIC AREAS:
- Entrance to be accessible from a setting down or car point
- Establishments with car parks to have a reservable parking space
- Route from the parking point to be free from obstacles, deep gravel, cobbles and pot holes
- No more than three steps at any one point to the entrance
RECEPTION:
- As for “Interior General”
INTERIOR GENERAL:
- Public passageways used by disabled guests should be 750mm wide (min)
- No more than three steps at any one time in any of the areas used by disabled guests
LIFT:
- Lifts used by disabled guests to have an automatic opening door with a clear opening of 700mm (min), the interior should be 1,100mm x 700mm (min) wide
ACCESSIBLE BEDROOM:
- As for “Interior General”
ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM:
- En suite or on the same floor as the disabled guest bedroom
- The riser on the step into the shower to be 190mm (max)
- A washbasin present in the bathroom or bedroom
ACCESSIBLE WC:
- En-suite or on the same floor as the disabled guest’s bedroom
- Toilet paper within easy reach of the seat
- Where separate from the bathroom, there must be a washbasin in the same room
KITCHEN:
- As for “Interior General”
CATEGORY 2 - Accessible to a wheelchair user travelling with assistance
GENERAL:
- All doors should have a clear opening width of 750mm
- All door handles to be 900mm – 1,200mm from the floor
- A succession of steps to have space after each step for a wheelchair
- Steps to be 190mm high (max) and treads 250mm (min) deep and 750mm wide
PUBLIC AREAS:
- Car park to have one level, reservable space per accessible bedroom (3.6 wide (min))
- Route from the car park to the entrance to be level or ramped
- No more than a single step to the entrance
- Thresholds at the entrance to be 20mm (max)
- Reception to have an unobstructed area of 1,100mm x 700mm (min)
RECEPTION:
- As for “Interior General”
INTERIOR GENERAL:
- No more than a single step at any one time in any of the areas used by disabled guests
- Public passageways used by disabled guests to be 800mm wide (min) and 1,200mm wide (min) opposite doors to rooms used by disabled guests
- At least one accessible table in the dining room with a clear under space of 650mm (min) – blocks may be used to lift the table. With three or more Category 1 and 2 accessible bedrooms there should be at least two accessible tables
LIFT:
- Lifts for use by disabled guests should have a door with a clear opening of 750mm (min), the interior should be 1,200mm (min) deep by 800mm (min) wide
ACCESSIBLE BEDROOM:
- Surface of the bed must be 450mm – 540mm above the floor
- Light switches, curtain pulls and hanging rails to be 1,400mm (max) from the floor
- 1,100mm x 700mm (min) unobstructed space clear of the door swing
- 800mm (min) space along one side of the bed to allow for lateral transfer
- 650mm (min) clear space underneath dressing tables
ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM:
- Light switch 1,400mm (max) from the floor
- 1,000mm x 700mm (min) unobstructed space clear of the door swing
- Bath rim to be 450mm – 500mm from the floor
- Horizontal support rail on the far wall, 150mm above the bath rim
- 800mm (min) space alongside the bath to allow for lateral transfer
- Where there is a shower only, it must have level entry (no rim) and 800mm (min) lateral transfer space
- Where there is a shower only, controls must be 900mm – 1,200mm from the floor
- Where there is a shower only, the seat should be 450mm – 500mm from the floor, a support rail on the far wall 250mm above the seat and not less than 500mm from the centre of the seat
- Washbasin to have a clear space of 650mm (min) underneath and/or lever taps
ACCESSIBLE WC:
- Lateral transfer space of 800mm (min)
- Rim of the WC seat to be 450mm – 500mm from the floor
- Horizontal support rail opposite the transfer space, 250mm above the seat and no more than 500mm from the centre of the seat
- If separate from the bathroom, there must be an unobstructed interior space of 1,100mm x 700mm (min) and a washbasin with a clear under space
KITCHEN:
- As for “Interior General”
CATEGORY 1 - Accessible to a wheelchair user travelling independently
GENERAL:
- Door thresholds 20mm (max)
PUBLIC AREAS;
- No step along the route to the entrance
RECEPTION:
- As for “Interior General”
INTERIOR GENERAL:
- All routes used by disabled guests must be level or ramped
- Access to all rooms used by disabled guests must be level, ramped or have a threshold 20mm (max) high
LIFT:
- Lifts for use by disabled guests should have controls 1,400mm (max) above the floor
ACCESSIBLE BEDROOM:
- Television remote control, light switches and telephone no more than 500mm from the bed
ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM:
- As for Category 2
ACCESSIBLE WC:
- As for Category 2
The criteria the English Tourism Council and National and Regional Tourist Boards have adopted do not necessarily conform to British Standards or to Building Regulations. They reflect what these organisations understand to be acceptable to meet the practical needs of wheelchair users.
The criteria for serviced and self-catering accommodation are summarised below. Criteria in operation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may have some minor variances.
CRITERIA FOR INSPECTION UNDER THE STANDARD – Please note the criteria for Category 2 includes all the requirements for Category 3 plus the additional ones listed. Category 1 includes all the requirements for Category 2 plus the extra listed ones.
CATEGORY 3 - Accessible to someone with limited mobility but able to walk a few paces and up a maximum of three steps
GENERAL:
- All doors to have a clear opening width of 700mm
- No more than three steps at any one point. Any ramp to have gradient of 1:12 (max); removable/portable ramps not acceptable
PUBLIC AREAS:
- Entrance to be accessible from a setting down or car point
- Establishments with car parks to have a reservable parking space
- Route from the parking point to be free from obstacles, deep gravel, cobbles and pot holes
- No more than three steps at any one point to the entrance
RECEPTION:
- As for “Interior General”
INTERIOR GENERAL:
- Public passageways used by disabled guests should be 750mm wide (min)
- No more than three steps at any one time in any of the areas used by disabled guests
LIFT:
- Lifts used by disabled guests to have an automatic opening door with a clear opening of 700mm (min), the interior should be 1,100mm x 700mm (min) wide
ACCESSIBLE BEDROOM:
- As for “Interior General”
ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM:
- En suite or on the same floor as the disabled guest bedroom
- The riser on the step into the shower to be 190mm (max)
- A washbasin present in the bathroom or bedroom
ACCESSIBLE WC:
- En-suite or on the same floor as the disabled guest’s bedroom
- Toilet paper within easy reach of the seat
- Where separate from the bathroom, there must be a washbasin in the same room
KITCHEN:
- As for “Interior General”
CATEGORY 2 - Accessible to a wheelchair user travelling with assistance
GENERAL:
- All doors should have a clear opening width of 750mm
- All door handles to be 900mm – 1,200mm from the floor
- A succession of steps to have space after each step for a wheelchair
- Steps to be 190mm high (max) and treads 250mm (min) deep and 750mm wide
PUBLIC AREAS:
- Car park to have one level, reservable space per accessible bedroom (3.6 wide (min))
- Route from the car park to the entrance to be level or ramped
- No more than a single step to the entrance
- Thresholds at the entrance to be 20mm (max)
- Reception to have an unobstructed area of 1,100mm x 700mm (min)
RECEPTION:
- As for “Interior General”
INTERIOR GENERAL:
- No more than a single step at any one time in any of the areas used by disabled guests
- Public passageways used by disabled guests to be 800mm wide (min) and 1,200mm wide (min) opposite doors to rooms used by disabled guests
- At least one accessible table in the dining room with a clear under space of 650mm (min) – blocks may be used to lift the table. With three or more Category 1 and 2 accessible bedrooms there should be at least two accessible tables
LIFT:
- Lifts for use by disabled guests should have a door with a clear opening of 750mm (min), the interior should be 1,200mm (min) deep by 800mm (min) wide
ACCESSIBLE BEDROOM:
- Surface of the bed must be 450mm – 540mm above the floor
- Light switches, curtain pulls and hanging rails to be 1,400mm (max) from the floor
- 1,100mm x 700mm (min) unobstructed space clear of the door swing
- 800mm (min) space along one side of the bed to allow for lateral transfer
- 650mm (min) clear space underneath dressing tables
ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM:
- Light switch 1,400mm (max) from the floor
- 1,000mm x 700mm (min) unobstructed space clear of the door swing
- Bath rim to be 450mm – 500mm from the floor
- Horizontal support rail on the far wall, 150mm above the bath rim
- 800mm (min) space alongside the bath to allow for lateral transfer
- Where there is a shower only, it must have level entry (no rim) and 800mm (min) lateral transfer space
- Where there is a shower only, controls must be 900mm – 1,200mm from the floor
- Where there is a shower only, the seat should be 450mm – 500mm from the floor, a support rail on the far wall 250mm above the seat and not less than 500mm from the centre of the seat
- Washbasin to have a clear space of 650mm (min) underneath and/or lever taps
ACCESSIBLE WC:
- Lateral transfer space of 800mm (min)
- Rim of the WC seat to be 450mm – 500mm from the floor
- Horizontal support rail opposite the transfer space, 250mm above the seat and no more than 500mm from the centre of the seat
- If separate from the bathroom, there must be an unobstructed interior space of 1,100mm x 700mm (min) and a washbasin with a clear under space
KITCHEN:
- As for “Interior General”
CATEGORY 1 - Accessible to a wheelchair user travelling independently
GENERAL:
- Door thresholds 20mm (max)
PUBLIC AREAS;
- No step along the route to the entrance
RECEPTION:
- As for “Interior General”
INTERIOR GENERAL:
- All routes used by disabled guests must be level or ramped
- Access to all rooms used by disabled guests must be level, ramped or have a threshold 20mm (max) high
LIFT:
- Lifts for use by disabled guests should have controls 1,400mm (max) above the floor
ACCESSIBLE BEDROOM:
- Television remote control, light switches and telephone no more than 500mm from the bed
ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM:
- As for Category 2
ACCESSIBLE WC:
- As for Category 2
