Step down immediately behind door

[zetland76]

Hi,

Our club is looking into changing the internal layout of the club house. One proposal was to re-site the access door to the small lobby leading to the toilet. Unfortunately the lobby floor is 15cm lower than the main floor and anyone going through the door will be faced with an immediate step down. I would have thought this would be extremely dangerous. Especially for our elderly members. Would this be against Building Regulations and would there be a work-a-round (a sloping ramp behind the door for example?)

Thanks

Mike

 

[John D v2.0]

I'm not sure about building regulations but being a non domestic premises it would be worth doing a risk assessment, which it sounds like you already have the beginnings of.
If it's not possible to raise the floor to match It may be possible to mitigate with signage/colour strips or other soft mitigations.
Having said that if there are other options that are fundamentally safer that you should prefer those as a mitigation.

 

[tony1851]

Why not put the distinct yellow/black marker strip (as on buses and trains) across the step, and a large sign on the door stating 'mind the step'?
If it's not part of a fire escape route, a single step shouldn't be a problem as long as it is clearly marked.

 

[^woody^]

Not building regs, but if there was an accident then the claim would be bought under the 1957 Occupiers Liability Act and the general duty of care to ensure users of the premises are safe.

There are no prescriptive regulations, but several precedents for trips on steps, and signage is good but may not be good enough if it can be demonstrated that a technical solution (ramp and extended threshold platform) was an option.

No one expects a step right at a door threshold. And a club, particularly if drink and frivolity take place or with kids and elderly using it, then users may not be expected to see warnings.

Get your insurers opinion and advice.

It may also fail a disability discrimination assessment under the Equality Act 2010, as being a barrier to the less able.

 

[tony1851]

It may also fail a disability discrimination assessment under the Equality Act 2010, as being a barrier to the less able.

Fair point.

 

[Leofric]

Do you mean the door opens out over the step , if so this would be a hazard in a place like a club.

 

[mattylad]

Build up the floor immediately around the door so that there is no step as you walk through but a couple of foot afterwards, add the slope there if your going to have one.

 

[Nige F]

No one expects a step right at a door threshold. .

Like the Spanish Inquisition