1. General Statement
ExCeL requires disabled visitors
to be afforded the same opportunities as able-bodied visitors
enjoy, and to this extent organisers must ensure that exhibition
stands are easily accessible to visitors using wheelchairs
ExCeL has been purposely designed
and built to allow unrestricted access to disabled visitors and to
conform to Part M of the Building Regulations.
We aim to provide full access to
all the facilities within the venue and recognises that disabled
visitors may require extra equipment, facilities and assistance
both routinely and in an emergency.
ExCeL London welcomes assistance
dogs with visually and/or hearing-impaired visitors.
To view disabled facilities on the
Interactive
Visitor Services Map
2. General Statement from National
Boat Shows (NBS)
NBS ask Exhibitors to actively
comply with the DDA and not discriminate against any form of
disability with people who have difficulty walking, seeing or
hearing who wish to access their stand.
Where there is no space available
for a ramp nor budget for a lift, we ask our Exhibitors to set out
exactly how they are going to comply with the DDA so far as
reasonably practicable.
3. Facilities For Disabled
Visitors
The following facilities are
available to disabled visitors:
(a) Access to car parking:
i. A minimum of 4.7% of the total
car parking spaces provided at the eastern and western car parks
are wide bays with minimum dimensions of 3600 by 4800 mm. Thus
there will be 158 bays suitable for disabled drivers on-site.
ii. Access to the building from
these bays is along walkways with a gradient of no more than
1:15.
(b) Access into and within the
building:
i. All public entrances allow for
access by wheel chair via low gradient ramps and an automatic
opening door. Once inside the venue, all floors are level, offering
unobstructed access for the disabled.
ii. Lift control panels are
located at a level, which can be easily reached by someone in a
wheelchair, and Braille or tactile buttons have also been used. All
lifts have a visual and voice indication of the floor reached and
an intercom facility activated by an alarm button. The entire
centre may be reached by lifts, the only exception being the second
level of organisers' offices.
iii. All stairs and ramps are
fitted with handrails and balustrades.
iv. All public corridors and
passageways have a minimum clear width of 1200mm.
v. Strong tactile differences in
paving are provided to indicate hazardous areas. E.g. Dock edge
indicated by cobble stone surface.
vi. Door vision panels giving a
zone of visibility between 900mm and 500mm above floor level are
provided on all public access doors.
(c) Other
Facilities/Provisions:
- ExCeL provides 40 toilets for
the disabled, which are located throughout the building; near the
Business Centre, the break-out rooms, the conference suites on
Level 3 and the restaurants and cafes on Level 0 and Level 2. Some
disabled toilets are fitted with radar keys to ensure usage only by
those who need them and to offer more ready availability. It is
therefore recommended to bring your own radar keys where possible.
Spare keys are kept at our information desks and medical centre if
required.
- Non-slip flooring has been used
throughout the building.
- All reception counters, bars and
self service counters and at least half the area where seating is
provided is accessible to wheelchair users.
- Self Service equipment such as
cash point machines and telephones will be located at levels
suitable to wheelchair users.
- Provision has been made for
non-visual indication of stair locations for those with impaired
vision.
- Pictographic signs and symbols
have been used to guide people around the building.
- Visitors with hearing and sight
disabilities can gather information about the event which they wish
to visit by using:
- The prominent visual displays
that are situated inside the Central Boulevard.
- The Information Desks sited at
either end of the Boulevard.
4. Wheelchair Hire
ExCeL London retains a small
number of wheelchairs available for daily hire from the west
information desk.
Wheelchairs are loaned on a first
come first served basis and cannot be reserved.
Wheelchairs are hired free of
charge but visitors must leave credit card details to cover a
£300.00 security deposit which will be charged if the wheelchair is
not returned.
The deposit amount is not deducted
from the customer card - on return of the wheelchair, the card
details and loan form will be destroyed.
5. Blind and Visually Impaired Visitors
ExCeL London customer service
staff have completed visual awareness training in order that we are
able to provide practical guidance to blind and visually impaired
visitors. Should you require any assistance during a planned visit,
please contact us via email at info@excel-london.co.uk
ahead of your arrival and with as much notice as possible
indicating the level of assistance you require, and we will do out
utmost to offer our support during your visit. Please note, this
service is offered on a best endeavours basis and cannot be
guaranteed.
ExCeL London is fully committed to
assisting those who have more detailed and specific access
information or requirements. For further advice please call our
information line on 0207 069 5000 or email info@excel-london.co.uk.
We aim to do out utmost to make
the venue welcoming and fully inclusive to all visitors and will do
our best to assist with any enquiry you may have.
To view disabled facilities on the
Interactive
Visitor Services Map