< PreviousTECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C2 Seatways and gangways © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT C2.02Seatways in front of blocks of seating need not be treated as gangways so long as width does not exceed 900mm. C2.03 Seating and gangways in auditoria with adaptable layouts should meet the Recommendations of Sections C1 and C2 in all configurations. C2.04 Floors under seating may be level, stepped or sloped. C2.05 Floors under seating should not be inclined at more than 1 in 1.5 (35º above the horizontal). C2.06 Where a rake exceeds 1 in 2 (25º above the horizontal) consideration should be given to increasing the height of the seat backs to around 600mm (measured from the floor of the row behind) or alternatively to the provision of suitable rails along the backs of the seats. (For balcony fronts see Table 14 in Section D2.) C2.07 Table 8 shows the recommended minimum seating space that should be assigned to each person. More comfortable seating would be at least 525mm wide for seats with arms (460mm for seats without arms). Wheelchairs C2.08 In closely-seated auditoria at least 6 wheelchair spaces or 1% of the total seating capacity (rounded up), whichever the greater, should be available as wheelchair spaces. Approved Document M: Access to and use of Buildings gives the statutory minimum requirement for the Provision of Wheelchair space. For a seating capacity of up to 600 the minimum provision of spaces for wheelchairs: Permanent: 1 % of seating capacity (rounded up) Removable: Remainder to make a total of 6 For a seating capacity of over 600 but less than 10,000 the minimum provision of spaces for wheelchairs: Permanent: 1 % of seating capacity (rounded up) Removable: Additional provision if required Spaces should be provided in various parts of the auditorium to allow for different vantage points. C2.09It may not always be practical to provide wheelchair spaces in existing buildings in which case other provisions should be made for wheelchair users. C2.10 There should be easy access for means of escape for wheelchair users from within the auditorium. BS 9999 gives some advice. C2.11 Wheelchair spaces should preferably be permanent. Note: It may be acceptable to locate loose chairs in wheelchair spaces when not in use for wheelchairs, subject to management control. C2.12Spaces for wheelchairs may be provided by removing fixed seating. This provision should be readily and easily achieved. Note: Removal and replacement of fixed seating should not be undertaken when the public are in the auditorium. C2.13At least some of the wheelchair spaces should be paired so that friends in wheelchairs can be seated together. C2.14 At least some of the wheelchair spaces should be located next to the fixed seating so that a companion in the fixed seating can be adjacent to the wheelchair user. C2.15In new buildings provision should be made for the nearby storage of wheelchairs for users who wish to transfer to fixed seats during the performance.TECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C2 Seatways and gangways © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT Table 8. Recommended minimum seating space per person and good practice for comfort Type of Seating Depth back to back dimension between rows of seats Width Backs provided 760mm minimum good practice at least 850mm to 900mm Backs not provided 600mm minimum Arms provided 500mm minimum good practice at least 525mm to 550mm Arms not provided 450mm minimum good practice at least 500mm Wheelchair space 1400mm minimum900mm minimumTECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C2 Seatways and gangways © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT Seatways C2.16 Seatways should be not less than 300mm wide. C2.17 Table 9gives details of the recommended maximum number of seats in a row for given minimum seatway widths. C2.18 The width of a seatway is the distance between perpendiculars dropped from the front of a seat including any armrests and the back of the seat in front or the barrier in front. Where seats tip up automatically, the width of the seatway is measured from the maximum projection of the seat including any armrests, when the seat is in the ‘up’ position. See Figure L. C2.19 Seats are often made to tip up in order to take up less space than would otherwise be necessary to achieve the recommended width of seatway and also to improve accessibility. Tip up seats should be activated by automatic and reliable means such as the positioning of the pivot or the use of weights. C2.20 Seatways should be substantially level. Note: This does not rule out a gentle slope across a seatway (as where the seating rake is a parabola) or along the line of travel (as where tiers are sloped in both directions to improve sightlines). C2.21 There should be no change of level between a seatway and the adjacent gangway. The gangway should not be stepped (or sloped with a differing slope) where the seatway meets the gangway. This does not preclude steps from the seatway to the gangway so long as handrails are provided. Any steps from a seatway should be at right angles to the line of travel along the seatway. FIGURE M: VIEWING ANGLE FOR CINEMA SCREENS TECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C2 Seatways and gangways © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TTTECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C2 Seatways and gangways © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT Table 9. Recommended maximum number of seats in a row Seatway width mm Maximum number of seats in a row Gangway on one side only Gangway on both sides 300 to 324 714 325 to 349 816 350 to 374 918 375 to 399 1020 400 to 424 1122 425 to 449 not more than 12 seats if escape only possible in one direction 24 450 to 474 26 475 to 499 28 500 or morelimited by travel distance Notes: 1. No seatway should be less than 300mm wide. 2. A seatway in front of a block of seating should be regarded as a gangway if it exceeds 900mm in width – see Recommendation C2.32. 3. Seatways at the front of balconies should not exceed 530mm in width if a barrier of less than 1100mm high is provided – see Section D2. 4. This Table does not apply to seating in boxes. Strapotin Seats C2.22 A strapontin seat for the use of the audience on a seating row end should not, when in use, reduce the width of the adjacent gangway to less than is recommended. C2.23 Audience members using strapontin seats which extend into a gangway should not be allowed to leave coats and bags under their seat which in the event of an evacuation would be left in the clear width of the gangway at the row end. C2.24 A strapontin seat when tipped up should not reduce the width of a seatway to less than is recommended. C2.25 A strapontin seat for use by the audience which when tipped up produces a local obstruction to the clear width of a seatway, (but not so it reduces it to less than the minimum recommended width), should be designed to have a high visual contrast with the surrounding furnishings and finishes even in low lighting conditions. Fixing of seats C2.26 In theatres, cinemas and other premises regularly used for closely-seated audiences, all seating, except for chairs in boxes or similar enclosures, should be firmly fixed to the floor and able to resist 1.0kN/m force. C2.27 Wherever seating is fixed, it should be arranged so that it does not impede access or exit from the premises and so that it will not hinder evacuation in an emergency. TECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C2 Seatways and gangways © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT C2.28 Seats in cinemas should be arranged so that a spectator’s eyes do not have to look up more than 35º to see the top edge of the picture. See Figure M. C2.29 Table 10 gives details of the recommended arrangements where it is not reasonable to fix all the seats to the floor because the seating is not permanently installed. C2.30It is important that loose seating does not hinder evacuation in emergency. Where temporary seating is in rows and not fixed to the floor, the loose seats near exits should be fixed together to ensure individual chairs are not knocked over which could otherwise create a hazard when people move in mass or in an evacuation. Table 10. Recommended arrangements for temporary seating Number of seats exceeding Recommended arrangement 50Secure seats together in lengths of not less than four 250 Secure the seats together in rows and fix the ends of the rows to the floor or to each other by using chamfered floor bars Over 600Fix all seats individually to the floor 1. The fixing of seats together should be sufficiently secure to avoid easy separation or snaking under pressure. 2. Where it is impractical to fix seats to floor plates, for example on polished dance floors, chamfered floor bars may be used. This is not a recommended solution for a ‘lively’ audience, for example at a pop concert. Gangways, often called aisles in auditoria C2.31 Gangways are escape routes and should meet the Recommendations of Tables 5, 6 and 7 in Section C1. C2.32Gangways should be at least 1100mm wide except gangways intended for use by not more than 60 people, which may be not less than 900mm wide. Gangways accessible to people with impaired mobility should be at least 1000mm wide in all cases. Note: Where a gangway is also used as a seatway, for example at the front of a block of seats, there is no need to increase its width because of its dual purpose although this may be desirable for the convenience of users. C2.33 Gangways may be level or sloping or stepped or a combination thereof. C2.34 Sloping gangways should not be regarded as ramps. Gangways should not be inclined at more than 1 in 12 (5 o above the horizontal.) C2.35 Stepped gangways should not be regarded as stairs; however excessively long flights of steps should be avoided. There should be no more than 40 steppings in a gangway where the rake exceeds 1 in 2 (25 o above the horizontal) without a cross gangway. The height of each stepping should not be less than 100mm nor exceed 190mm. The going of each stepping should not be less than 250mm. Where there are two or more risers adjacent to a row of seats these should be equal. Note 1: Where the seating rake is curved (parabolic or elliptical) any variation in step rise should be uniform. Note 2: Where stepped accommodation gangways are provided to split up excessively long seatways, it is acceptable to increase the height of the stepping to a maximum of 210mm, provided the going be not less than 300mm and the overall angle on the tier does not exceed 35 o above the horizontal. TECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C2 Seatways and gangways © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT C2.36 The edges of stepped gangways should be non-slip and made very conspicuous. This is particularly important in entertainment areas where light levels may be low. Note: The use of way guidance systems mounted at low level will greatly assist ease of movement along seatways and gangways. Steps may be rendered conspicuous by the use of appropriate marker lights. optical fibre and LED systems are frequently used for such markings and for the illumination of seatways. For high visibility photoluminescent markers see D2.25 note. C2.37 Gangways should be arranged to avoid cross over junctions between radial and transverse gangways, all junctions should be ‘T’ junctions. See Figure N. C2.38 The seats at the ends of rows should be aligned so as to maintain a uniform width of gangway unless escape is only possible in one direction, in which case the gangway may widen uniformly in the direction of escape. C2.39 Seats provided for attendants should be fixed and arranged so as not to obstruct gangways. Automatic tip-up seats may be ignored so long as they do not project more than 100mm into the gangway and no part is more than 1250mm above the floor when not occupied by an attendant. Handrails to gangways C2.40 Handrails should be provided on walls adjacent to stepped or sloping gangways. Handrails projecting up to 100mm from the face of the wall may be ignored when calculating the width of a gangway. Note: Any protrusion in excess of 100mm should be treated as a reduction in the clear width of the gangway. C2.41Handrails should be provided on both sides of any stepped gangway where the rake exceeds 1 in 2 (25º above the horizontal.) Handrails should be discontinuous across the end of each row of seats to allow access to the seatways. A continuous rail should be provided on any adjacent wall.TECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C2 Seatways and gangways © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TTTECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C2 Seatways and gangways © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT C2.42 Consideration should be given to the provision of handrails on both sides of all gangways to assist the frail and infirm. Handrails should be discontinuous across the end of each row of seats to allow access to the seatways. A continuous rail should be provided on any adjacent wall. C2.43Consideration should be given to the provision of non-continuous handrails in the centre of gangways where gangways are wider than 1800mm, provided each section is at least 1100mm wide. This means that gangways with central handrails should be at least 2200mm wide. Central handrails up to 100mm wide may be ignored when calculating the width of a gangway. Note: Any thickness of handrail in excess of 100mm should be treated as a reduction in the clear width of the gangway. C2.44 Handrails in gangways should be between 900mm to 1000mm above finished floor level or the pitch line of gangway. Handrails should extend where possible at least 300mm beyond the end of any stepped or sloping gangway. As much as possible of the extension should be horizontal. The ends of handrails should be returned to the wall for safety or, where there is no wall, turned to the floor or back onto themselves. C2.45 Handrails should be designed to be easily grasped and to provide firm support. Handrails should, therefore, have a circular profile of between 40 and 45mm diameter or, preferably, have an oval profile of 50mm width and be mounted so that there is a clear gap of between 60 to 75mm from the face of any wall. The supports should be mounted centrally on the underside of the handrail. The vertical clearance between the handrail and any support should be at least 50mm. The inner face of the handrail should not be more than 50mm beyond the surface width of the stair or ramp. See Figure O. C2.46Handrails should be finished so as to contrast with their surroundings. Amphitheatre seating Note: The dimensions given in Recommendations C2.47 – C2.55 are not exact but are considered appropriate. See Figure P. C2.47 Where amphitheatre seating is provided the seat and the seatway should together be 590mm back to front. C2.48 The seatway should be 340mm back to front. C2.49 The seating should be 250mm back to front and about 100mm above the seatway which ensures that people are not likely to walk on the seating and will be kept away from the step edge. C2.50 Typically the total risers (row riser + seat riser) are 420mm where adults form the majority of the normal audience. Children should be accompanied by adults if the total riser exceeds 380mm. C2.51Where the total riser exceeds 210mm high stepped gangways should be provided at suitable intervals. These should be integrated with the seating levels. A typical step detail is shown in Figure P. This shows equal step risers of 160mm with variable treads by extending the seat by 100mm to form a 350mm tread followed by 240mm tread. C2.52 The rake should not exceed more than 1 in 1.5 (35º above the horizontal). Where the seating rake exceeds 1 in 2 (25º above the horizontal) children under 12 years old should be accompanied by adults. C2.53Edge marking of steps and handrails should meet Recommendations C2.40 to C2.46. C2.54 Gangways should otherwise meet the Recommendations C2.31 to C2.39. C2.55 Barriers are necessary wherever someone might fall, for example surrounding a vomitory. Barriers should meet the Recommendations in D2. Cushions C2.56 Any cushions or other upholstery in theatre galleries with amphitheatre seating should be fixed and meet Recommendation E2.19.TECHNICAL STANDARDS 2022 C2 Seatways and gangways © ABTT+CIEH+DSA+IOL + TT C2.57 Loose squabs or cushions used to raise seats higher, for example for children, should meet Recommendation E2.19. Such booster cushions or squabs should not be provided where they prevent tip-up seats from functioning or could cause a trip hazard if dislodged into the seatway. Booster cushions and squabs should not be stored within the auditorium nor be stacked or left anywhere where they might cause an obstruction. C2.58 Cushions for use on floors provided by management should meet Recommendation E2.19.Next >