General physical access

Entrances: whether they are clear and unobstructed; all entrances are clear and unobstructed and wheelchair accessible.

Steps and staircases (including any clear step edging); flat entrance - no steps to enter the building. Emergency fire stairs only.

Ramps (permanent or mobile); none needed.

Lifts: availability to all floors and accessibility for wheelchair-users; yes.

Toilets: on which floors and accessibility to wheelchair-users or those with limited physical mobility; visitor bathroom in the Visa Section, 10th floor, is wheelchair accessible.

Parking: availability of parking facilities and whether parking spaces have full transfer space for wheelchairs; Parking available on the streets surrounding the Consulate for a fee.

Floor coverings: whether floor coverings are safe and even; yes.

Handrails; whether they are easily accessible to all users; no handrails.

Doors: whether they are easily accessible to all users; yes.

Lighting: whether there is good lighting or not; yes.

Emergency/evacuation: help alarms and arrangements for assisting disabled visitors in case of emergency/evacuation; there is a general building alarm (audio and visual) for fire and evacuation. Verbal instructions are given over the PA system from the control desk in the lobby area. Each floor of the BCG has a dedicated Fire Warden and search team. In the event of an emergency or evacuation they will assist with any disabled persons.

Phones: whether they are accessible (ie what height) to wheelchair users: there is a public phone accessible to wheelchair users in the Visa Waiting Room only.

Access for visually-impaired visitors

Signs: whether they are clear, easy to read, and use internationally-recognisable symbols, also availability in Braille; signs clearly indicate the British Consulate General offices and other signs are easy to read in black font. Lifts give the floor number in Braille only. There are no other signs in Braille.

Guide dogs: whether they are welcome or not; yes, guide dogs welcome.

Access for Deaf/hard of hearing visitors.

Hearing loops: installed or not; no.

Minicom and textphones: installed or not; no.

Sign language: whether any staff have sign language (eg BSL) and to what level; none.

Interpretation: whether professional Signing interpretation is available (specifying which languages); none.

Hearing dogs: whether they are welcome or not; hearing dogs welcome.