DG08

Circulation

ID
Title
Compliance Level
Expand All
08.00
General Principles
Mandatory
Mandatory

It is important that pathways and corridors be designed to provide sufficient width for the number of students and staff that will be using an area.

The Building Code of Australia provides minimum design requirements for corridors and paths of travel to exits to ensure safe evacuation.  Paths of travel to exits must never be less than BCA requirements.  However DoE has requirements over and above BCA requirements in order for students to move efficiently between areas.

The following criteria for the design of circulation spaces is based on the assumption that students (often with bags) could be travelling to areas at the same time as other students are traveling away, thus increasing the potential for congestion.

Refer to DG / ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES / CORRIDORS

08.01
Movement Area Within a Cluster
Mandatory
Mandatory

An assessment of the required movement within classroom/ learning areas should be undertaken based on the number of students in these areas and consideration of the following:

  • Majority of students leave an area before next group arrives.
  • Students pack / unpack materials from bags and queue within area. Area required for queuing is 0.5 m2 per student. 
  • Student numbers: Assumed that each classroom caters for up to 30 students (learning desk positions). Assume 90% of learning positions are occupied in cluster to allow a reasonable occupancy factor:

eg Science area with 6 laboratories  -   6 x 30 x 90% = 162 students.

  • When students are queuing, minimum movement will occur.

A Single lane of students will be at least 0.7m wide to allow for movement. 

08.02
Movement Into and Out of Clusters
Mandatory
Mandatory

An assessment of the required movement within the classroom/ learning areas should be undertaken based on the number of students in these areas and consideration of the following:

  • Students will leave in first minute of period change.
  • Movement lanes should be 0.7m wide, which allows for students carrying bags.
  • Flow rate of each 0.7m wide lane, would be 40 students per minute (S/min) on stairs and 60 S/min otherwise. The flow rate is the volume of students that can pass a single point in the 0.7m wide lane.
  • Student numbers: Assume occupancy of 90% of the learning positions in the cluster.
  • Widths of cluster exit openings / passage: is to be based on the number of students accommodated in the area.
  • Allow one lane width in addition to the paths, for movement against the main flow where widths are 1.4m or less. This will effectively give a minimum corridor width of 2.1m to and from classrooms.

Example:

  • For a cluster of 6 laboratories, 180 students leave in 1 minute   Required capacity of exit openings or passages is:

 

(180x0.9)=162 S/min         =                       2.76   ie. 3 Lanes  (to nearest full lane)

                 60 S/min

This width may be distributed among a number of exits in proportion to the amount of accommodation to which each path leads.

 

 

08.03
Width for Mass Movement
Mandatory
Mandatory

Corridors and circulation spaces are to be designed to suit the number of students that are to use the space. In main travel areas the width should be estimated based on student numbers, as follows:

  • Most students are moving to one point, e.g. canteen or buses at the same time.
  • Students using the Travel Area will need to pass through in two minutes.

Example

  • A travel width for 700 students in two minutes would require:

 

          700 (S)                       =                  5.83 L per 2 minutes

      60 (S/min/L) x 2(min)

                                               =    6 Lanes

                                                            =     4.2 m clear width.

08.04
Movement in Other Areas
Mandatory
Mandatory

Where there are not large numbers of student moving through circulation areas, such as in the administration office areas, the clear width can be reduced to 1200 mm for short corridor lengths and 1000mm where it is a ramp or stair up to a raised platform in the hall. Note that additional circulation space is required at door ways and for wheelchairs to pass.

08.05
Weather Protection
Mandatory
Mandatory

Circulation Areas provided between administrative, staff and all student spaces (except Agriculture), should be protected from sun, rain and unfavourable winds.

08.06
Finishes - Walls, Floors, Ceilings
Mandatory
Mandatory

All materials are to be chosen based on a whole of life assessment, to provide:  

  • Functionality
  • Long term durability
  • Low maintenance requirements
  • Value for Money

Wall Finishes

Wall finishes are to be selected and designed to suit the use of the area, the occupants and consider the following factors:

  • All surfaces are to be robust and easily cleaned, with no projections that will catch or harm students or damage their bags. This will apply mainly to surfaces that are up to the 2.1m above floor.

Floor Finishes

Floor finishes are to be selected and designed to suit the use of the area, the occupants and consider the following factors:

  • Enclosed circulation areas: finish is to match the majority of spaces served by that area. e.g. carpet in Administration corridors.
  • Anti-static doormats: are required at external access to carpeted circulation areas eg Administration corridors, General Learning corridors and Library Entry.  (They are NOT required for individual Home Bases or General Learning Spaces etc with external access)
  • Unenclosed circulation floor finishes will generally be broomed concrete.

Ceiling Finishes

Ceiling finishes are to be selected and designed to suit the use of the area, the occupants and consider the following factors:

  • Enclosed circulation areas should be acoustically absorptive.
  • External Covered Circulation to be generally unlined except where this would result in too much noise &/or heat radiation.

 

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