Clear turning circle
The building regulations set out legal requirements for specific aspects of building design and construction. A series of approved documents provide general guidance about how different aspects of building design and construction can comply with the building regulations.
Approved document M provides guidance for satisfying Part M of the building regulations: Access to and use of buildings, which requires the inclusive provision of ease of access to, and circulation within, buildings, together with requirements for facilities for people with disabilities.
Approved document M, Volume 1: Dwellings (2015 edition incorporating 2016 amendments) defines a clear turning circle as:
| Clear floor space, represented by a circle, or an ellipse, that allows a wheelchair user to turn independently in a single movement. A door swing is permitted within a clear turning circle unless stated otherwise. |
Depending on the category of dwelling, clear turning circles may be required in sanitary facilities, private outdoor spaces, in entrances, and in front of liftways, and are typically described as 1,500mm in diameter.
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