Seats & Picnic Tables : Picnic Tables
General Guidance | Perches | Seats | Picnic Tables| Design List
In common with seats, the benches of picnic tables should be between 450mm and 520mm in height. A corresponding clear vertical height of 750mm below the table top is convenient and comfortable for most users and also allows access by people in wheelchairs.
Picnic table designs that incorporate high horizontal beams between the table and bench are best avoided because they can cause problems for users, and especially people with mobility difficulties, in gaining access to the bench. This is a common failing of many commercial 'off the shelf' designs of picnic table. At sites that are accessible to wheelchairs, some picnic tables that accommodate wheelchair users should be provided. It is recommended that a 900mm wide space is allowed for each wheelchair and that this is preferably situated between or adjacent to the seats for non-disabled people; circular or oval table designs are particularly well suited to this. The incorporation of hand holds in the table top can also help people with mobility difficulties in sitting down and getting up from the bench. (See Information Sheet 7. 7 for details of these points). The provision of an access area, extending to at least 1500mm around the table, will assist when manoeuvring wheelchairs. This space should be level, accessible to any adjacent paths and suitably surfaced (e.g concrete, tarmac or aggregate with a high proportion of fines).