Information AboutAisle |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT AISLE | |
| architectural elements | |
| rooms | |
|
]] An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on either side or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other. Aisles can be seen in certain types of buildings such as Church es, Synagogue s, meeting Hall s, Parliament s and Legislature s, Courtroom s, Theatre s, and in certain types of passenger vehicles. Aisles can also be seen in Shop s, Warehouse s, and Factories , where rather than seats they have shelving to either side. In warehouses and factories aisles may consist of storage pallettes and in factories aisles may separate work areas. In Health Club s, Exercise Equipment normally is arranged in aisles. Aisles are distinguished from Corridor s. Hall ways, Walkway s, Sidewalk s (''British'' pavement or footpath), trails, paths and (enclosed) "open areas". TYPICAL PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Aisles have certain general physical characteristics.
Width of various types of aisles
: Note that spaces between buildings, e.g., rows of storage sheds, would not be considered "aisles", even if the same amount of separation would be considered an aisle in a warehouse. ARCHITECTURE SUPERMARKETS AND RETAIL STORES LIBRARIES Libraries are commonly divided into several areas:
The spaces between rows of book shelves in the "stacks" area are called aisles and desks in the reading area are frequently arranged in rows with aisles. INDOOR THEATERS AND CONCERT HALLS STADIUMS AND OUTDOOR ARENAS Sport stadiums and outdoor arenas frequently have several types of aisles, including aisles to purchase tickets for events, aisles to enter the main event area and aisles to go to seating. Stadium seating routinely is separated into sections by aisles. Seating rows are accessed by stair steps. To promote safety aisles commonly are divided by a handrail in the middle of the aisle. STABLES In stables there is a stable aisle down the center with individual stalls facing the aisle. In the diagram in "Aisles and sections" below, the stable aisle would the center section marked "not considered an aisle", and the various boxes marked "AISLE 1a", etc., would be the stalls, with the animals facing into the aisle so they can see each other. AISLES AND SECTIONS Large facilities are often divided into sections, with aisles in each section. The area separating the sections is normally not considered an "aisle". Sections and marketing strategy A common marketing practice is to put "staple" items furthest from the entrance and "discretionary" items closer. For example in a supermarket, milk, meat and fresh vegetables would be located furthest from the entrance. The reasoning is that customers ''have to'' buy those items, so they will go to them wherever they are located. On the way there, they pass discretionary items they might not otherwise buy, such as magazines and cakes. Health and fitness clubs Health and fitness clubs that contain Exercise Equipment commonly group the equipment in categories by one or more criteria such as: Equipment within a group will commonly be laid out in a row, e.g., all the arm equipment or all the cardio equipment or all the Nautilus equipment. The layout might be referred to as an aisle, ("This is the Nautilus aisle,") but is not called a "row". VEHICLES Aisles are also found in vehicles that carry more than a few passengers, including Buses , passenger Train s, Trolley s, Subways , trams, Passenger Airplane s, Ferries and passenger Boat s. Aisle seats and window seats In such vehicles, if a row has two or more seats side-by-side, seats bordering the aisle are called aisle seats and, if the passenger area has windows, seats next to a window are referred to as '''window seats'''. (If there are no windows, they are not referred to as "wall" seats.) SAFETY AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS Danger from restricted aisles Often, the only way to get from a row of chairs, shelves, workstations, etc., to an exit is by an aisle. Over the years, many deaths and serious injuries have occurred due to fire, inhalation of smoke or noxious fumes, etc., because blocked or partially blocked aisles prevented persons from promptly leaving a dangerous area. Ordinances requiring minimum aisle width Many local governments such as Town s, Counties and Cities have regulations requiring a minimum width for aisles and impose fines for blocking or restricting passage in an aisle by doing things like leaving boxes in the aisle or placing folding Chair s in aisles for additional seating. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) The Americans With Disabilities Act sets certain standards for construction, access, etc. The ADA Standards for Accessible Design are part of the ADA Title III regulations. Architectural barriers An Architectural Barrier is any architectural feature that makes access to or use of a section or feature of a building difficult, unreasonably dangerous or impossible. This can include aisles that are too narrow for easy access by a Wheelchair . The ADA Small Business Guide provides information on removing architectural barriers. Vehicles Transportation regulations applicable to public carriers that carry passengers often require aisles to be completely clear in vehicles such as airlines and buses. Insurance availability and premiums Many Insurance carriers have requirements regarding minimum aisle width, unrestricted aisles, easy access to exits, etc., and will refuse to insure companies that do not meet their requirements or will increase the premiums on companies that frequently violate the requirements. Governmental and insurance inspections Regulatory bodies frequently inspect buildings, vehicles, etc., to enforce regulations requiring that aisles not be restricted. Insurance companies frequently have safety inspectors examine insureds' premises, both to determine whether insureds are complying with the insurer's requirements for coverage and to look for ''any'' practices that could lead to injury or property damage, including restricting passage in aisles. POLITICAL TERMINOLOGY (U.S.) In the United States , the two major political parties, the Republicans and the Democrats , are often referred to as "the two sides of the aisle". Origin of the usage Usage of the term "aisle" in this regard derives from the fact that in the United States Senate and the United States House Of Representatives members' desks are arranged in the chamber in a semicircular pattern and the desks are divided by a wide central aisle. By tradition, Democrats sit on the right of the center aisle, while Republicans sit on the left, as viewed from the presiding officer's chair. "Crossing the aisle" A member of one party who votes for legislation supported by the other party and generally opposed by his own party is described as "crossing the aisle", i.e., "Five Democrats crossed the aisle and voted with the Republicans." "Both sides of the aisle" A proposed law that has bi-partisan support is said to be supported by "both sides of the aisle". REFERENCES
SEE ALSO
EXTERNAL LINKS |
|
|