Aisle

Physical Characteristics and Width of Aisles

• Aisles are typically straight and long.
• Aisles in facilities like theaters and shops are wide enough for 2-3 people to walk comfortably.
• Factory work area aisles are wide enough for workers to sit or stand while working.
• Passage aisles are narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time.
• Warehouse aisles are at least 8-10 feet wide to fit mechanical loading equipment.
• Wedding aisles are wide enough for two people to walk comfortably beside each other.

Aisles in Architecture

• In architecture, an aisle is a wing of a house or a lateral division of a large building.
• The earliest examples of aisles can be found in the Basilica Ulpia in Rome.
• In Gothic architecture, the roofs of the aisles are lower than the nave, allowing light to enter through clerestory windows.
• In Romanesque architecture, the roofs of the aisles are at roughly equal heights to the nave.
• Some churches in Germany have aisles and nave roofs at the same height, known as Hallenkirchen.
• Aisles in churches are passageways separated from the nave by colonnades or arcades.
• Aisles can be categorized as nave-aisles, transept-aisles, and choir-aisles.
• In Gothic architecture, the aisles' roofs are lower than the nave's roof.
• In Romanesque architecture, the roofs of the aisles are slightly lower than the nave's roof.
• Some churches, like St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, have multiple aisles on each side of the nave.

Aisles in Supermarkets and Retail Stores

• Supermarkets have two types of aisles: food aisles and checkout aisles.
• Food aisles are where goods are displayed, often with crown end displays for impulse purchases.
• Checkout aisles contain cash registers and impulse buy items.
• Retail stores use merchandise aisles to display specific products.
• Supermarkets and retail stores commonly number aisles and have signs indicating the types of products in each aisle.

Aisles in Stables and Barns

• Shilton Barn in Oxfordshire, England has three aisles and six bays.
• Aisled barns have barn doors on the gable end, giving access to the center aisle.
• The side aisles may be the same widths, making the barn symmetrical.
• The area between the posts, perpendicular to the aisles, is called bays.
• Stables have a stable aisle down the center with individual stalls facing the aisle.

Aisles in Vehicles and Safety Considerations

• The aisle in vehicles is a passageway for passengers to move along.
• Examples include bus aisles with stairs, tube train aisles with open gangways, and narrow-body aircraft aisles.
• National and local government regulations require minimum aisle widths in various building types.
• Inspectors impose fines for blocking or restricting passage in aisles.
• Insurance companies have safety inspectors to ensure compliance with aisle requirements.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act sets standards for building access, including aisle width for wheelchair access.
• Aisles that are too narrow can be considered architectural barriers.

Aisle Data Sources