Innovative fire safety product alerts deaf shoppers
DMS (Deaf Message Service) is a new fire safety product that informs deaf or hard of hearing people when the fire alarm sounds in a public place like a supermarket, shopping centre or library. It also helps service providers and employers comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), allowing deaf and hard of hearing people freedom to move around buildings without worry of missing an emergency situation.
When a deaf or hard of hearing person enters a building where DMS is installed, they will see clear signage asking them to text a location code to the DMS number. Once a connection text has been sent, the person will be connected to the DMS
service for that location.
In the event of a fire and the fire alarm sounding, the DMS controller unit, which is hardwired into the Fire Panel, will trigger a process that within seconds sends a text message to all people connected to that location.
The advantage of DMS is its simplicity; a DMS controller unit can normally be installed in under half an hour and, unlike pager systems, it allows deaf or hard of hearing people to use what they already
have with them: a mobile phone. For product information Fireco Ltd. Tel: 0845 241 7474
Email:
info@deafmessageservice.com www.deafmessageservice.com
Quay to independence for all...
One of the largest shopping centres in the UK is ensuring its doors are truly open to all after investing in a state-of-the- art toilet and changing facility…..
West Quay, in Southampton, has opened a ‘Changing places’ facility, to enhance the existing seven disabled toilets it provides- illustrtaing its commitment to offering the best facilities practical for customers.
Co-funded by West Quay and Southampton City Council, the Changing places toilet offers equipment beyond a standard disabled toilet, enabling anyone requiring the aid of at least one carer to undertake basic personal hygiene when ‘out and about’. In addition to grab rails conventionally found in disabled toilets, the ‘Changing places’ toilet is larger, and features as standard height adjustable changing table, height adjustable basin, privacy screen and a hoist. The ‘Changing Places Changing Lives’ campaign aims to promote the need for such facilities in all large public buildings. To date, over 200 ‘Changing places’ facilities have already been installed across the UK. West Quay’s facilities management team worked closely with specialist disabled toileting solutions provider Total Hygiene to ensure the new washroom, on Podium Level 3, optimised accessibility. As a result, in addition to the core equipment required for designation as a ‘Changing places’ toilet, West Quay’s unit also includes a Clos-o-Mat ‘wash and dry’ toilet instead of a traditional WC, meaning anyone with issues of manual dexterity or balance can toilet without having to be
Building & Facilities Management – November 2010
wiped clean by their carer, enhancing hygiene and dignity.
Nicky Hopper, marketing
communications manager at West Quay, explained, “It is important to us that we are providing the best facilities we can for our customers; the ‘Changing places’ toilet not only meets latest ‘good practice’ guidelines under accessible building design, but it is likely to soon be a legal requirement. We already have award- winning toilet facilities, and want to ensure that this high standard continues, for all.”
Robin Tuffley, Total Hygiene marketing manager, said “There are 10 million registered disabled people in the UK, and 1.2m wheelchair users in England alone. We all visit the toilet on average eight times a day, yet research shows that people make a conscious decision NOT to visit somewhere if they feel they cannot ‘go to the loo’ in clean and appropriate facilities. It is great to see West Quay supporting an accessible society.”
www.clos-o-mat.com Email:
info@clos-o-mat.com
feature :: facilities for the disabled/dda
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Facilities for the Disabled/DDA
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