search.noResults

search.searching

dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
31 Clean lines


Carole Armstrong of Delabie UK suggests that design, comfort, safety and hygiene should be seen as equal to compliance when specifying accessible washrooms


I


nclusive design for accessible facilities should be a given. However, adapted washrooms in the care sector are subject to much higher levels of constraints compared to domestic settings. Typically, the emphasis is on compliance, over aesthetics. But this doesn’t need to be the case. Design, comfort, safety and hygiene are all equally important and should be considered as well as compliance and regulations.


Designing for shared use In the care sector, adapted washrooms must cater for the masses, not just the individual. The obvious solution is to specify washrooms that are accessible to all, regardless of age, level of mobility or independence. This means designing a neutral environment, one which is discrete, non-stigmatising, aesthetically- pleasing and comfortable. Every user will then feel more at ease, whether they are able- bodied, ambulant disabled, wheelchair users or fully dependent on a carer.


The ultimate design objective is to create washroom facilities with access for all, without appearing to. Good aesthetic design will remove the medicalised aspect of institu- tional accessible washrooms. Designers are very conscious that product appearance is just as important as technical performance. Not only do the taps, showers, WCs and grab bars comply with current guidance, but do they also have sleek, stylish lines that are easy to keep clean and maintain? Offering products in a range of finishes provides speci- fiers with options that complement any decorative style and provide a good visual contrast with wall finishes.


Adaptability is also important for those facilities providing short-term accommoda- tion for people with reduced mobility, such as rehabilitation or respite care centres. Removable shower seats provide a practical solution where the use changes according to the user’s level of independence. The seat need be installed only when it is required. When considering design in accessible washrooms, the accessories are easily overlooked. Simple touches such as matching the finish on the taps and sanitaryware to the


ADF JUNE 2019


soap dispenser and toilet brush can improve the aesthetic. Ergonomics play a significant part too, so installing toilet brushes – with a long ergonomic handle that self-centres when replaced in the holder – can be a small detail that improves the user’s experience. Similarly, tilting mirrors that can be adjusted by wheel- chair users contribute to equality of experience in the washroom.


Specifying for intensive use Specifying for accessibility in the domestic setting is comparatively simple, as the house- hold is relatively small with regular, but light, usage. Accessible washrooms need to provide a safe space for vulnerable people, but they may also be subject to heavy-handed use, and even abuse.


The primary role of grab bars and shower seats is to support the static weight of any user, and assist their movement within the washroom. The elderly or people with reduced mobility can easily lose their balance and fall. If they reach for the nearest hand hold, whether this is a bar, a riser rail or even a shower mixer, it must support the additional force required to arrest their fall. The mixer body must be at an ambient temperature to prevent burns, and the type of fixings subsequently becomes very important. Recessed shower mechanisms and concealed fixings for grab bars provide the ideal solution. Not only can the fixings be totally hidden, they also prevent unwanted removal, and they are visually more pleasing. In the event of a user falling, grab bar dimensions also take on a greater signifi- cance. If they slip, their arm may get trapped between the wall and the grab bar, resulting in a fracture. By limiting the gap between the bar and the wall, this can be avoided. User comfort must not be sacrificed at the altar of design and function. For example, to provide full support the profile of the grab bar or support rail must allow a firm, natural hold. If the bar’s profile is too angular, a hand cannot grasp the bar properly. Similarly, if the diameter is too small or too large, the forearm muscle is activated rather than the shoulder muscle, placing unnecessary strain


WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36