PHAM NEWS | APRIL 2024 14 Your Views Star letter


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Don’t overlook the need for bin facilities


I have today read the feature on Accessible Bathrooms (March issue). Whilst it was good at promoting the new sanitary appliances and fi ttings that can be used to make life easier for all ages when using bathrooms, there was a major omission. Many users of accessible bathrooms and toilets will use disposable items such as pads, wipes and colostomy bags. The disposal of such items requires suitable facilities to be incorporated and accommodated at the design stage. If this is not done, disposable items may simply be fl ushed through the WC into the wastewater system, or unsuitable bins squeezed in as an afterthought.


Until recently there was a scheme


for the certifi cation of items that were intended to be fl ushed away – the ‘Fine to Flush’ scheme that resulted in many toilet wipes having the Fine to Flush logo emblazoned on their packets as they sat on supermarket shelves. However, this scheme is now ending and a radically diff erent government- backed scheme from Water UK is starting called ‘Bin the Wipe’ (see www.binthewipe.org).


Hence, it would be good to see


bathroom producers promoting suitable bin facilities in all bathroom designs, but particularly in accessible bathrooms. As with all things, a far more integrated approach is needed so that the bathroom designer considers the environmental impact of the items that are being specifi ed, their lifetime impacts, the waste streams produced and the health and convenience of the users.


As chairman of the BSI committee


responsible for the specifi cation standards for the provision of sanitary appliances, I would point designers of accessible bathrooms to the BS 6465 suite of Standards. These include suggestions for layouts for various types of toilets that include bin facilities.


John Griggs St Albans


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Gadgets& Tools


Shedding light where you need it


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Portable radio goes everywhere on site


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End the search for the right screw


The Performance Plus Woodscrews Trade Case from Samac is a collection of 900 precision-engineered screws, presented in a case that eliminates the need for rummaging through assorted screws by ensuring professionals have the right fastener at their fi ngertips. The screws are


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The XtraHand from Häfele is a new dust extraction tool that eff ectively removes the debris from drilling, cutting or grinding. It’s simple to use and works with all hose


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An XtraHand with dust extraction


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