Inclusive Environments

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429581690879836796Thu, 05 Sep 2024 18:13:02 +0000Inclusive Environmentshttp://alanaccess.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (alanaccess)Blogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429581690879836796.post-1737077957023904662Sat, 03 Sep 2011 21:58:00 +00002011-09-03T14:58:48.868-07:00Accessible Toilets <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;">Why oh why do designers NEVER get the most basic elements of a an accessible toilet right.  Schoolboy errors are ALWAYS present which prevent the toilet from being used easily…….</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So…… here are the important bits for a unisex accessible toilet for independent use as defined in the Building Regs Approved Doc M and BS8300: 2009.</span></div><ul><li> <span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make sure that the alarm pull cord is against the wall where the wash basin is so that it doesn’t hang in the way and set the alarm off when someone is trying to transfer.  It will also not then get tied up out of the way by the cleaners making it unusable.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make sure that the alarm reset button is located near the alarm pull cord so that the alarm can be turned off by the user if activated by accident.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make sure that the clear floor area measures at least 1.5m wide x 2.2m long clear of all pipe boxings etc.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make sure that the boxing of the soil pipe does not prevent the fixed wall mounted grab rail being installed between the boxing and the wash basin.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make sure that the boxing of the soil pipe does not prevent the wc pan and cistern from being fitted in the correct position ie 500mm from the wall to the centre of the pan.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make sure that the flush handle is fitted to the transfer side of the cistern.  (beware right handed plumbers who always fit it to the right hand side regardless)</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DO NOT use a push button flush mounted in the centre of the cistern,…….. it can’t be reached from a wheelchair.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make sure that the door can be opened outwards.</span></li> </ul><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make sure that the grab rails contrast in colour with the wall colour.</span></li> </ul><ul><li> <span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Make sure that the toilet seat contrasts in colour with the wc pan.  This is because people with vision impairments will feel for the seat and if it is in the up position could end up running their fingers around the rim….. yeuk!</span></li> </ul>http://alanaccess.blogspot.com/2011/09/accessible-toilets.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (alanaccess)0