Bathrooms That Are Accessible For People With Disabilities?

It is very important for your public building to have bathroom accommodations for the disabled, not just by default but also by the law. But, the question is how to design accessible bathrooms for people with disabilities? What are the regulations and standards that builders and architects must be aware of before allowing a contractor to begin work on their projects?

By the end of this post, we hope that our readers will get a clear idea of all the factors that are to be kept in mind whenever planning one of the best disabled wet room designs for your building.

How Easily Should Accessible A Toilet Be?

You must ensure that at least one toilet in a commercial restroom is wheelchair accessible if you are in possession of such a building. The government guidelines recommend that the toilet be approximately 17 to 19 inches high, making it easy for all people to sit down, stand up, or move from a wheelchair to the toilet.

Also, it is necessary to install a grab bar that is mounted to the closest wall. Ideally, two grab bars must be spaced 36 inches apart, with the toilet being 18 inches away from either bar. This makes it simple for everyone to use the restroom, regardless of whether or not they require further assistance.

Is The Vanity Or Sink Easily Accessible?

To ensure a clean environment and minimize the transmission of hazardous bacteria, guests always need a place to wash their hands after using the bathroom quickly. The architecture of some sinks and vanities can make it very difficult for someone with a disability to execute this simple task. Thus, ensure to install a sink that is easy to use for disabled people. Consider attaching sinks to the wall so that they are not more than 34 inches high and have at least 27 inches of clearance underneath them. This will make your bathroom more accessible for everyone. A guest in a wheelchair will easily approach from the front to wash their hands in this manner.

Provide Adequate Lighting To Your Wet Room

One way to promote accessibility is to ensure that your commercial restroom is brightly lit up. It is important to have ample lighting in all places, especially inside each individual bathroom stall. Make an effort to set up restroom lights ahead of schedule to eliminate shadows, which might also cover hidden obstacles or provide the impression of a supportive surface where none is present.

Motion-activated light fixtures are also advised because they will turn on automatically even if users are having difficulty reaching the light switch. This useful piece of technology can also help your organization save cash because motion-activated lights turn off automatically when the facility is not in use.

Important Features of Disabled Wet Room Designs

1.      Avoid Sharp Edges

Avoid constructing square or rectangular basins with projecting edges, whether they are at head or waist height or whether they are for a little child or an adult. This will be dangerous for a little child at head height or a mature adult at hip height, and it will increase the chance of injury if anybody falls.

2.      Non-Slippery Flooring

Stay away from glazed tiles to avoid having slick flooring. Rather, install PVC or vinyl flooring to provide a more secure surface, and use slip mats in wet rooms and shower cubicles to provide additional grip.

3.      Install Raised Toilet Seats

It may be necessary to raise the toilet seat for someone who has trouble bending or sitting or for someone who transfers from a wheelchair to the toilet. When a person sits down on the toilet, raised or elevated toilet seats decrease the distance they must travel.

4.      Open Spaces

When planning the bathroom for your project, make sure to give enough space for someone who uses assistive equipment to enter and maneuver around the space. If you don't think you'll require grab bars or safety rails right away, make sure to allow enough room for them in case, you do.

5.      Easy-to-Use Showers

Replace your old shower with a wheelchair-accessible step-free walk-in shower. A bench or seating area can be added to a bathroom, unlike a bath or shower cubicle, restricted space.

Consider converting your bathroom into a wet room with movable glass panels if you don't have enough room for a large walk-in shower. Glass-paneled wet rooms not only make it easier to get in and out, but they also shield the walls and structure of the house from water damage and mold growth, and they insulate the space for better energy efficiency.

Contact Apple Solutions for Assistance!

Are you a commercial property developer planning to begin a new building venture? If yes, you can certainly turn to Apple Solutions to get the best and amazing disabled wet room designs.