Disabled Washrooms Accessible For All

While your standard disabled washroom caters for some disabilities, many commercial washrooms are taking further steps to improve usability for people with other common disabilities.

Although Document M of the building regulations sets criteria for disabled washrooms, these are the bare minimum, and there are many steps you can take to improve your disabled washroom.

Disabled Toilet Signage

The supermarket ASDA has recently rolled out a new initiative to ensure the washrooms in over 400 of its stores have new signs that bear the words ‘not every disability is visible’, a strong move that puts certain sufferers at ease when using the facilities, particularly the ones who, on first appearance, may appear fit and well.

Sometimes, the things that sound obvious are often the ones most overlooked. An expert in Dementia recently spoke out about the need for exit signs in washrooms. The need to direct some sufferers back out of the washroom is often vital and can reduce panic and unnecessary stress. Even an arrow indicating the way can be helpful.

Caution for Hand Dryers

The sound of hand dryers can be disruptive to those with autism, so even when hand dryers are installed in the other washrooms, paper hand towels are best offered in your accessible washroom.

Helping carers and those with disabled children

Over a quarter of a million people in the UK can’t use standard toilets, with many of them requiring changing facilities of a more advanced nature. For parents and carers with disabled children, or those caring for both young and grown adults, a height-adjustable changing bench is essential for bathroom visits, as is a hoist.

Changing Places is an organisation set up to encourage businesses to install comprehensive disabled washrooms and to list them on a national map and database, helping disabled users and carers plan their trips before leaving the house. There are various funding options available to help with the installation of this type of washroom, and if you have one already, you can have it listed on the Changing Places Website and database.

This type of washroom is now recommended for larger buildings and complexes, including railway stations, airports and motorway services. It is also recommended to install this type of facility in new build sport and leisure facilities, cultural centres, event stadiums and auditoriums and shopping centres, as well as educational and health facilities.

If you would like to talk about washrooms that cater to all disabilities, get in touch, and we’ll be happy to discuss the solutions available to you.

The Colostomy shelf

People who use a colostomy bag often find using commercial washrooms difficult, so the inclusion of a colostomy bag shelf next to your disabled toilet can go a long way toward helping them feel more comfortable.

Never overlook space

Room to manoeuvre is imperative, and thought needs to be given not only to the wheelchair user but also to accompanying carers. When you design the washroom, make sure the toilet and any potential changing bench have ample ‘transfer space’ alongside them. This is the area wheelchair users use to manoeuvre out of their chair and onto the toilet. This transfer space should be on the same side as the Fold-down Grab Rail.

Using a specialist washroom design service can help spot problems before they arise.

Taps for Limited Dexterity

Some users might have trouble using their fingers and hands, and so conventional taps can be tricky to operate. Sensor Taps remove the need to physically touch, turn, or twist anything, allowing people with conditions like arthritis to wash their hands much more comfortably. Sensor Taps also offer the added advantage of improved hygiene, as users don’t need to physically touch the tap to use it.

The alternative to the sensor tap is a long-lever tap, such as the Armitage Shanks Contour 21+ Single Lever Basin Mixer Tap. These taps are suitable for operating with a closed fist and, therefore, applicable to disabled and accessible washrooms.

Security measures

The security of your disabled washroom may be a concern for some establishments, depending on their location and history of vandalism and damage. However, we recommend using the RADAR lock. The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR) operates a National Key Scheme, which means only registered disabled users who possess a RADAR key can access them. This provides a solution to vandalism but can exclude those disabled users who do not have a RADAR key.

If you'd like more information on whether a RADAR locking system is right for your business or organisation, please get in touch.

Contrasting colours

For the visually impaired, solid white and off-white colours in the washroom can be difficult to distinguish. For this reason, it’s advised that you contrast colours in the disabled toilet and shower environment. You’ll notice that most disabled toilets are available with black, blue, or grey toilet seats, so they're clearly defined. The same applies to the walls – if white sanitary ware is being installed, it’s a good idea to ensure the wall covering is a starkly different colour.

Our range of Disabled Toilet and Shower Doc M Packs offers a variety of grab rail and toilet seat colours.

There are many articles on this subject. If you have something more specific you’d like advice on, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01202 014021, and we’ll be happy to help.