Best practice for accessible toilet facilities

'Provision of Assisted Accessible Toilet Facilities/Changing Places in Multi-Occupancy Buildings', has been produced by Closomat (Total Hygiene), a leading UK provider of such bathrooms and washrooms.

The paper simplifies the new guidance – BS8300:2018 design of an accessible and inclusive built environment – alongside the existing Building Regulations (Approved Document M), and the Equality Act 2010 (which replaced the DDA), affecting buildings such as hotels, care homes, and – new to the British Standard – student accommodation.

“Currently, 20% of the UK population is registered disabled. The elderly population is only going to grow. The number of students that have a disability is also increasing – by nearly 60% in five years,” explains Robin Tuffley, Closomat marketing manager. “The need to address the suitability and adaptability of toilet accommodation – be it in communal areas, or en-suites within accessible bedrooms, therefore needs to be seriously addressed in building design; it further explains why the new British Standard requires 5% of bedrooms in multi-occupancy buildings to be accessible (including the bathroom or en-suite).

“But what developers need to provide where can be complex. Our white paper, in one short and simple document, clarifies the Regulatory requirements alongside what is good practice, helping everyone involved in the design and construction process get it right.”

The white paper can be downloaded free of charge from Closomat’s website, www.clos-o-mat.com, alongside a raft of support data such as CAD blocks, typical layouts, NBS specification clauses.