When people speak about design, the disabled and the elderly are often an afterthought rather than a priority. A 2021 survey demonstrated that 270,000+ persons in Greater Sydney required assistance in their daily lives due to disability. Designing accessible bathrooms for disabled persons relieves them of stress and preserves their dignity. Inclusive and sensitive design and architecture will only do your business good. If you are deliberating a home or business renovation, ensure the bathrooms for disabled persons and elders are comfortable and functional. When in doubt, the staff at your chosen bathroom store in Sydney should be able to offer expert advice.
Here are some ideas for product and accessory installation that accommodate the needs of this demographic.
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#1 Water Closet
Businesses in Sydney follow the Disability Access Laws, framed by the Australian Building Codes Board, when constructing, reconstructing, or restoring their restrooms. In Sydney bathroom stores, you can examine back-to-wall toilet suites 46 to 48 cm high and under $500. The height will allow wheelchair users to shift onto the seat without hassle. Peninsula toilets are the ideal shape. Opting for a gloss white toilet is a good idea because anything that is white needs more than just a cursory glance now and then. Staff will clean these toilets thoroughly and regularly to guarantee a comfortable environment for the users. Ensure a distance of 90 cm between the door and the tip of the pan. Install the toilet in a at least 92 cm long and 90 cm broad stall.
#2 Washbasins
The disability code requires that washbasins be installed no more than 80-83 cm above the floor. Elliptical or round wall-mounted sinks with a depth of 44-60 cm are ideal because they have room underneath for wheelchairs. Consider a higher vanity-top sink for persons who can walk but struggle to bend. Take care to insulate the plumbing to avert accidents. Also, the supply lines should not occupy the wheelchair access area below the washbasin.
#3 Floor Tiles
When shopping at a bathroom store in Sydney, ask for tiles with an anti-slip finish. The coarse, grainy texture will offer optimum friction between the feet or footwear and the floor. Anti-slip tiles are especially beneficial to persons with numbness in the lower extremities. Your bathroom needs to look more sterile, like a laboratory. Give it some character with mixed mosaic tiles, but be careful with herringbone mosaic because bumps and gaps (due to displacement) could be dangerous.
#4 Mirrors
Placement and size are the two factors to consider when installing mirrors in bathrooms for disabled people. The mirror should be vertically oriented, with a width of at least 60 cm. The distance between the bottom edge of the mirror and the floor should be at most 90 cm. Get arch, elliptical, and or mirrors with brass, copper, or frosted glass borders with high colour accuracy. It would help to avoid shapes with pointy edges.
Wrapping Up
With thoughtful architecture and inclusions, you can ensure a positive environment and a dignified experience for differently-abled persons. Any bathroom store in Sydney worth its salt will be glad to enlighten you on relevant products and share the outcomes and takeaways from its past projects if you share your design vision. If you pick the right store and are quick enough, you will be eligible for special seasonal offers, such as express dispatch and same-day pickup.