Handicap Bathroom Accessories

Handicap bathroom accessories are not only available for your home, but they are often tragically necessary. In the face of an unexpected accident or disease, or just aging, we need safety in our own homes, and bathrooms are no exception. Most slip and falls occur in either the bathroom or the kitchen. To be safe, if you are faced with the unfortunate, install handicap bathroom accessories in your home. There are many retailers and manufacturers that produce and sell handicap bathroom accessories. From handrails to transfer shower seats, you can get the needed safety without sacrificing your décor. Many manufacturers provide varying styles of handicap bathroom accessories for the home. Nobody wants their home to look like a public restroom and these manufacturers are helping greatly. If you need them, don't be ashamed. Safety is the most important thing and installing handicap bathroom accessories will surely increase the safety of your home.

Provide Handicap Access to Bathroom

For people running restaurants, there are many codes that you will want to keep your eye on because they can lead to big problems down the road. One code that stays out of the kitchen is the need to provide handicap access to your restrooms. Codes vary depending on where you operate so you will want to be sure to conform to the appropriate measures, but there are basics to the handicap bathroom that are pretty universal. Here is a basic handicap bathroom guide: You will need at least one stall in your bathroom that is wide enough to accommodate wheelchair access. Many of the handicaps need these chairs and therefore need these types of openings in a handicap bathroom. Also, you will need to install grab bars. These are metal rails that people can use to assist themselves in getting onto and off of the toilet. In a handicap bathroom, grab bars are a must. There are many other specific regulations that are far too long to list here. Look into what you need to do by contacting you state code officer and getting details.

Disability Tip - Install Toilet Paper Rolls

Toilet paper rolls are the best choice for public restrooms, since they allow easy access to the toilet paper by all users of the facilities. The folded tissue style of toilet paper dispenser is not effective as a handicap bathroom fixture because it requires a finger pinching action that may be difficult for an impaired person. Install toilet tissue dispensers so the center line of the dispenser is at least 19 inches (915 mm) above the floor and so the forward edge of the dispenser is not more than 36 inches (485 mm) from the back wall of the handicap toilet.

Disability Tip - Install Automatic Dryers

An automatic dryer may be more useful as a handicap bathroom fixture than a paper towel dispenser. Touchless, motion-sensor models can be purchased from several manufacturers such as American Dryer, Sani-Flow, and Excel. If push-button dryers are installed in handicap bathrooms, they must not require more than 5 pounds of force to push, and should be operable with one hand. The start button for a handicap accessible hand dryer should be 38-40 inches (760x1220 mm) above the floor in accordance with ADA restroom requirements.

Braille on ADA Hand Dryers

Braille is a staple of ADA regulations. In most public areas, Braille is a requirement for compliance. There is also a requirement for properly approved ADA automatic hand dryers that states the instructions for use must be available in Braille on the unit. With the heat generated by hand dryers, those without sight need to have a way of knowing the proper operation without the chance of burning themselves. ADA hand dryers are only approved if there is Braille available and it contains the proper information regarding operation and temperatures. If you are purchasing automatic hand dryers for your facilities, be sure to double check that your manufacturer complies with all of the ADA requirements, including easily accessible Braille.

Lightweight Trash Lids

Keep Trash Lids Lightweight In Handicap Restrooms

Choose trash receptacles with lids that don’t require more than 5 pounds of force to open, especially for handicap bathrooms that need to meet ADA restroom requirements. To allow people in wheelchairs to reach the trash receptacle from both the front and side of the chair, the opening of the trash receptacle should be 15-48 inches (380-1220 mm) above the floor. Also, when considering handicap bathroom design, place trash receptacles that protrude more than 4 inches from the wall in corners or alcoves so they don’t interfere with wheelchair mobility.

Wheelchairs In Bathrooms

When you build a handicap bathroom, you must allow for enough turning space. Without the turning space, a wheelchair will not be able to maneuver around the bathroom.

One of the principles of handicap bathroom design involves allowing enough space for a wheelchair to turn around. The minimum turning space for a wheelchair is about 60 inches in diameter (1525 mm) for the average wheelchair.

When determining handicap bathroom dimensions, be sure that any wall unit, such as a hand dryer, tampon dispenser, paper towel dispenser or any other handicapped equipment that extends more than 4 inches from the wall be located between or next to other protruding fixtures such as sinks, or placed in corners or alcoves. This design strategy keeps the units from intruding on a wheelchair’s turn space and reduces the risk that visually impaired people will bump into them.

Necessity of Grab Bars

Imagine yourself without the use of your legs or lower body. Think about the performing the simplest tasks and how much harder they would be. Using the bathroom would be near the top of this list. This is why having a grab bar in a handicap restroom is so important.

A grab bar provides a handicap person with a point of leverage from which they can assist themselves on and off of the toilet. Upper body strength takes over the responsibilities that we take for granted in our lower bodies. With a grab bar, the job is still tedious, but far easier than without a grab bar.

If you have a restroom that provides handicap access, having a grab bar is the most basic of needs. Be sure to provide at least one grab bar, depending on the design of your restroom, for your handicap guests. Just go back and imagine yourself in the same position if you ever wonder why again.

Bathtub Transfer Benches Use

For anyone who needs assistance in entering and exiting their bathtub, a bathtub transfer bench is very important. Most benches require some assembly but they are simple to install. Once assembled, you can adjust the height towards your own personal preference.

If you had a total knee replacement, the bathtub bench is a must for anyone showering. It allows you to sit comfortably without placing strain on your knee or legs.

You can transfer from the wheelchair to the shower bench with no problems. Anyone who requires their own privacy and prefers independence when they are showering will love the shower benches.

The bench can stay in the shower while a normally able person takes shower. Bath tub transfer benches are perfect for families with someone who is disabled but still require standard showers. It is unnecessary to remove it.

Soap Dispenser Placement In Handicap Bathroom

A correctly placed soap dispenser is an essential handicap bathroom accessory. To accommodate people in wheelchairs, install a wall-mounted soap dispenser so that the push buttons to dispense the soap are no higher than 44 inches (1120 mm) about the floor. Also, be sure that soap dispensers in handicap bathrooms can be operated with one hand, and that they don’t require more than a few pounds of force or excessive twisting of the wrist to access the soap.