Changing place

Changing Places Toilet
We take many things for granted, including the freedom to enjoy days out to visitor attractions or perhaps a trip to the local shopping centre.

For an estimated 250,000 profoundly disabled people in the UK, and an even larger amount around the world, such outings need to be planned carefully in advance, and in some cases, a visit will be cancelled altogether due to the lack of adequate accessible toilets.

Standard accessible toilets are designed for independent users. There is usually room for a wheelchair-turning circle but not much else. For people who need help, there needs to be much more space for specialised equipment and for those providing assistance.

Height adjustable shower change tables ensure that no one needs to be changed or washed on the toilet floor. Recommendations in BS8300 (British Standard on Access to Buildings for Disabled People) require any height adjustable changing table installed in Changing Places to be at least 1800mm long and have a safe working load of 200kg. Ideally, the table should operate in a height range low enough for transfers from a wheelchair seat and high enough to provide a comfortable working position for any assistant or carer. At Pressalit, we recommend our Shower Change Table 3000.

Height adjustable sinks will provide comfortable positions for standing or seated users in Changing Places. Pressalit provides a variety of options that can be adjusted in height by as much as 500mm if necessary.

It is also good to provide some sort of adjustment around the toilet area. Height adjustable hinged toilet support arms will facilitate a greater number of transfers on and off the toilet and provide better support than fixed height support arms. Hinged arms with strong barrel hinges are robust and surfaces with warm slip resistant materials preferable to cold painted metal.

For any shower that might be included in a Changing Places facility, we recommend height adjustable chairs with backrests and support arms. There are a number of options available in Pressalit’s 450 Plus range. Height adjustable seating should easily adjust to meet the exact requirements of unknown users.