Bathroom – Barrier Free

Bathroom – Barrier Free

Dear Readers,

I was shocked to find that approximately 49 million Americans have some type of disability. Couple that with our aging population and it seems clear that changes need to made when designing houses.

I found this informative article at the NAHB Research Center that I thought I'd share with you. It certainly gives food for thought.

Carl

"What do you know about "universal design"? While accessible products accommodate people with disabilities, universal design takes accessibility a step further by asserting that all homes should accommodate all people, including those of different ability, height, and age. Universal design means true accessibility.

There are good reasons for incorporating universal design in your home. Universal design can provide a competitive edge in the market by meeting the increasing demand for accessible living environments. Bathtubs featuring fold down or integrated seats, built-in lifts, entry/exit doors, soft padded surfaces, and roll-in or transfer shower modules, provide accessibility for all members of a household, not just those with physical disabilities. An investment in universal design can make your homes stand out from the rest by adding value that today's homebuyers appreciate.

The percentage of senior citizens has almost doubled since 1950, and approximately 49 million Americans have some type of disability. These groups represent the two fastest growing population segments. Recognizing the demands of these population segments, designers and manufacturers are creating designs and developing products to accommodate them. One of the most important places for universal design features is in bathing areas.

There are bathtubs with built-in doors, which not only accommodate a person with a wheelchair, but give a walking person the option of not climbing over the edge. Another design is a whirlpool tub with an automatic sliding wall. Bathtub doors include gasketed joints to seal in water.



There are also molded bathtubs with integral seats and showers, and bathtubs with fold-down seats that offer extra space when the seat is not required. Bathtubs with built-in lifts provide some independence for many who would depend on others to help them bathe, or allow a single caretaker instead of two to help a person into the tub. At least one manufacturer makes a soft bathtub which can prevent or reduce injury from a fall. It is made of elastomeric material covering a foam shape over a fiberglass inner shell.

A versatile shower that accommodates both able-bodied and those in wheelchairs is the "transfer shower." This can be built from individual components or purchased as a complete module with a seat, grab bars, and controls. Integral or fold-up seats are available, and designs without thresholds allow easy access. At 36-by-36 inches, the advantage of the transfer shower is its precise dimensions to provide support and control within the user's reach at all times, and its sense of enclosed privacy. Transfer shower modules are available from many manufacturers. One manufacturer offers a shower enclosure with an integral seat and non-slip surface that is made to retrofit a standard tub.

Roll-in showers allow a wheelchair user to bathe without transferring to a shower seat. Although the user must first transfer from a wheelchair to a rolling shower chair, it is often easier than transferring inside more restrictive shower enclosures. Some shower chair designs require an assistant to move a person in and out of the shower. A large size roll-in shower may have added convenience and aesthetic appeal to the able-bodied market as well. Roll-in and transfer shower modules are available from many manufacturers. One manufacturer offers barrier-free shower doors that retract and pivot to provide unobstructed access. Another manufacturer has a shower door with no threshold. Instead, the shower has a flexible vinyl water barrier that dams the water but also allows easy wheelchair passage.

Universal design bathtubs and showers improve safety for all home occupants, and improve livability by accommodating people of all ages, sizes, and abilities

Universal design tub and shower modules are usually the same size as conventional tubs, allowing easy retrofit and space planning for new construction. Tubs with lifts require equipment clearance below or and elevated installation, as well as electrical service. Threshold-less shower applications require waterproofing of adjacent areas, and may call for sloping the floor toward the shower drain. The addition of grab bars and seats usually requires structural support or blocking in the walls.

Although accessible fixtures are not required by code or law in private single-family residences, they should appeal to many homebuyers, adding value and marketability to the home."

Source: NAHB Research Center