Portable Toilets for Disabled

There are a plethora of reasons that you may need to hire public toilets, it could be for a festival, marathons or other sporting events, weddings, for construction sites or anything else. Whatever the event, you need appropriate facilities in place for guests, visitors, members of staff and everyone in between to relieve themselves, regardless of their age, medical conditions or disabilities. 

Why it’s important? 

Pretty much everyone needs to go at one point or another during events and that doesn’t change because of a disability, the only thing that changes is where their toilet is and how it is designed. It’s nothing short of common decency to provide something for everyone.  

Most importantly, with the introduction of the Equality Act in 2010, it became illegal for service providers to fail to adequately facilitate any disabled people, citing discrimination and unfair treatment. A disabled person is still a person and must be treated as such; it is unacceptable to practise to fail to provide them with this essential amenity. It’s the law; don’t get caught out due to an oversight. Claiming expense as a reason for not getting some won’t look great in court.  

How many should be disabled accessible? 

This is a difficult question to answer as it does somewhat rely on what the event is and where it’s located.  

If the event is located in the building of some kind then the common practice is one per floor. If it is a festival, wedding or other ground-floor events then you should be looking at around two disabled toilets for every hundred people. 

The matter of the fact is that with impaired movement, it can take someone longer than others to use the facilities and you must accommodate for that by ensuring there is an alternative option available.  

Where should they be located? 

There are multiple factors that one should consider when choosing the location of your disabled toilets. Factoring in the needs of those people is crucial, is there appropriate space to turn, wheelchairs and pushchairs? Is there space inside and outside the toilet for wheelchair storage? Is there adequate lighting?  Is there seating available for those who accompany disabled people? 

It’s this line of thinking that will make sure that nothing is forgotten or left out. Of course, if at any point you are unsure of these questions and would like assistance, you will be able to call the service provider for their professional input.  

What makes a toilet accessible for a disabled person? 

Now that you have reached this section and learned a bit more about why it’s important to provide this essential service to disabled people, it’s time to look at just what makes portable disabled toilets appropriately accessible. 

Grab rails 

In many circumstances, a disabled person may have various muscle issues and require grab rails for safety and greater manoeuvrability; these are essential in any portable disabled toilets for hire that you choose to go with. 

These should be at a certain height with strong bolts fitting them to the surface they are bolted to. They should be reliable and robust, to reduce the chances of any potential accident from occurring.  

Dimensions 

The accepted minimum size for a portable toilet that is wheelchair accessible is 2,200mm x 1,500mm which that provides plenty of space for a wheelchair to access and move in. This space also helps accommodate a carer that may be required to assist them in that circumstance, ensuring that they may quickly and efficiently complete the task.  

Also, the height of the fixtures such as the sink and soap dispenser must also be at an appropriate height for those who may be bound to a wheelchair.  

Ramps 

Mostly considered to only be used by those in wheelchairs, ramps also provide an excellent alternative for those which walking sticks and Zimmer frames; providing a safer and easier way to the facilities.  

Not all portable disabled toilets for hire are the same as some do not require a ramp, be sure to check and hire what is appropriate for the situation.  

Doors 

Opening and closing doors can pose a problem to those with unique conditions; this tied in with the fact that many doorways are not wide enough can be a major concern. It is important to ensure that you hire something with a wide and easy to use a door that can facilitate those who require a wheelchair to get around.  

Alarm system 

This is arguably the most crucial part of this list. All disabled toilets must be fitted with a functioning alarm system in case of emergencies or accidents. It is of utmost importance that they are able to notify someone and call attention to their situation as quickly and easily as possible.  

Alarms systems are mostly identifiable as a single red cord that hangs near the toilet. It needs to be clearly marked and should always be left hanging for easy reach; it cannot be wrapped around something or tied up out of the way, regardless of how aesthetically pleasing this option maybe.  

If you are in the market for a reliable company to provide this service, give Addplant a call on 01482867227.

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Reference video: U.S. Access Board