Barrier-free accessibility: Bathroom solutions for facilities in the healthcare and nursing sector

07/15

Designing a bathroom that is barrier-free functional and aesthetically appealing at the same time is no easy task. The array of sanitary elements, shower and bath, together with bathroom furniture, tap fittings and accessories that range from the towel rack to the toilet brush and toilet roll holder set, must all meet users' needs and requirements. At the same time, the bathroom needs to offer a comfortable atmosphere, one that invites people to relax and unwind – also in the healthcare and nursing sector. Ensuring that both needs are met Villeroy & Boch has looked extensively at the topic of barrier-free accessibility and developed solutions to combine barrier-free functionality with comfort and design: The O.novo Vita and Omnia Architectura Vita collections are contemporary in design and comply with the standard DIN 18040 for barrier- free construction. 

Photo: Bathroom sink Omnia architectura 

Photo: Vathroom sink O.novo Vita 

Photo: Wall-hung WC Omnia architectura 

Photo: Patented gripping groove along the lid 

Photo: DirectFlush function 

The O.novo Vita collection has a contemporary design with clear lines and symmetrical forms. The collection's special dimensions and functionalities enable attractive, barrierfree bathrooms to be designed for almost any room situation. The bathroom sinks, available in 55 cm and 60 cm sizes, have a projection of 55 cm and offer a legroom of at least 30 cm. This makes it possible to sit comfortably in front of the sink or to accommodate a wheelchair underneath. Gripping grooves under the sink can be used to hold on to or to pull oneself up to the sink. The broad rim provides an additional stabilisation aid.  

 

The 80 cm bathroom sink, with a projection of 55 cm and a legroom of at least 30 cm, is also wheelchair-compatible. Handles integrated in the ceramic at the front of the sink on the right and left-hand side make it easier for users to pull themselves towards the sink and can also be used as towel holders. Above the handles the sink provides a broad shelf spaces for placing all items you require within easy reach.  

 

O.novo Vita also offers various WC solutions for different requirements. This includes one raised and one elongated wall-hung WC with the rimless DirectFlush technology. DirectFlush WCs, compared to toilets with a conventional flushing rim, have an intelligent water flow with higher positioned water jets and a special splash guard at the top of the bowl. This also helps further limit the spread of bacteria. The rimless, fully glazed WC can be quickly, easily and hygienically cleaned. Another DirectFlush version is the O.novo Vita WC combination with cistern. Two standing WCs, available as wash-down or wash-out models, featuring a raised seating position of 46 cm to facilitate use and improved seating comfort, round off the selection of WCs.  

 

Matching WC seats, with SoftClosing hinges and QuickRelease function as options, feature a special buffer to prevent lateral displacement. A patented gripping groove along the edge of the lid ensures easy and hygienic handling. White and blue seats are available to assist people with dementia or visual impairment.  

 

The Omnia Architectura Vita sanitary range combines functionality and purist design to create intelligent, barrier-free solutions. The size of the wheelchair-compatible bathroom sink measuring 65 cm is very generous. The indented front also allows the sink to be comfortably used by wheelchair users. With a choice of five tap hole positions, the sink can be perfectly adjusted to suit the interior situation.  

 

The 60 cm wide bathroom sink added to the range has been specifically developed to cater for the requirements of smaller bathrooms. With a projection of 55 cm and a legroom of at least 30 cm, this bathroom sink is also very wheelchair compatible. Safety and stability is ensured by lateral grips underneath the sink and the broad rim. 

 

The elongated, wall-hung wash-down WC protrudes over a length of 71 cm, rendering it safe also for wheelchair users. The matching WC seat, also featuring a special buffer to prevent lateral displacement, is optionally available with SoftClosing hinges. The QuickRelease function allows the WC cover to be quickly and easily removed. These additional functionalities guarantee that WC use is especially pleasant and facilitate cleaning.  

 

For the design of ground-level showers in patient bathrooms, Villeroy & Boch recommends their Architectura MetalRim shower trays. The 4 mm thick cast sanitary acrylic with full-body colouring is tested in compliance with EN 249. The material is, according to the manufacturer, extremely robust and resilient as well as shock and impact-resistant. Due to the special technology with steel reinforcement integrated into the rim area, Architectura MetalRim offers high stability tested to a load-bearing capacity of up to 1,000 kg. Additional safety is provided by the optional anti-slip class C VilboGrip.  

 

The special CeramicPlus surface finish is optionally available for all bathroom sinks and WCs. Liquids including all the impurities they contain form droplets on the ceramic and automatically bead off into the outlet on the inclined ceramic surfaces. Ceramic products and WC seats are optionally available with the new antibacterial glaze AntiBac. AntiBac is the innovative hygiene solution for highly frequented public facilities where the risk of bacteria spreading is high. The new glaze containing silver ions has been demonstrated to reduce the growth of bacteria on ceramic surfaces and WC seats by more than 99.9 %. This has been confirmed by Boken Quality Evaluation Institute. 

 

Further information: 

www.villeroy-boch.com