Planning a barrier-free bathroomThis is how it’s done

• Floor plan: You certainly have to make sure that there is plenty of space to move in the bathroom. The space in front of the toilet, washbasin, or bathtub/shower should be 48 x 48 inches (120 x 120 cm), and 60 x 60 inches (150 x 150 cm) for wheelchair users.
• Pre-wall installation: To facilitate subsequent adaptations and reduce costs, a pre-wall installation in lightweight construction should be planned for. This would mean there would be no need to interfere with the building structure in the case of a later renovation.
• The door: Whether bathroom visitors are carrying a small child or sitting in a wheelchair, doors and entrances have to be sufficiently wide. For barrier-free bathrooms, that usually means at least 32 inches (80 cm). In the case of small bathrooms, it is important that the door opens outwards so that the room is still accessible if anyone falls. If this is not possible, you should consider using a sliding door.

The seat height on a wall-hung toilet can be customized during installation. If bathroom furniture and toilets are hung on the wall, the floor underneath can also be cleaned easily.

A barrier-free toilet should have a large projection from the rear wall and also plenty of space between it and other sanitary appliances. For wheelchair users, it is also sensible to plan free space beside the toilet bowl to facilitate access. Remote flush actuation is also helpful.

A normal trap underneath the washbasin really gets in the way if the person using the washbasin is sitting on a stool or in a wheelchair. This barrier disappears with a concealed sink trap. They also create space and make the bathroom appear larger and tidier.