New multi-occupancy buildings should make a minimum of 5% of bedrooms accessible, with an en-suite and fixed tracked-hoist system or similar, under British Standards.
In addition, the legal Building Regulations, Approved Document M, states that one bedroom in every 20 in buildings other than dwellings should be wheelchair accessible.
With 1 in 5 people in the UK being disabled, and parties that include a disabled person spending £14 billion a year on tourism and travel in the UK, there’s a sound business reason to accommodate their needs, according to Robin Tuffley, marketing manager at Closomat.
Closomat‘s fixed track hoist system runs across the ceiling and offers a range of ‘clip on’ accessible accessories based round a wall-hung track, that enable an en-suite to quickly and easily be adapted with support arms, shower seats, hand rails, back supports.
Robin explains: “Thus, one room becomes dual-purpose. If you are designing a hotel or care environment, it opens your doors to up to 20% more clients.”
