Planning a barrier-free bathroom This 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 WC, washbasin or bathtub / shower should be 120 x 120 centimetres, and 150 x 150 centimetres for wheelchair users.
• Prewall installation: To facilitate subsequent adaptations and reduce costs, a prewall 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 adaptation.
• The door: Whether 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 80 centimetres. 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 WC can be customised during installation. On some models, the height can also be adjusted afterwards. If bathroom furniture and toilets are hung on the wall, the floor underneath can also be cleaned easily.

A barrier-free WC 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 WC pan to facilitate access. Remote flush actuation for the toilet flush would also be 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 concealed traps or particularly space-saving drainage system. They also create space and thus make the bathroom appear larger and tidier.