Architecture goes far beyond aesthetics . It is about bringing functionality, comfort, safety and well-being to the person who will inhabit the space. That is why in the case of homes for
People with Disabilities (PWDs) , an architectural project planned and focused on their needs can be an
even greater guarantee of safety . Just like children and the elderly, people with disabilities are more susceptible to domestic accidents and need extra care. According to the National Health Survey (PNS), coordinated by IBGE, there are more than
17 million people with some kind of disability in the country .
Projeto de Mariana Crego (Rafael Renzo/CASACOR)
The bathroom is a wet area where many accidents occur, especially due to falls. The good news is that there are some small changes that can be made at home to
ensure greater safety for this audience . Below, we have separated
5 tips from architect Leandro Neves , partner of Ideia Glass, to bring comfort and safety to your bathroom:
Door dimensions
When designing an accessible bathroom, you must take into account the dimensions of the doors and access points to the room, which need to be larger than usual. “If the
bathroom door opens in the opposite direction to the user’s entrance , there must
be at least 1.20 m free space for the entrance and 30 cm free space between the alignment of the opening and the internal wall,” explains the specialist.
Projeto de Larissa Loh (Eduardo Macarios/CASACOR)
For the flooring, the architect says that the ideal is to avoid steps or small obstacles, leaving the surface as flat as possible so as not to hinder the resident's movement. However,
NBR 9050 (a standard that establishes criteria for accessible construction) allows for a
maximum difference in level of 1.5 cm between the shower enclosure and the rest of the bathroom . “The shower floor must be non-slip and must not be uneven in relation to the rest of the bathroom. Therefore, it is recommended to use a slope of up to 2% towards the drain to drain the water, but the drains must be installed outside the maneuvering area in the case of wheelchair users,” it advises.
Support bars
More than just accessories, grab bars are essential in a home with a disabled person, the elderly or even pregnant women. The biggest question is usually where
to position them . According to the architect, the grab bars should be placed
next to the toilet, on the sink and in the shower area . “In the case of the toilet, the grab bars need to be installed on the side walls and behind the object. This positioning helps the wheelchair user when making the transition between the chair and the toilet. In the shower area, the grab bars should be positioned at a height of 75 cm from the floor and have a minimum length of 70 cm.”
Bathroom box
Banheiro assinado por Bianca da Hora (Juliano Colodeti, do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)
To ensure a safe shower, the choice of shower enclosure also makes all the difference in the design of an accessible bathroom. “A shower enclosure that optimizes the bathroom space and
does not have lower fittings is ideal . In addition to making it easier to move around, it allows wheelchairs to enter quickly and easily,” explains Leandro.
