by Brianna Crandall — May 26, 2014—Leading U.K supermarket chain Morrisons has unveiled its first accessible, assisted Changing Places toilet for disabled customers— the first of its kind at a supermarket in the Midlands region. The new facility was supplied and installed by Clos-o-Mat, the U.K.-based disabled toileting solutions company, in the Lawley, Telford store, as part of a new café and washroom/restroom program.
The Changing Places toilet features more space than a standard accessible toilet, to accommodate the user and their carer(s), plus a height-adjustable washbasin, hoist, mobile shower trolley, and toilet (WC) with drop-down arms and a privacy screen. Without the additional space and equipment, shoppers who care for someone who needs help to go to the toilet would otherwise have to curtail their trip, or change their loved one on the floor, notes Clos-o-Mat.
Frank Cromie, Morrisons Lawley store manager, explained, “We’re aware of the number of customers who will really benefit from the facility. It’s a fantastic idea and offers a far more dignified experience for those who might otherwise typically use the floor of a disabled WC for changing. For many, conducting a weekly grocery shop is a family endeavor which requires the utmost planning and support from the store. We very much hope that this will make life a lot easier for our existing disabled customer base and possibly even encourage other members of the community to stop by.”
Kelvin Grimes, Clos-o-Mat Changing Places project manager, added, “The new Changing Places toilet at Morrisons means there are now over 600 open across the U.K. in a raft of places to which the public have access. Such toilets mean the 1/4 million+ disabled people who need the help of a carer to toilet can visit more places, and stay longer, than they could otherwise do, without the stress and worry of being able to find and access suitable toilets.”
A Changing Places toilet is now “desirable” under the latest U.K. Building Regulations Approved Document M 2013, and “good practice” under BS8300:2009 for all new build and refurbishment projects involving buildings to which a large number of the public have access.
Many venues installing the special toilets are also adding a Clos-o-Mat Palma Vita automatic shower (wash-and-dry) toilet in place of a standard peninsular toilet. Looking like, and capable of being used as, a conventional toilet, the Clos-o-Mat Palma Vita features integral automatic douching and drying, eliminating the need to manually cleanse with toilet tissue, improving hygiene, dignity and independence for the user and their carer.
Clos-o-Mat is said to have a proven track record on the supply and installation of fully accessible toilets, including a substantial number of Changing Places facilities. The company’s expertise extends through to specification guidance, covered in a white paper—”Considerations & Specification of Changing Places Accessible Toilets“—available for free download from its Web site.
Clos-o-Mat says that the company’s ability to deliver design advice, supply, installation, project management, commissioning and maintenance across the ambit of accessible toileting equipment, including the Clos-o-Mat wash-and-dry (automatic) toilet, means it is uniquely positioned to simplify the whole process for forward-thinking environments to which the public have access.
