I apologise if this seems like a rant, but it's an issue that has caused me much annoyance not to mention physical pain... in disabled toilets... why do they put the sink so low?
I know WHY they put it so low, it's obvious that if you're in a wheelchair then you can't reach as high as if you're stood on two feet. But, why do they not consider that a lot of people of reduced mobility are not in wheelchairs and are of above-average height?
I am 6'2" and have a permanent medical situation that means I have reduced flexibility in my spine. On good days I'm flexible enough you wouldn't notice anything different unless you were looking out for it, but on other days I can be more-or-less rigid from the hips up (phnarr phnarr!). On those days I find it necessary to use the disabled facilities for any "sit-down" visits so I have the grab handles and raised pan to help me. But, I then have to kneel on the floor in order to wash my hands, as I can't reach DOWN to the sink!
I've also noticed that in the regular toilets of any office building built in the last 5-10 years, the hand basins are set so low that anyone of average height or above must bend down to use them. I can appreciate that you need to cater for people below average height, but why can't they say that any washroom of 2 or more sinks must have at least one at the low height, and at least one at a greater height?
I realise that 6'2 is above average, but I'd think that anything between 5'4" and 6'6" could be regarded as a "normal" height for an adult male in the UK, and 6'7 or 6'8 isn't THAT uncommon.
I know WHY they put it so low, it's obvious that if you're in a wheelchair then you can't reach as high as if you're stood on two feet. But, why do they not consider that a lot of people of reduced mobility are not in wheelchairs and are of above-average height?
I am 6'2" and have a permanent medical situation that means I have reduced flexibility in my spine. On good days I'm flexible enough you wouldn't notice anything different unless you were looking out for it, but on other days I can be more-or-less rigid from the hips up (phnarr phnarr!). On those days I find it necessary to use the disabled facilities for any "sit-down" visits so I have the grab handles and raised pan to help me. But, I then have to kneel on the floor in order to wash my hands, as I can't reach DOWN to the sink!
I've also noticed that in the regular toilets of any office building built in the last 5-10 years, the hand basins are set so low that anyone of average height or above must bend down to use them. I can appreciate that you need to cater for people below average height, but why can't they say that any washroom of 2 or more sinks must have at least one at the low height, and at least one at a greater height?
I realise that 6'2 is above average, but I'd think that anything between 5'4" and 6'6" could be regarded as a "normal" height for an adult male in the UK, and 6'7 or 6'8 isn't THAT uncommon.
