When it comes to your bathroom safety guidelines, there are several key rules for bathroom safety that should be abided by. Bathroom safety is important for your health. It is also essential for the overall health of the bathroom design. There are various ways to promote safety in a design. Some of which are often overlooked in a bathroom space. Below is a guide on the cardinal rules for bathroom safety.
Optimize Accessibility for Maximize Safety
One of the main basics of bathroom safety rules is accessibility. Access is important for safety and comfort in a bathroom design, allowing you to easily access every aspect of your bathroom design. This can be slightly different depending on the specific needs of your bathroom design, but access is important for each and every bathroom. There are various ways to optimize access. Each way serves a specific and unique purpose. This can be done by placing fixtures and accessories well. Each design will be a bit different. This will vary depending on the shape, size and uses of the bathroom.
Utilize Grab Bars for Stability and Balance
Depending on those using the bathroom, grab bars will be needed. There are two main things to know about when to use grab bars. The first is ADA compliance. ADA compliant guidelines are necessary to follow when designing a bathroom that will be used by those with disabilities. The second thing to know is whether or not the bathroom will be public or commercial. Commercial bathrooms will need to have a handicap stall that must include grab bars.
Don’t Overlook Safety in the Toilet Area
Though it may not seem very important, the safety level in your toilet area is something you do not want to overlook. Of course, this will be more important to some people than others, but it is important. The first thing to consider is the placement of the toilet itself. A standard toilet should be 14” - 15” from the floor. It should also be 15” away from any wall or fixtures on every side of the toilet, besides the back wall. Aside from the place of the toilet, there are also several other rules for bathroom safety guidelines.
- Raised Toilet Seats - The use of a raised toilet seat can help with both comfort and safety. They can be fixed onto a toilet or be used as a removable variant. Consider a raised toilet seat in bathrooms for older individuals, those with disabilities, or simply for a comfort boost.
- Toilet Chairs - Much like raised toilet seats, toilet chairs are great for safety as well as comfort. They will often have built in bathroom safety bars, making for a comfortable and easy experience. Toilet chairs are great for disabilities or mobility issues. In addition, they are simply useful for overall bathroom safety rules and accessibility.
- Safety Bars - In ADA compliant bathrooms, bathroom safety bars are incredibly important. They help with safety by giving individuals something to grab onto to help with balance and stability. Depending on the situation, they will need to be mounted in specific locations.
- Accessible Toilet Paper Holder - The position of the toilet paper holder is something that is important for access. It is commonly mounted on the wall, but it can also be freestanding as well.
Shower Safety is Critical to Prevent Accidents
Similar to the safety measures for your toilet, you must take safety measures for your shower as well. A shower is wet and can be slippery. Due to this, you should prioritize safety. By prioritizing bathroom safety rules, comfort is also improved greatly. Showers can be designed in various different ways. In general, they will all benefit from following a certain set of guidelines. Here are some of the most effective ways to improve bathroom functionality and shower safety.
- Grab Bars - The inclusion of bathroom safety bars will help with mobility and stability, and is great bathroom safety for the elderly. They will need to be mounted in specific locations, which are the most important for the safety of those in the shower.
- Shower Mats - Another great aspect of bathroom safety for the elderly, shower mats are great for preventing any accidental slipping in the shower area. Always use non-slip mats for the area inside and outside of the shower. In the shower, consider a suction cup map for high level safety. Outside of the shower, consider a nice non-slip mat of your choice.
- Shower Chairs - Much like a toilet chair, a shower chair can help greatly with both comfort and safety. Shower chairs can be mounted on a wall or freestanding, giving you plenty of options to consider for your design. These can be important for those with mobility issues or disabilities.
- Keep the Area Dry - As one of the easiest ways to keep the area safe, keeping the shower dry when not in use will ensure that you do not accidentally slip on water. Of course, this is not a guaranteed way to stop potential slipping. However, it is a great place to start.
Keep Accessories Available and Accessible
All of your bathroom safety equipment should be easy to reach and easy to use. Each bathroom accessory will serve its own unique purpose in a bathroom design. It is important to know where they are and get to them at a moment’s notice. Bathroom accessories come in a variety of forms and each one is necessary for something unique. Accessories such as soap dishes and soap dispensers are necessary. They keep your countertop clean while housing the soap of your choice in your vanity area. These should be placed on a countertop or mounted on the wall for maximum access.
Another example of a bathroom accessory you want to keep available is your towel holding accessory or accessories. These can come in the form of a towel bar, bathroom hook, towel rack or anything similar. These hold towels to keep them dry and clean. They also allow easy access to them after you bathe or wash your hands. Your towel accessories should be mounted in a convenient location for your preferences. Of course, this same line of thinking should apply to all of your bathroom accessories. Keep them available and accessible. This helps to keep your bathroom safe and efficient.
Remove Obstacles To Improve Safety
One of the easiest ways to improve rules for bathroom safety and limit accidents is by removing any obstacle or obstructions. These could be hindering your mobility or access to certain areas of the room. Obstacles can come in the form of several different things. For example, your fixture or accessory placement might be bad. They can become obstacles in and off themselves. Items such as waste baskets or laundry baskets can get in the way. This is very true in a smaller bathroom if they are not placed properly and efficiently.
In addition, you should remove any bathroom safety equipment or items that are in the way of your access to the necessary parts of your design. You may be reluctant to remove some of your favorite pieces of decor. However, it is necessary in most cases for optimal bathroom safety guidelines. However, in many cases, you will be able to simply reposition these items. This will allow you to keep them in your bathroom design.
Improve the Visibility of the Area With Quality Lighting
The visibility of your bathroom should be maximized in order to fully enjoy a safe bathroom. Visibility can be improved in a number of ways. This is mainly done by increasing the amount of light in your bathroom without making the area too overwhelming in terms of brightness. Here are some of the best ways to improve the visibility in your bathroom in order to make your bathroom safe.
- Vanity Lighting - Because many people will be spending a majority of their time at a bathroom vanity, the lighting needs to be perfect. Bathroom vanity lighting can come in the form of lighted mirrors, spotlights, track lights and various others. As long as the area is lighted, access and visibility shouldn’t be a problem.
- Natural Light - If your bathroom is located in an area of your home that has access to natural light, it is highly recommended that you do what you can to let it into your design. Natural light is not only efficient as a light source. It is also a cost-free solution to bring light into your bathroom conveniently.
- Ceiling Lights - The lights on your ceiling will be responsible for the majority of the lighting in your bathroom. There are limitless possibilities for the lighting on your ceiling. You have options to get creative here. Consider LED bulbs for your ceiling lights. These will provide the area with a cost effective solution to improving vision.
Non-Slip Surfaces for Optimal Safety
The use of a non-slip surface in your bathroom will help to prevent slipping that can result in accidents. This is useful bathroom safety equipment to include no matter what type of bathroom you have. Non-slip decals should be applied to any surface that is stepped on or handled. In addition to the non-slip surfaces, remove any rugs or mats that can be easily tripped on. This is true for loose rugs or mats that do not have a good grip on the floor.