Leicester_H Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Hi My local sports centre has been refurbished. In the wash rooms, the hot air hand dryers are now much lower than before. This means that most people (inc myself 5'3" tall) have to bend at a very unnatural / awkward angle to use them - just the sort of angle that gives back ache - 'everyone' is complaining. The result of filling out a comment form was that they are installed to the industry standard height. A quick google revealed some (conflicting) rules for accessible toilets. Anyone know anything ? I'm all in favour of assisting wheelchair users etc. but I don't see why the majority should 'suffer' - the simplest solution would be to have 2 dryers (they can't cost that much - the whole refurbishment is costing £3.5M (I think!!)) - or is that against the rules / discriminatory ? Or an I just getting grumpy ?! H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I'm no experts, but while they obviously need to have one lower for children and wheelchair users, I'd think that the rest should be at the usual height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Just had our cloakrooms refurbed at work, & ours have been put in at a decent height. If anyone one would bow to an industry standard, I suspect my employers would I wonder if they have got mixed up with the ones that you put your hand in from the top...Dyson Airblade is it??? They would obviously have to be lower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Don't know the answer to that, sorry! My leisure centre has put the holder for the new floor mats so high up that unless you're 5' 10" or above, you have to stand on tiptoe and even then it's really hard to take off/put back the mats . I'm trying a one-woman protest by leaving my mat on the floor (where the old mats used to live). "Ooops, word censored!"ody seems to have noticed yet . And yes, I have complained in writing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Seems sensible that they have one that is accesible for wheelchair users and one for non....could you check with your local council as to the exact rules? Equally you could try mentioning to the leisure centre that this lowering of hand dryers is causing you discomfort and will surely do the same to other users and see what they say? Do keep us updated....its an interesting thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 the DDA regulations document 'M': building other than dwellings, shows hand driers at a height of 800mm - 1000mm from floor level to the under side of the drier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 At 5ft 7 I'd probably have to sit on the floor. I get bad lumber pain if I stoop. 2 at different heights is obviously the right solution Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Put in a request for compensation for aggravating back pain. That will work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 They recently done a similar thing with the pay machines in Reading Station's main car park. You have to almost get on your knees now to use them! There's 3 machines, they could have perhaps just lowered one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 shows hand driers at a height of 800mm - 1000mm from floor level to the under side of the drier 800mm sounds about right. There is only ONE drier - as its a complete refurbishment, I doubt they'll install another. I did complain at reception and they agreed with me. Hence completed their feedback system - and response as above. Thanks for your replies - always useful to know if others agree or not. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 They recently done a similar thing with the pay machines in Reading Station's main car park. You have to almost get on your knees now to use them! There's 3 machines, they could have perhaps just lowered one. daft question but why do they need wheel chair height ticket machines in a car park don't wheel chair users qualify for blue badges and as such get free parking ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Not always it depends who owns the car park The one at Ninewells hospital in Dundee is privately owned and blue badges have to pay as well My late father let my mums badge expire so when I took her in to see him I had to unload her and the chair abandon her go away to park walk back and do the whole thing in reverse as they were so inflexible On the one occasion I dared to use the expired badge I got a parking ticket even though they must have watched me get mum out of the car from their office as it was slapped on less than 2 minutes after the arrival time on the parking meter ticket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 none of the machines in the cars parks or pay and display areas in West brom or Wednesbury or the 2 Hospitals are wheel chair friendly and the machines in West Broms new Tesco car park haven't long been changed to an ANPR system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Leia Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Provision should be made for disabled use; but, in many cases, it's done blindly withouth any though given to the consequences for others. OH is 6ft 5in (I'm 5ft 2in). Seeing him using ATMs, car park and cinema ticket machines, till points, hand driers, etc, you can see why he suffers from a bad back all the time. There seems to be an automatic assumption that tall people can bend down to use this equipment and this isn't always the case. Even if you do bend down, the angle of the displays often make them hard to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Don't disabled toilets have the hand driers at the correct height, therefore no need for lower hand driers in other toilets ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...