Accessible - Handrails and Support

Wooden/ bamboo support rails fixed to floor in front of toilet
Wooden/ bamboo support rails fixed to floor on either side of toilet
Metal bars (e.g. galvanised iron pipe) fixed to side wall/s of latrine
Suitable for: People who are unstable or unable to walk, squat or stand unaided.


Construction Advantages Disadvantages Improvements / variations Cost / labour
Bricks protruding from wall for support to a weak or visually impaired person

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  • Easy to construct
  • Materials locally available
  • Walls must be strong enough to support user’s weight
  • Difficult to add after construction
  • Regular maintenance needed to ensure stability
  • Half bricks in the wall can also provide mini-ledges for a user to hold on to
Low
Wooden/ bamboo support rails fixed to floor either in front or on either side of toilet (depending on user’s needs)
  • Materials locally available
  • Easy to construct and maintain
  • Allows user to transfer to the toilet from the side
  • Position and height of rails must involve user and an assessment of their need
  • Rails must be strong enough to bear users’ weight
  • Not possible to fix to a concrete floor/slab
  • Might be difficult to keep clean
  • Cannot fix to a concrete floor/slab
  • Varnish/paint rail to stop termite damage and for easy cleaning
  • For a growing child use longer vertical poles, so bar height is adjustable.
  • Horizontal bars at different heights might suit some.
  • For concrete floors, pipe rails can be cemented in during construction, or screwed to floor later.
Low
Metal bars (e.g. galvanised iron pipe) fixed to side wall/s of latrine
  • Highly durable
  • Can be added to existing facility
  • Easy to clean
  • Bars to be positioned based on user needs
  • Walls must be strong enough to fix bars to
  • Walls must be close enough for user to reach the bars
  • Paint bars to reduce corrosion and increase durability
  • Several bars at different heights on each side might better suit some users
Medium to high


Acknowledgements

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