Accessibility takes off at Bristol Airport
Bristol Airport has gone beyond basic requirements in its suitability for use by people with disabilities by installing a Clos-o-Mat Palma Vita wash-and-dry toilet in place of a conventional peninsular WC. The facility measures 3 x 4 m and includes a height-adjustable adult-sized changing bench and ceiling track hoist that are key to a compliant Changing Places.
Phil Holder of Bristol Airport commented, ‘We want to make Bristol Airport accessible to all, and we hope this new area will encourage less-mobile passengers and their carers to travel more.
Kelvin Grimes, project manager for Clos-o-Mat’s Changing Places, explains, ‘Up to 14 million people [a figure for the UK which Clos-o-Mat confirmed] can’t use conventional wheelchair-accessible toilets. Changing Places, with the extra space and equipment, means they can do things the rest of us take for granted.
‘To our knowledge, Bristol is only the second UK airport to go beyond the British Standard for a Changing Places and further include the wash-and-dry toilet, which further helps the user’s dignity, hygiene and cleanliness.’
The equipment was installed by Whitehead Building Services