Toilet (WC) For Disabled People

Although there are many disabled people's toilets in Penang, most are not up to the requirements specified by Malaysian Standards, (at least not at the moment that I write this post). I noticed that many hotels, shopping centers and public buildings were not stingy, in both money and space, when they built these toilets. But sadly, many of these toilets just missed many of the subtleties required by the standards. I believe most people still do not know how to build a proper toilet for disabled people and hope this post can help them.

Important points to remember:

1. Toilet size should not be smaller than 1600 mm X 2000 mm. It must have enough space for wheelchair to manoeuvre inside.

2. Toilet sign must be clearly visible. Only internationally adopted symbol should be used.

3. The doors should be either of the sliding or outward-opening type.

4. Floor should not be slippery.

5. There must be knee space clearance under the basins.

6. Mirrors must be big enough so that it is usable by people who sit on wheelchair.

7. Door locks and taps should not be of the types that require pinching, tight grasping and fine finger control.

8. An emergency call button should be provided.

9. Doors should be of the type that can be opened from outside in case of emergency.

10. Layout and fixtures must be standardized so that people with visual impairment can find the paper, sink and place to flush the toilet.

Here is a layout plan of a good toilet.

Here is the side view of a good toilet (dimensions given in mm).

The three dimensional drawing below shows what the toilet should look like. Please note how the accessories are arranged together.

Why doors should either be sliding or open outward.

The drawing above shows the space needed for a wheelchair to manoeuvre inside the toilet. The wheelchair needs to turn 360 degree as well as to park beside the toilet bowl. Sliding doors or outward-opening doors maximise the space inside the toilet.

The photograph above shows why a wheelchair user is unable to shut the toilet door that open inward.

What are flip-up grab bars? Why are they important?

Flip-up grab bar is a grab bar that can flip up and down (see photos above). It must be able to flip-up to allow a person to transfer from his/her wheelchair to the toilet bowl (see drawings below).

Step 1: Wheelchair user positions his wheelchair beside the toilet bowl. The grab bar is in original position – down.

Step 2: Wheelchair user flips up the grab bar. The grab bar is no longer obstructing him from transferring to the toilet bowl.

Step 3: The wheelchair user transfers to toilet bowl. (The flip-up bar is still up.)

Step 4: The wheelchair user flips down the grab bar and sits securely on the toilet bowl.

This is the plan view of why a flip-up grab bar is important.

Here are some examples of unsuitable grab bars.

Right and wrong ways of fixing grab bars to the wall.

The above drawing shows the correct way (see the red arrow). The drawing below shows the wrong way (see the red arrow). Please note the verticle grab bar in relation to the sitting person. The grab bar must be reachable to the sitting person. It should not be far back and thus not reachable by the sitting person.

Here are examples of correctly fixed grab bars.

Here are examples of wrongly fixed grab bars.

The photo above shows a good example of a verticle grab bar that cannot be reached if a person is sitting on the toilet bowl. The photo below shows an example of a completely missing vertical grab bar.

Basins should have knee clearance.

The photo above shows an example of a basin with knee clearance. The photo below shows an example of a basin that is without knee clearance. A wheelchair user has problem getting close to the latter type of basin.

Suitable and unsuitable mirrors.

The photo above shows a mirror and can be used by a wheelchair use. The photo below shows a mirror that is too high for wheelcheel user.

Rubbish bins that use foot peddles to operate are unsuitable.

The simple rubbish bin in the photo above serves it purpose better than the rubbish bin in the photo below. Many people with disabilities do not have the ability to step on the peddle to open the lid of such rubbish bin.

Taps and door handles that do not require pinching, tight grasping and fine finger control.

Some people with disabilities have limited finger control, lever-type taps and door handles (as shown in photos above) are more suitable for them than those shown in photos below.

There is a need to standardize all toilets.

Toilet design must be standardized for people with visual impairment and people with learning disabilities. Any person can find the lever in the photo above (see red arrow). But in the photo below (see red arrow), the flush lever is located at an unusual place.

Notes: The specifications given here are based on:

1, Guidelines On Buildings Requirements For Disabled Persons, Bahagian Kawalan Bangunan, Jabatan Kerajaan Tempatan, Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan, Malaysia, November 1999.

2, Malaysian Standard MS 1184.

Red Rock Hotel

Red Rock Hotel has a popular Chinese restaurant at level 2 (first floor). If a wheelchair user goes there, then she must be prepared for a very unfriendly environment.

There is a step ramp in front of the hotel's main entrance. But it was haphazardly built and probably meant more for heavy luggage than for wheelchairs. Further more, it was partially blocked by the bell service table (see video).

As you enter the hotel lobby, you will see that there is a very small lift on the left and a coffee house on the right. A poorly designed toilet for the disabled is located along the corridor next to the coffee house. There is no sign indicating the location of this toilet. I found it by accident the last time I was in the hotel.

It is not easy going to this toilet. First you have to enter the toilet, that means taking a step down. (In the video you will see that I turn my wheelchair around so that I can use the bigger hind wheels to go down. That is a safe way of going down a step.) Then I have to turned a very tight corner, before I can find the toilet for the disabled.

The toilet is rather small and without any extra fittings that are needed by disabled people. To me, it is not a toilet for disabled people. Placing the universal disabled logo on the toilet door is a sere abuse of the logo.

The worst problem comes when a wheelchair user wants to leave the toilet. How to overcome the step at the entrance? My advice to any wheelchair user who wants to use this toilet is to ask two (yes TWO) persons to assist you. You need one person hold the door open from the outside, the other help you to turn the tight corner and tilt your wheelchair so that the front wheels could get on to the step. Then the person behind you needs to help lift up your wheelchair and push you forward on to the higher level. No wheelchair user should go to this toilet all by herself.

(Note: The toilet (I only know the men's toilet) at the Chinese restaurant (at first floor) is hopelessly impossible for wheelchair user.)

Traders Hotel (with translations)

If you go to Traders Hotel by car, please remember that there is no lift at the basement car parks. A wheelchair user has to get down at the car porch in front of the lobby.

There is no car park for disabled driver, but the guard will let you park at the VIP car parks (in front of the hotel) if you request for it.

The step ramp that leads to the lobby is very poorly designed. The slope is very steep and it is also not wide enough. (For more information about step ramp / kerb ramp, please click HERE.) This video below shows the difference between a good and a bad kerb ramp.

When Traders Hotel was first opened in the mid 80s, it was known as Shangri-la Inn. The hotel has not changed much since then.The hotel was probably the first one in Penang to provide a toilet for the disabled. But unfortunately, the toilet remained the same until today. After more than twenty-five years, and with so many new hotels providing better designed disabled people's toilet, I was quite surprised that the management has done nothing to improve it. I think the needs of the disabled are still at the bottom of their priority list.

(如果你驾车或坐车到Traders Hotel，请记住在地下室的停车场没设电梯。 轮椅者需在大厅前的车门廊下车。

这儿没设残障者的停车位，如你有要求看管员将允许你把车子停放在VIP的停车位（在酒店门前）。

通往大厅的斜坡是道非常差劲的设计。通道的斜度非常倾斜和它的广度不够。（为了知道更多关于坡道，请点击这里）这个视频显示好与不好的斜道的差别。

当Traders Hotel第一次在80年中开幕时，它的称号是Shangri-la Inn。这间酒店和以往一样一成不变。它有可能是第一家在槟城提供残障者的厕所。但是，非常不幸倒是这儿的厕所到今天为此依然不变。超过25 年过后，目睹很多酒店都能提供很好的无障碍厕所，我很惊讶为何这儿酒店的管理层并没有做些改善。 我想残障者的基本需求依然被排在优先级列表的最尾端.)

(Jika kamu memandu atau menaiki kereta ke Trader Hotel, sila ingat di sini tempat letak kereta yang berada di bawah tanah tiada lif. Pengguna kerusi roda perlu turun di anjung tempat kereta yang berada di hadapan lobi.

Tiada tempat letak kereta untuk pemandu OKU, tetapi penjaga akan mengizinkan kamu meletak kereta di tempat letak kereta VIP jika kamu ada meminta izin untuk membuat demikian.

Ramp yang menghala ke lobi adalah sangat teruk sekali reka bentuknya. Cerun/slope terlalu curam dan keluasannya tidak mencukupi. ( untuk mengetahui lebih banyak maklumat mengenai step ramp / kerb ramp, sila klik sini.) Rakaman di bawah menunjukkan perbezaan antara kerb ramp yang bagus dan tidak bagus.

Apabila pembukaan Trader Hotel pada pertengahan 80s, ia dikenal sebagai Shangri-la Inn . Hotel ini tidak banyak perubahannya sejak pembinaannya. Hotel ini mungkin merupakan hotel pertama di Pulau Pinang yang menyediakan tandas OKU. Tetapi malangnya tandas di sini masih sama pada hari ini. Selepas lebih daripada 25 tahun, terdapat banyak hotel memperuntukan reka bentuk tandas OKU yang sesuai, saya sangat terkejut bahawa pihak pengurusan di sini tidak mengambil tindakan untuk mengubahsuainya. Saya rasa keperluan utama OKU masih diketepikan atau masih ditinggalkan di bawah senarai keutamaan mereka.)

Kerb Ramp / Step Ramp (with translations)

Kerb Ramp (Step Ramp) is important for wheelchair users. Unfortunately I don't see many well designed kerb ramps around Penang. The two drawings above show examples of bad kerb ramps. The two drawings below show examples of good kerb ramps. Good kerb ramp must have a gentle slope. It must be at least 1000 mm (1 meter) in width. Many kerb ramps do not have enough space for wheelchair clearance. A good kerb ramp must have a minimum clearance space of 1200 mm (1.2 m). The video below shows actual examples of good and bad kerb ramps.

(坡道对轮椅者来说非常重要。不幸的是我没有看到很多设在槟城的坡道在建设和设计方面都符合标准。以上的两张图片显示不正确的坡道。而以小的两张图片显示正确的坡道。正确的坡道的斜度应较缓。它的广度至少1000m （1meter）。很多坡道没有足够的空间容纳轮椅（指的是轮椅和坡道表面上之间的空间）。好的坡道应备有适当的空间至少1200mm （1.2m）。以下的视频显示好与不好的坡道。)

(Kerb Ramp (Step Ramp) adalah sangat penting bagi pengguna kerusi roda. Malangnya saya tidak nampak ramp yang sedia ada di Pulau Pinang adalah sempurna dalam reka bentuk dan pembinaannya. Dua gambar di atas merupakan contoh kerb ramp yang tidak bagus. Dua gambar di bawah merupakan contoh kerb ramp yang bagus. Kerb ramp yang bagus mesti mempunyai cerun/slope yang sempurna. Keluasannya mesti mempunyai sekurang-kurangnya 1000mm (1 meter). Banyak kerb ramp tidak mempunyai ruang yang mencukupi bagi kerusi roda (ruangan antara kerusi roda dengan permukaan kerb ramp). Kerb ramp yang bagus mesti mempunyai ruangan yang sekurang-kurangnya 1200mm (1.2m). Rakaman di bawah menunjukkan contoh kerb ramp yang bagus dan tidak bagus yang wujud.)

From KOMTAR to Prangin Mall to First Avenue Mall (with translations)

The above video shows how KOMTAR, Prangin Mall and First Avenue Mall are linked together. There are a few links from KOMTAR to Prangin Mall but not all are wheelchair friendly. I personally prefer the one that links KOMTAR at level 4 (inside Pacific Departmental Store) to Prangin Mall second floor. (See first part the video. The video was taken from Prangin Mall second floor to Pacific Departmental Store at KOMTAR level 4.) The link has a very gentle slope and no problem at all for wheelchair users.

On the other hand, the link between Prangin Mall (second floor) and First Avenue Mall (second floor) is not very user friendly. (See second half of the video). The slope is very steep. A friend told me he could use his motorized wheelchair to climb the slope but not manual wheelchair. Manual wheelchair users need people to help them if they want to negotiate the slope. But choosing between steep slope and stares, the steep slope is still better.

(上述的视频显示的连接处。这里备有几条的连接道从KOMTAR, Prangin Mall and First Avenue Mall 的接处，但是这儿的建设并非全都是友善于轮椅使用者。我本人比较喜欢其中从KOMTAR四楼（在Pacific Departmental Store的里头）到Prangin Mall二楼的连接道。（请参考视频的第一个部分。这个是从Prangin Mall二楼到Pacific Departmental Store坐落在KOMTAR的四楼。）这个连接道的斜度适度，所以对轮椅者来说不是问题。

另一方面，从Prangin Mall（二楼）到First Avenue Mall（二楼）的连接道并不友善对于使用者。（请参考视频的第二半的部分）。这儿的斜道太斜。有朋友告诉我他只能使用电动轮椅而不是手推轮椅攀登这道斜道。手推轮椅者需要有人帮忙如他们欲想挑战这道斜坡。无论如何，在这道斜道和傻乎乎凝望之间的选择，似乎这道斜道还是比较好.)

(Rakaman yang ditunjukkan di atas adalah mengenai jalan sabungan antara bangunan pasar raya KOMTAR, Prangin Mall dan First Avenue Mall. Terdapat beberapa jalan sabungan dari KOMTAR ke Prangin Mall tetapi bukan semua jalan sabungan yang sedia ada adalah sesuai bagi orang yang berkerusi roda. Saya lebih suka salah satu jalan sabungan yang menyambung dari KOMTAR di tingkat 4 (di dalam Pacific Departmental Store) ke Prangin Mall di tingkat 2. (Lihat bahagian pertama dalam rakaman itu. Rakaman tersebut dirakam dari Prangin Mall di tingkat 2 ke Pacific Departmental Store yang ada di KOMTAR tingkat 4.) Jalan sabungan ini mempunyai curam yang sederhana dan tiada masalah bagi kumpulan yang berkerusi roda.

Sebaliknya, jalan sabungan di antara Prangin Mall (tingkat 2) dengan First Avenue Mall (tingkat 2) tidak begitu mesra bagi semua golongan pengguna. (Lihat bahagian yang ditunjukkan pada separuh kedua dalam rakaman ini). Cerun/slope yang sedia di sini terlalu curam. Kawan saya memberitahu saya bahawa dia hanya boleh menggunakan kerusi roda yang bermotor tetapi bukan kerusi roda yang tidak bermotor untuk berjalan melalui cerun/slope ini. Perlu ada orang tolong jika kamu menggunakan kerusi roda yang tidak bermotor sekiranya kamu ingin mencabar cerun yang curam ini. Pilihan antara cerun yang curam atau hanya merenung tanpa membuat apa-apa, cerun yang curam ini masih merupakan pilihan yang lebih baik.)

E & O Hotel (with translations)

When I attended a wedding dinner at the E & O Hotel a few years ago, I discovered that the toilet near the banquet hall was not wheelchair friendly. I had to go quite far to reach the toilet for disabled people. On the way, I had to go down a very steep ramp. I found the ramp to be very unsuitable for wheelchair users.

I checked the toilet and found it to be not so good in design but 'usabled'. It was obvious that the people there did not understand the needs of disabled people. I have highlighted some of the problems in the video above.

(多年前，我曾在E&O酒店出席结婚宴会。我发觉靠近宴席厅的厕所并不适合轮椅使用者。我得越过一段满遥远的路途到达无障碍厕所。在路途中，我得沿着一道非常斜的斜坡。我察觉和切身体验这道斜坡不适合轮椅使用者。

我检查到其实这个无障碍厕所的设计并不完善但是勉强点还可使用。 这明显地证明这里的人依旧不了解残障者的需求。在上头的影片中，我有强调其中的问题所在处。)

(Apabila saya menghadiri jamuan perkahwinan di Hotel E & O pada beberapa tahun yang lalu, saya mendapati bahawa tandas yang terletak berhampiran dewan jamuan perkahwinan tidak mesra bagi golongan yang berkerusi roda. Saya terpaksa melalui perjalanan yang agak jauh untuk menyampai tandas yang sesuai bagi OKU. Dalam perjalanannya, saya perlu mengikuti satu ramp yang agak curam. Saya mendapati ramp ini tidak sesuai bagi golongan yang berkerusi roda.

Saya memeriksa dan mendapati reka bentuk tandas ini tidak begitu bagus tetapi masih boleh digunakan dalam keadaan yang tiada pilihan yang lain. Hal ini jelas menunjukkan bahawa ramai orang di sini masih tidak memahami keperluan golongan OKU. Saya menekan beberapa masalahnya melalui rakaman di atas.)

First Avenue Mall (with translations)

A wheelchair user can enter First Avenue Shopping Mall by the ramp near the Parkson entrance. The ramp has a gentle slope. But it is a bit narrow. (A ramp should not be narrower than 1.2 m or 4 ft. To know more about ramp go HERE. ) The handrail is only at one side, thus this is unsuitable for people who can use only one arm. (Eg. Someone who had stroke.) Near the end of the ramp is a lift. But it is behind a closed door and thus, not so obvious to people who are new to the place. It is good to take note of this lift because the next one is quite far away.

Car parks for disabled people are located near the lifts and the paying machine. I saw a sign saying that non-disabled people's vehicles will be clamped if they parked there. This is a good practice and I hope other shopping malls and public buildings will follow this example.

Once inside, most wheelchair users should not have problem moving around the mall. However I had some difficulties looking for the ground floor disabled toilet because the sign was blocked by a wall. (It is near the ladies' toilet.) There is one feature I dislike about the toilet. The grab bar cannot be flipped up. This can post problem to some wheelchair users who transfer to the toilet bowl by placing their wheelchairs side-by-side the toilet bowl. Please refer to the following videos about flip up grab bar and side transfer to the toilet bowl.

(沿着靠近Parkson出口的斜坡轮椅残障者可以方便进入First Avenue Shopping Mall。这个斜坡的斜度合适。但是，这个斜坡有些狭窄。（斜坡的广度不该少过1.2m或者4ft。为了对斜坡的正确认识，请点击这里。）斜坡旁边只备一个扶把。所以，这会对那些只有一只手能使用的人士造成不便。（比如那些中风者。）靠近斜坡的尾端就是电梯。但是，这个电梯坐落在一个封密大门的后面。所以，特别对于那些第一次到这里的人并不是很明显。最好是有留意到这个电梯因为接下来的电梯离这儿蛮远的。

残障者的停泊车位是靠近电梯和付款机。我看到有个标记显示如有些并非残障者贸然使用这里的泊车位的车子将被反锁。这是一个很好的做法。我希望这样的做法可以成为其它购物中心仿效的榜样。

进到里头，轮椅使用者可自由自在移动。无论如何，我面对一些难度察觉在底层无障碍厕所的坐落处因为它的标字被墙壁遮住。（这是靠近女厕）有一样是我不喜欢的就是厕所里的扶把不能翻转起来。这个情况会对那些惯于把轮椅靠在马桶旁以方便他们从轮椅转移身子到马桶的轮椅使用者造成不便之处。请参阅以下的影片是教导正确的扶把和靠边转移身子的轮椅者。)

(Golongan yang berkerusi roda boleh memasuki pusat membeli-belah First Avenue Shopping Mall melalui ramp yang berdekatan pintu masuk Parkson. Ini merupakan ramp yang sempurna. Tetapi ia agak sempit silikit. (Sebenarnya keluasan ramp tidak patut kurang daripada 1.2m atau 4ft. Sila klik sini untuk mengetahui dengan lebih jelas tentang ramp.) ‘Handrail’/pegangan yang ada pada ramp hanya didapati pada sebelah sahaja. Oleh itu, ia tidak sesuai bagi orang yang hanya berupaya pada sebelah tangannya sahaja. (contohnya: bagi sesiapa yang stroke.) lif adalah terletak berhampiran pada hujung ramp. Tetapi ia berada di belakang pintu tertutup. Oleh itu, ia tidak jelas dinampak terutama bagi sesiapa yang baru datang ke sini. Adalah lebih baik mengambil perhatian terhadap kedudukan lif ini kerana agak jauh untuk menyampai lif yang lain.

Tempat letak kereta yang khas bagi OKU terletak berhampiran dengan lif dan mesin pembayaran. Saya nampak papan tanda yang menunjukkan amaran dan tindakan mengapit kereta yang diletakkan di sini sekiranya adalah dimiliki oleh sesiapa yang bukan OKU akan diambilkan. Ini merupakan suatu amaran dan tindakan yang baik. Ia patut digalakkan dan dilihat sebagai satu contoh yang patut diikuti oleh pusat membeli-belah yang lain.

Tiada sebarang masalah bagi golongan yang berkerusi roda bergerak di sekitar tempat membeli-belah. Walaubagaimanapun saya menghadapi kesukaran untuk mengesan tandas OKU yang diperuntukkan di tingkat bawah kerana papan tandanya dihalang oleh dinding. ( Ia berdekatan dengan tandas perempuan.) satu perkara yang saya tidak suka ialah ‘grab bar’/pegangan yang ada pada dinding tandas itu tidak boleh digerakkan atau halanya tidak dapat diangkat menuru ke atas. Hal yang demikian akan menyebabkan pengguna kerusi roda yang meletakkan kerusi rodanya di sebelah mangkuk tandas semasa memindahkan badannya dari kerusi rodanya ke mangkuk tandas. Sila merujuk kepada rakaman di bawah yang menunjukkan ‘grab bar’ yang dapat digerakkan serta pemindahan badan dari kerusi roda dimana ia diletakkan di sebelah mangkuk tandas. )