‘Sustainable Homes’ require Bathrooms to be larger than Bedrooms, says BMA
In a recent survey by the Bathroom Manufacturers Association into the use of bathrooms for people with a disability – one in three, of the people surveyed, called for larger bathrooms in British homes.
Reasons given for this demand include lack of space to manoeuvre a wheelchair – lack of room around the toilet for a Carer to assist a disabled user and also to transfer onto the toilet – plus general lack of space for older homeowners, who may have grown unsteady on their feet – all pointing to a need for ‘The Smallest Room’ to grow larger.
Respondents to the survey, which was carried out by the BMA amongst professional Carers during April, also called for wet room styling and a walk in shower or level access shower tray to be available in all homes, so that dwellings become both inclusive and sustainable over the life of the homeowner’s family.
In existing homes the carer’s also suggested that bathroom doors should open outwards to release more space inside the room.
Speaking for the BMA, Marketing Manager Richard Moss explained, “if we expect our new houses to be sustainable for use over the next 50 years we need to consider the needs of the next two or three generations. It is time for us to stop thinking of the bathroom as the Smallest Room and realise what a huge influence it is going to have on the lives of British homeowners over the next four or five decades.”
Figures from the Office of National Statistics tell us that, by mid-century, there will be 6.3 million fewer people, under 40 years of age, in the UK – however their numbers will be more than made up for by the increase in people over 60, in this age group there will be an additional 6.8 million people by 2050.”
“At a time when builders are being encouraged to reduce the size of the floor plan for modern homes, the natural outcome is for ‘smaller’ rooms,” says Moss, “and yet the BMA survey shows that ‘larger’, rather than smaller bathrooms are going to become more important to make a home truly sustainable.”
“The bathroom is a very important room in ensuring that people can remain in their homes in their senior years and continue to enjoy their lives fully. It’s entirely possible that older homeowners will demand that the bathroom, which enables them to continue to enjoy living in their own home, becomes the most spacious ‘upstairs’ room rather than the Master Bedroom, which is larger by tradition”.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Bathroom Manufacturers Association is the trade association for bathroom manufacturers operating in the UK. Its authority is underlined by a membership that represents 87% of the mainstream bathroom business undertaken within the UK. The BMA is involved in all aspects of the bathroom industry and its activity in 2006 will focus on Water Efficiency, Special Needs and Training, Education & Qualifications. In its role as the voice of the UK bathroom industry, the association has installed a water efficiency section called WaterHog on its web site. The BMA has also surveyed over 6,000 Care Homes, Residential Homes and Occupational Therapists to update its knowledge of the demands of people with special needs and has prepared a series of Generic Training Guides to help people gain a clearer understanding of bathroom specification, installation and products; such as shower controls, shower enclosures, shower trays, sanitaryware, brassware and baths.
For information on all of the BMA activities visit: www.bathroom-association.org
For media information please contact Richard Moss on 07747 037849 or email: richard.moss@bathroom-association.org.uk
