A new accessibility requirement comes into effect in 2021, giving disabled people more freedom to enjoy life.
A CP toilet is a room provided with facilities for use by people with complex and multiple impairments who require the help of up to two assistants. Facilities in CP toilets include a WC, hoist, basin, adult-sized changing bench, and optional shower and a hoist system so that assistants can move the user to the various items in the facility.
Without these facilities, disabled people often have to reduce time spent outside their homes, limit what they drink to avoid needing the toilet, stay in soiled clothes until they get home, be manually lifted onto a changing bench or even be changed while lying on the floor.
Buildings which will be required to provide a CP toilet include premises used for assembly, recreation, and entertainment with a capacity of 350 or more people. Or a collection of smaller buildings associated with a site used for assembly, recreation, or entertainment, such as zoos, theme parks and venues for sport and exhibitions with a capacity of 2000 people or more, shopping centres or retail parks with a gross floor area of 30,000 m2 or more, retail premises with a gross floor area of 2500 m2 or more, sport and leisure buildings with a gross floor area over 5000 m2, hospitals and primary care centres and crematoria and cemetery buildings.
Assembly, recreation, and entertainment buildings include cinemas, art galleries and museums, conference centres, hotels that provide function, sport or leisure facilities, motorway service areas, places of worship and libraries open to the public.
The requirements will be updated in Approved Document M: Access to and use of buildings. Volume 2 – Buildings other than dwellings. It is expected that the Department for Education will publish separate guidance regarding CP toilets in schools providing community facilities in 2021.
We offer a range of accessibility services including building and workplace design appraisals, physical access audits as well as digital and physical product reviews.
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