Aesthetics are rarely high on the agenda for washroom facilities in the healthcare sector; for estates and facilities teams, compliance and technical performance take precedence, especially as regards infection control and user safety.
However, says water controls specialist, Delabie, when technical and hygienic needs are met, the resulting form is often ‘institutional and medicalised’, which can provoke very different reactions from users. The company said: “Some will treat the facilities with a lack of respect, and may even vandalise them. Others may find the institutional aspect distressing, hampering their recuperation. Delabie’s designers take a holistic approach to accessory design, placing an equal emphasis on form as well as function for very good reasons – user well-being and comfort.”
Delabie’s washroom accessories incorporate the essential technical aspects: soap dispenser mechanisms do not block or drip; grab bar fixings are robust and concealed to prevent unwanted removal; stainless steel mirrors maintain their visual integrity and are unbreakable. The hygiene aspect is also considered. Accessories have smooth, rounded surfaces which are easy to clean, with minimal seams, reducing niches where bacteria can adhere. Well- maintained fixtures with clean bright surfaces are more likely to elicit care and respect from the user.
All of Delabie’s accessories have simple, ergonomic designs that minimise user effort, especially for those with reduced mobility. The lines are simple, to minimise vandalism, but also to complement and coordinate with the sanitaryware. Made from durable materials, there is a range of finishes to provide a strong visual contrast with any chosen décor. Delabie’s accessories place user comfort and wellbeing at the forefront, ‘which means paying attention to the aesthetics’.
Delabie UK Ltd
Henderson House
Hithercroft Road
Wallingford
OX10 9DG
Tel: 01491 824449
www.delabie.co.uk