Manual #2 - Handicap International

HOW TO BUILD ANACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENTIN DEVELOPING COUNTRIESBased on the CambodiaProgram's experienceManual #2 - Access towater and sanitationfacilitiesPart 1 – Toilets and closedshowersHandicap International

HOW TO BUILD AN ACCESSIBLEENVIRONMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIESManual #2 – Access to water andsanitation facilitiesPart 1 – Toilets and closed showers

Published in:December 2008Published by:Handicap International France, Cambodia Program#6, St. 348,BKK3, Chomkarmon, Phnom Pemhoffice@hicambodia.orgContent developed by:Vincent DAVID, Cambodia, Accessibility and Infrastructures CoordinatorSupervised by:Ulrike LAST, Cambodia, Inclusion & Rights CoordinatorLucile PAPON, Cambodia, Program DirectorEric PLANTIER ROYON, Head Quarters, Accessibility Technical AdvisorDesign, layout and translation:Eric JARLÉGANPhotographs and illustrations credits:© Handicap International – French SectionThe technical content developed in this set of manuals is the property of HandicapInternational. You can use its content, such as technical drawings, estimations, etc.freely, provided that you cite HI's manual as the source.Handicap International cannot be held responsible for any misuse of the content.

T a b l e o f c o n t e n t sIntroduction 6Accessible toilets 8Constructing toilets - accessible exterior 9Toilets made of bricks 9Toilets made of wood 13Toilets made of straw or leafs 17Toilets made of corrugated iron 21Constructing toilets - accessible interior 24Layout for a toilet in brickwork 24Layout for a toilet in wood 26Layout with rails 27Toilet chairs 29Toilet seat examples 30Adjustable support rails 33Accessible closed showers 35Closed shower with a water basin 35Closed shower with a water jar 37

I n t r o d u c t i o nHow to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showerspresent various solutions for building accessible toilets andaccessible closed showers. The next one will focus onaccessible washing areas (either with a water pump or with awater tank) and accessible water points at lakes and rivers.Each time, the construction method and materials will bedescribed using technical drawings and accompanied by keycomments and remarks. Pictures of examples in Cambodia or3-dimensional drawings showing the final buildings will alsobe presented. This will help to gain a better understanding ofthe different technical solutions on offer in this booklet.Sometimes, calculation tables are proposed in a 'ready-touse'table format: the reader will have the necessary tool toestimate a specific cost for his/her attempted accessibilitysolution.7

Handicap International – French sectionC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e e x t e r i o rTechnical drawingsSide viewTop viewFront view1 0

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e e x t e r i o rSection viewAs you can see on the technical drawings, the foundationsof this type of toilets are made up of four columns. They aresupported from four footings with dimensions of 0.6x0.6x0.2m 3 . These four columns are supporting a concrete slabconstituting the ground of the toilets. Brick walls are built onthis slab and hold on a wooden superstructure the roof ofcorrugated iron.Construction of a toiletsin brickwork, work inprogress1 1

Handicap International – French sectionC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e e x t e r i o rCost estimationThis table sums up all the materials for the building,coupled with the quantity needed. Provided that the readerknows the unit price of these materials in his/her country,he/she will be able to calculate a first cost estimation of thiskind of construction (don’t forget to add 5% for unexpectedcosts).NB: the cost of the access ramp is not included.1 2

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e e x t e r i o rBuilding in brickworkAdvantages: sustainable,easy to clean, reducedmaintenanceDrawbacks: very expensive,technician mandatory forthe constructionToilets made of woodMediumdifficultyThis kind of construction method is slightlydifferent from the previous one, although the result is verysimilar. The difference is in terms of durability. If the wood istreated, and is well and regularly taken care of, there shouldbe no problem of derogating material. The intervention of atechnician will be necessary to build the slab (in brickwork orreinforced concrete), but the beneficiaries should be able toconstruct the walls and the roof.Technical drawingsSide view1 3

Handicap International – French sectionC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e e x t e r i o rTop viewFront viewBe careful, for this type of construction, it is necessary tofix the transfer bars either on the ground or on a curbespecially built for this purpose (see the picture below). Itwill also be mandatory to equip the access ramp withhandrails on both sides if the user(s) needs them (in case oftoilets for a person with hemiplegy for example).1 4

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e e x t e r i o rSection viewConcerning the construction process, you can see that it islighter than the one of the toilets in concrete. Indeed, in thiscase the walls are made of wood, which makes thesuperstructures lighter. Therefore the foundations do notneed to be as strong. As you cansee on the technicaldrawings: the foundation ismade of a slab in bricksonly, supported by acompacted granular fill andcoated by blinding concrete.Building in woodAdvantages: simpler thanbrickwork, usually moreaffordable (depends on thecountry)Drawbacks: wooden structuresuceptible to rot (especiallyin tropical countries),heavier maintenance1 5

Handicap International – French sectionC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e e x t e r i o rCost estimationAs for the toilets in concrete, you will find below a tablesummarizing the different materials and their quantitiesneeded for the construction process. With this you cancalculate easily an estimation of the cost of such theconstruction.Nota BeneCost of theaccess ramp notincluded.1 6

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e e x t e r i o rToilets made of straw or leafsMediumdifficultyCompared to the two previous ways ofconstructing a toilet, this one is cheaper andmore environmental friendly. Indeed, theproposed solution here is to build the WC withwalls made of leafs or straw. As both are generally easilyavailable in developing countries such as Cambodia, the costis very affordable.It has its own drawbacks. In term of maintenance, thiskind of building technique will need closer attention, beingnotably less resistant to climatic hazards. Another drawbackis that the risk of blaze is higher, which can cause someproblems in some countries (in Cambodia, most of thefamilies to whom this type of building had been proposeddecided to invest a little bit more so that the toilets would bemade of corrugated iron or plastic sheets).As for the building made of wood, the intervention of atechnician is only necessary for the construction of the slab inbricks and/or concrete at the beginning. The walls and roofcan normally be made by the beneficiaries themselves aslong as they possess some minimum skills (which is usuallythe case in Cambodia in rural areas, people being used tobuilding their own houses).Technical drawingsSide view1 7

Top viewHandicap International – French sectionC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e e x t e r i o rToilet made of strawFront view1 8

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e e x t e r i o rSection viewHere, the technique is very similar to the previous one forthe toilets in wood: the slab is built using the same method,only the walls are done differently. They will be made by leafsor straw hold in position by a wooden superstructure(resulting in a higher risk of blaze). It ispossible to replace this woodensuperstructure by a metallicone, which should improvethe lifetime of thebuilding and reducethe fire hazard.Keep in mind: itwill add somecosts.Accessing thetoilets1 9

Handicap International – French sectionC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e e x t e r i o rCost estimation2 0Nota BeneIn this table, unlikewhat is shown on thetechnical drawings, theslab supporting the WC isnot made of reinforcedconcrete but of bricksjointed and coated.Building in straw or leafAdvantages: cheap (except forthe slab), superstructure easyto (re)build (even by thebeneficiaries)Drawbacks: intervention of atechnician still necessary forthe slab, reduced lifespan, firehazard

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e e x t e r i o rToilets made of corrugated ironMediumdifficultyLast of the proposed construction methodsfor toilets, we will develop hereafter how tobuild with corrugated iron walls. The methoddoes not differ much from the two previousones. The only variation is that we are now considering wallsmade of corrugated iron (and not from wood or straw).Technical drawingsSide viewTop view2 1

Handicap International – French sectionC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e e x t e r i o rFront viewSection view2 2

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e e x t e r i o rCost estimationBuilding in corrugatedironAdvantages: quitecheap, superstructureeasy to buildDrawbacks: reducedlifespan, technicianintervention necessay2 3

Handicap International – French sectionC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e i n t e r i o rConstructing toilets – accessible interiorIn this section, we will consider various ways of adjustingthe interior design of a toilet in order to make it accessible(in addition to the one already presented on the technicaldrawings of the first part of this manual). Indeed, in case ofindividual housing for example, you have the opportunity oflaying out the built environment in order to fit perfectly theneeds of the person living with disability. It is by discussingwith that person, trying to find out what are her/hisproblems, her/his needs, what does she/he want... that youwill succeed in building an adapted toilet.But before starting to develop the technical side, it isnecessary to underline the fact that the most important needis in most of the cases (if not all) to provide support to squator sit. This is done by building systems made of handles orsupport rails so that the user could use cleanly andcomfortably the toilets. The advantages of such supportsystems are numerous: they can be used of course to sitand/or squat, but also as support for dressing or undressing,as guiding systems for visually impaired people, or as aids forthe transfer from a wheelchair. But be careful, rails andhandles must be strong enough to bear the weight of thevarious users. You cannot afford to take the risk that thesupport system could break.Layout for a toilet in brickworkHighdifficultyThe layout presented here is best suitedfor a toilet made of brickwork. You can seeon the technical drawings below that theseat is made in brickwork, which is best fittedto the context of developing countries. Theaddition of strong and long support rails makes this toilet welladapted to people with reduced mobility. Moreover, the doorbeing able to be opened towards inside and outside, it will bemore convenient to use than a single-side door.2 4

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e i n t e r i o rTechnical drawingsSide viewTop view2 5

Handicap International – French sectionC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e i n t e r i o rCost estimationThe support rails, will add around 10% to the total cost,for the case of the brick construction of the building.(see thetable page 12 to calculate it).Layout for a toilet in woodHighdifficultyUnlike the previous layout for brickwork,this one has been thought to be adaptedfor toilets made of wood. It has beendesigned to answer more the needs of aperson with reduced mobility than a wheelchair user or avisually impaired person.Technical drawingsSide viewTop view2 6

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e i n t e r i o rConstructional DetailA 3D sketching of theproposed layoutCost estimationThis lay out with rails will add around 10% to the generalcost of a toilets building in wood.Layout with railsHighdifficultyYou will find here a last example on howto fix support rails in order to design anaccessible toilets cubicle. As being particularlycomplex, we advise to fix these rails on an adequate support,id est a wall in brickwork able to support the weight of aregular user.2 7

Handicap International – French sectionC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e i n t e r i o rTechnical drawingsSide viewTop viewCost estimationYou will find below a table summing up all the components(including manpower) needed to build this kind of rail systemfitted for accessible toilets.2 8

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e i n t e r i o rToilet chairsThis example introduces another kind ofadapted feature for a person with disability.Indeed, sometimes support rails are not thebest solution, especially if the graspingcapacity of the person is low. Here we presentMediumdifficultythe solution consisting of a pierced toilet seat made of wood.This solution offers two advantages: first, it allows the userto sit down, which is mandatory for some persons who can’tstand up or support their weight on rails for long; and secondit is cheaper and technically easier than having to fix supportrails on the walls.Technical drawings2 9

Handicap International – French sectionC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e i n t e r i o rToilet seat examplesEasyMoveable side railThis kind of toilet seatpresents side-rails thatcan be raised in order tofacilitate the movementsthat the user has tomake. As it is made oftreated wood, it is quitecheap, but does requiresome skill to make themoveable side-rails.You will find two simple yet different designs for buildingtoilet seats made of treated wood. They can be made withoutparticular skill at rather minimum cost, provided that you canfind appropriate wood.3 0

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e i n t e r i o rFirst design3 1

Handicap International – French sectionC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e i n t e r i o rSecond design3 2

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e i n t e r i o rAdjustable support railsHighdifficultyIn some cases, it can be pretty useful tohave support rails that can be adjustable inheight (for instance, the case of a childgrowing up). But you must be very careful whenconstructing it, because they will have to sustain the weightof various users.The solution presented here consists of exterior tubes ofdiameter 50 mm. The inner tubes are of diameter 40 mm.Both exterior and interior tubes are pierced at the sameheight with holes of diameter 7 mm, in which the threadedrods (diam. 6 mm and length 80 mm) slips into.Technical drawingsConstructional detail A3 3

Handicap International – French sectionC o n s t r u c t i n g t o i l e t s – A c c e s s i b l e i n t e r i o rCost estimation3 4

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersA c c e s s i b l e c l o s e d s h o w e r sAccessible closed showersTo construct the building of a closed shower, the solutionsare pretty much the same as the ones presented for theconstruction of a toilet. So we invite you to referr to theabove part (page 8 and following). You will need to followsimply the same technical drawings and comments. The onlymain difference between toilets and showers is that you haveto provide more space inside a shower in order for theuser to move around more easily.The interiour layout is of course quite different. You willfind below two examples of shower layouts, one with a waterbasin and the other one with a jar used as a water tank(which is very common in Cambodia).Closed shower with a water basinAs you can see on the technical drawingsbelow, this first layout is designed to beadapted to a building in concrete andbrickwork, but can be easily transferred toother buildings. Concerning the building inHighdifficultyitself, this is the most difficult one to build and the moreexpensive type of construction. However keep in mind thatthe investment will pay back over time! Since it is also theone which is best suited to resist time and climaticaggressions (if properly maintained, of course). While youwill have to replace the others again and again, this one ismade to last!3 5

Handicap International – French sectionA c c e s s i b l e c l o s e d s h o w e r sTechnical drawingsSide viewTop view3 6

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersA c c e s s i b l e c l o s e d s h o w e r sCost estimationClosed shower with a water jarThis second layout was first designed fora shower building in wood. Like the firstlayout it can be easily adapted to other typesof materials.Highdifficulty3 7

Handicap International – French sectionTechnical drawingsSide viewTop view3 8

How to build an accessible environment – Accessible toilets and closed showersCost estimation3 9

Handicap InternationalFrench Section Head Quarters14, avenue Berthelot,69361 Lyon cedex 07, FranceTel: + 33 (0) 4 78 69 79 79Fax: + 33 (0) 4 78 69 79 94E-mail: contact@handicap-international.orgInternet: www.handicap-international.frCambodia Program#6, St. 348, BKK3Chomkarmon, Phnom PenhTel: +855 (0) 23 212 897 / 214 504E-mail: office@hicambodia.org