Changing Places Toilets guidance

We want to make Arun as accessible as possible to everyone. Arun District Council is encouraging Changing Places Toilets in all appropriate destinations and developments as they transform experiences for many residents, visitors and their families.

Councillor John Charles Portfolio Holder for Planning

Background

It is important that people with profound, complex and multiple disabilities and impairments are able to safely, comfortably and hygienically spend time away from their home. Changing Places Toilets (CPTs) support this by providing sanitary facilities, with extra space and equipment, that can be used by people who require the assistance of one or two carers/companions. As they are designed for assisted use they should supplement, not replace, standard unisex accessible toilets. They are not appropriate for bariatric use1 and are not baby changing facilities.

What is a Changing Places Toilet?

CPTs have a floor area of at least 3x4 metres with a ceiling height of 2.4 metres and provide a range of features including:

  • Tracking hoist covering the whole room
  • Adult changing bench which is adjustable and easy to clean
  • Toilet with drop down support rails and 1m clearance each side (from centre of pan)
  • (Optional) adjustable shower (hose to reach centre of bench)
  • Adjustable height sink
  • Privacy curtain/screen
  • Alarm pull cords and reset button
  • Comfortable temperature for undressing
  • Welcoming and interesting decoration with visual contrast to highlight equipment, door frames and door handles

The room structure, track, hoist and changing bench should operate at a safe working load of 200kg.

For the full specifications of a CPT see Changing Places and British Standard BS 8300-2:2018. If you do not have access to the British Standard please see the example layout at Appendix 1. These features are in addition to requirements in Part M of the Building Regulations.

In some cases facilities that don’t meet all of the minimum specifications in the British Standards can be registered as a CPT but you should bear in mind that these cannot be used by as many people.

What are the benefits of a CPT?

CPTs enable people with profound, complex and multiple disabilities and impairments, and their families to access every day places and stay away from home for longer.

Changing Places Toilets make the difference between visiting somewhere for a couple of hours and being able to stay for a day or until the end of an event.

Emily Hudson, parent2

CPTs can also help providers by demonstrating a clear commitment to being inclusive and welcoming, enhancing public safety, attracting the “purple pound” and as an example of a “reasonable adjustment” under the Equality Act 2010.

Where should CPTs be provided?

Many types of places may be able to accommodate a CPT. They are most needed in every day locations where people pass through or spend time. Locally adapted from BS 8300-2:20183 , Arun District Council is seeking the inclusion of a CPT in large-scale public developments such as:

a. major transport terminals and interchanges, e.g. large railway stations and airports
b. roadside service stations
c. sport and leisure facilities, including large hotels
d. cultural centres, e.g. museums, concert halls, art galleries and faith centres
e. stadiums and large auditoriums
f. large commercial retail premises and shopping centres
g. key buildings within town centres, e.g. town halls, civic centres and main public libraries
h. educational establishments
i. health facilities, such as hospitals, health centres and community practices
j. other visitor attractions such as theme parks, monitored beaches and parks.

How do I install and manage a CPT?

The CPT Consortium sets out advice for installation. In addition to Building Regulations consent, you may also require planning permission and/or listed building consent to install a CPT; Arun District Council offers a checking service if you are unsure.

Careful consideration should be given to the location of your CPT in relation to disabled persons’ parking, co-location with other visitor facilities and the avoidance of physical barriers, e.g. uneven surfacing, steep slopes and multiple doors. Locating a CPT before any ticket barriers will maximise the number of people who can benefit from the facility.

The appropriate management arrangements will depend on the location, opening hours and likely usage of your CPT. Typically access is freely available within public buildings and visitor complexes where there is surveillance by staff, or via a more managed locking system appropriate to the level of security risk where CPTs are in less observed locations.

As with all public toilets, CPTs should be regularly monitored and cleaned to ensure they are kept to a good standard. Venue staff should be familiar with the CTP but are not expected to help visitors use the facilities as assistance will be provided by carers/ companions

How much will a CPT cost?

Installation costs will vary depending on the specifications of the equipment being installed and whether the CPT is being installed in an existing building, will form a new extension or is being designed into a new building.

As a guide, adapting a suitably sized room to a full CPT will cost from around £15,000. There are lots of variables with new builds; our advice is that you look at installing a CPT as early as possible in the design process so that it can be factored into the space, building schedule and budget. It is worth checking whether you are eligible for funding.

Publicise and celebrate your CPT!

CPT providers tell us they take pride in their facilities. Make the most of your CPT by following these tips:

Appendix 1:

Example of fittings and accessories in a changing places toilet

Extract from British Standard BS 8300-2:20182.

Select the image to see a larger version.

Birds eye drawing plan of a Changing Places Toilet, with the individual elements numbered 1 through 20, with the key below.

Key

  1. Paper towel dispenser
  2. Full length mirror
  3. Large sanitary disposal bin, if possible recessed into the wall
  4. Alarm reset button
  5. Full room cover tracked hoist system
  6. Vertical grab rail
  7. Drop-down support rails with toilet paper dispensers
  8. Flat-topped close-coupled cistern providing a back rest and a colostomy bag changing surface for standing users (a)
  9. Peninsular WC (see Figure 45 for the location of associated fittings)
  10. Large power-assisted height-adjustable washbasin
  11. Waste disposal bin
  12. Manually-operated low-noise hand dryer (see Note 2 to 18.5.6.1)
  13. Retractable privacy curtain/screen
  14. Alarm pull cord
  15. Height-adjustable showering/changing bench, min. 1800mm long
  16. Floor drain
  17. Optional shower unit with hose long enough to reach the centre of the bench, for personal hygiene purposes
  18. Wide paper roll dispenser for use on the changing bench
  19. Sanitary towel dispenser
  20. Two clothes hooks, one at 1050mm and the other at 1400mm above the floor

NOTE 1 Details of common features of sanitary accommodation are described in 18.1 and accessories related to toilets in 18.5.6. Advice on particular products is available from the Changing Places Consortium (see Commentary on 18.6).

NOTE 2 Provision of a wash/dry type WC can enable greater independence and dignity for users.

NOTE 3 Provision of a shelf can be beneficial for users.

(a) Where high or low level or reduced flush cisterns are used, a rail with a padded back rest and a separate colostomy bag

1 The room structure, track, hoist and changing bench should operate at a safe working load of 200kg

2 As quoted in the Cornwall Council version of this leaflet.

3 Permission to reproduce extracts from British Standards is granted by BSI Standards Limited (BSI). No other use of this material is permitted. British Standards can be obtained in PDF or hard copy formats from the BSI online shop: www.bsigroup.com/Shop

NB: This leaflet is based on a version originally published by Cornwall Council in September 2018

This guide is also available in PDF format: Changing Places guide [pdf] 987KB