Level-access & barrier-free showers - bathrooms without limits
Independence, comfort, safety - that's what barrier-free showers are all about.
The modern shower: level-access, barrier-free and DIN-compliant
Free yourself from high shower trays and narrow cubicles! A flat or level entry into the shower and the associated accessibility is not only an advantage in old age, but also brings visual improvements. Space, a wellness feeling and functionality are the magic words of modern bathroom fittings today.
A flowing transition from the bathroom to the shower looks spacious and all the more elegant and modern with materials such as ceramic or natural stone and warm colours. The Saxoboard shower element solutions create elegant wellness oases in no time at all, inviting you to linger.
Examples of barrier-free showers
Advantages of the barrier-free shower
Accessibility & safety
Safe showering: Edges and bath rims are often a major obstacle, and not just for wheelchair users. They are also a major tripping hazard for other people, not just those with physical disabilities. With level-access showers, the risk of injury is much lower due to the lack of edges. The basic shape can therefore also be walked or driven on without restriction.
More space for everything: The individual layout of the shower room offers sufficient space for the physically impaired person and any care and assistance they may require.
Threshold-free access: level-access showers create barrier-free access. They are level with the floor. Neither an edge nor a step that is too high becomes an obstacle or even a tripping hazard.
A feeling of spaciousness - even in small bathrooms
Sense of space: Thanks to their threshold-free appearance, level-access showers convey a feeling of spaciousness. A homogeneous surface makes the room appear larger, as the boundaries to the rest of the bathroom become blurred.
Individual designs: Whether round or square, space-saving or spacious - the level-access shower elements and shower enclosures are available in many shapes and with a number of extras for customised bathroom design.
Modern and age-appropriate at the same time
As the installation of a barrier-free and age-appropriate shower can take up more space than a standard shower, it requires particularly good planning. After all, the shower should be integrated into the existing bathroom in the best possible way. Walk-in showers or wet room showers are frequently mentioned buzzwords here.
Saxoboard therefore offers customised flat shower trays or floor-level shower elements in a wide range of sizes to suit your space requirements. You will also find matching glass shower screens and cubicles.
7 things you should consider when planning
- Sufficient floor space: Plan sufficient floor space for the possible use of a shower chair or wheelchair access. If necessary, also allow space for an assistant or carer.
(Note: Floor-level showers are not necessarily barrier-free if their dimensions are too small. According to DIN 18040-2, the dimensions should be at least 120 x 120 cm). - Access: Especially for wheelchair users and mobile shower chairs, make sure that the entrance or door to the shower offers sufficient space. With glass doors, you should make sure that they can be opened easily from the inside and outside. Walk-in systems have the advantage of being able to reach the interior without a door.
- Water drainage: A slight slope in the shower tray is required for drainage. This slope, which is barely visible to the naked eye on the tiles, allows the water to drain away better.
- Tiles: If you use the same tiles for the floor tiling as on the bathroom wall, you create a uniform look which, together with a safety glass shower screen, can conjure up a greater sense of space and a real feeling of well-being.
- Stability: Make sure you use shower elements with appropriate stability so that they can withstand the weight of a shower chair or wheelchair access. Shower elements with a mineral coating are particularly suitable for this, as they are coated on both sides with special mortar that increases their compressive strength.
- Creativity: For more creativity and design, the PVC boards are available with customised motifs. Optional anti-slip strips mean you don't need an additional shower mat.
- Funding: Care and health insurance companies offer subsidies of up to several thousand euros for a barrier-free bathroom conversion. Find out about the funding options before starting the conversion.
Independence in old age - accessibility at home
Accessibility is not only used in homes for physically impaired people, hospitals and retirement homes, but increasingly also in private households that are planning for the future and are age-appropriate.
This means that the requirements for barrier-free, age-appropriate and disabled-friendly construction in accordance with DIN 18024 and 18025 should be met and an attractive bathroom design achieved at the same time.
We would be happy to advise you on the selection, planning and installation options for a level-access, barrier-free shower.
Information on funding and subsidies for a barrier-free bathroom
There are several organisations from which you can apply for a subsidy for the conversion to a modern, accessible bathroom. For example, care insurance companies will pay up to 4000 euros if you have a care level. Health insurance companies subsidise aids such as shower chairs or grab rails. The kfW Bank offers favourable loans. To qualify for most subsidies, you must remodel the bathroom in accordance with the requirements of DIN standard 18040-2 (barrier-free building). More on this in the following article.
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