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In this section you will find a range of practical information related to our solutions. In the articles, we share our experience, discuss implementation steps and highlight good practices. It is a reliable source of information and advice on the provision of drinking water in public spaces, the legal regulations in this area, the benefits of installing drinking water dispensers and the technological aspects in this field.

We look forward to reading!

Solutions for the disabled - advice for designers and contractors

Tap water sprinklers have established themselves on the Polish market for good. They are appearing in places such as parks, playgrounds, outdoor gyms, boulevards and town squares. The European Commission is preparing changes to the law that will not only determine the quality of the water flowing in our taps, but also guarantee access to drinking water for everyone - adults, children, the elderly and people with disabilities. We offer a number of solutions that meet these requirements, but we encourage you to first familiarise yourself with the guidelines that springs, sprinklers and tap water dispensers should meet so that everyone who wants to drink clean water can use them.

Designing water spigots to meet the needs of people with disabilities

Tap water sprinklers have established themselves on the Polish market for good. They are appearing in places such as parks, playgrounds, outdoor gyms, boulevards or town and city squares. In addition, the regulations on public access to drinking water are set to change in 2018. The regulations, which the European Commission is proposing to update, aim to improve the quality and safety of water but, above all, guarantee its free access in public spaces. This is why it is so important that the newly built installations provide access for all users, including those with disabilities.

Regulations in Poland and worldwide

In Poland, the disability law only regulates sanitary installations, i.e. toilets or washbasins; unfortunately, tap water was never included in these regulations.

In the USA, this problem is regulated by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act (translation: Americans with Disabilities Act). In the absence of legislation in Poland, they provide a kind of guideline for the rules we should follow when making investments in the installation of springs or drinking water springs. These regulations clearly define the height of the installation of the bowls, the free manoeuvring space for wheelchairs or other issues relating to different groups of disabled people.

When designing a public space, we should remember that the tap water dispenser we would like to install should have an additional side bowl to allow easy wheelchair access, and the height of the bowl should be located at the heights shown in the diagram below.

The knee space between the ground line and the bottom edge of the bowl should be 685 mm. The height of the spout from which you drink should be positioned no higher than 915 mm. It should be remembered that the water flow in water spouts is directed upwards, so a bowl mounted too high will not allow a person in a wheelchair to quench their thirst. The direction of the water flow and the position of the spout on the bowl is also very important. A spout with water flowing downwards or mounted on the opposite side of the bowl forces an unnatural body posture that is almost impossible for a person in a wheelchair to reach and often results in the person sitting in the wheelchair not being able to reach the spout with their mouth.

Examples of bad installations - spout installed in the wrong place:

Examples of poor installations - inappropriate design and height of sprinkler:

In addition, the space around the sprinkler should be free of barriers such as level differences, walls of any kind or stairs. The spa should be installed on a level and paved surface that allows a wheelchair to drive up without problems.

An important point to bear in mind is that the handicap side bowl should be 430 -485 mm from the wall or body of the unit. This will allow an adult in a wheelchair to drive up freely.

Examples of correct installations:

However, public space is not only about wheelchairs. A second group of disabled people are those with limb dysfunctions and paralysis who move around on crutches. These types of people need an additional support or handrail against which they can lean while drinking.  

A final group to look out for when installing tap water dispensers are blind, visually impaired and elderly people. For these people, the actuating button should be painted in a colour that contrasts with the colour of the entire housing, and for blind people, a plaque in Braille stating what the device is and what it is used for is standard. This plaque is usually placed adjacent to the bowl or actuating button.

Examples of the installation of sprinklers providing access for people with disabilities:

Do you have questions?
Ask them to our expert!

We hope that our service has interested you and provided you with interesting and useful information. However, if you would like to find out more about our solutions, seek advice, discuss your options or enquire about a quotation, please use our order form. Our team will contact you immediately. Feel free to get in touch!  

We are a leader in the distribution of sprinklers, springs and drinking water stations. For years, we have been introducing the best and proven tap water distribution devices to the Polish market, with the aim of providing access to drinking water to all those who are thirsty. Our solutions are changing the face of Polish schools, offices, workplaces and public places: parks, playgrounds, squares, etc. In addition, we carry out extensive educational activities on the benefits of drinking clean water, replacing bottled water with mains water, which ultimately has a huge impact on our environment. Find out how much you can change together with us!

Topserw
(owner of the Zdrojownia brand)
05-220 Zielonka, 66a Marecka St.
tel. +48 22 771 04 56
tel. +48 22 761 11 80
fax +48 22 771 93 80
e-mail: [email protected]
GPS: 52.311454, 21.138666

Privacy policy

Murdock Distribution Hub
Address: 05-220 Zielonka,
Marecka 66a, Poland
Phone: +48 883 390 585
Phone: +48 664 758 403
e-mail: [email protected]

All rights reserved for Zdrojownia 2022 and Topserw 2022

Pedestal drinking water dispenser, stainless steel, corrosion- and weather-resistant, vandal-proof.
Compact chilled and sparkling water dispenser.

Murdock Distribution HUB

TopSerw
05-220 Zielonka, 66a Marecka St.
tel. +48 22 771 04 56,
tel. +48 22 761 11 80,
fax. +48 22 771 93 80
email: [email protected]
GPS: 52.311454, 21.138666
Privacy policy

Spas
Sales
tel. +48 883 390 585;
+48 604 764 999;
+48 784 587 026
e-mail: [email protected]

Service
tel. +48 600 212 709
e-mail: [email protected]

Murdock
Contact:
Address: 05-220 Zielonka,
Marecka 66a, Poland
Phone: +48 883 390 585
+48 664 758 403
E-mail: [email protected]

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