Minimum Spatial Requirements for an Accessible Aircraft Lavatory

The general lack of lavatories that can safely accommodate a dependent toilet transfer on board commercial passenger aircraft is a major barrier to air travel for people with mobility disabilities. A factor hindering the design of such lavatories is that little is known of the spatial requirements of an accessible aircraft lavatory or of the effects of the lavatory design on injury risk during toilet transfers. This project therefore investigated the effect of the wheelchair-to-toilet angle on spatial requirements and risk factors for injury during dependent toilet transfers in an aircraft lavatory. Twenty-nine healthy young adults transferred an anthropometric dummy between an aircraft onboard wheelchair and a simulated aircraft toilet for wheelchair-to-toilet angles of 0, 45, 90, and 180° in a laboratory setting. Motion capture data were used to quantify the space used and the transferor’s movements. The spatial volume used during transfers was irregular in shape, varied between transferors, and differed with the wheelchair-to-toilet angle. The smallest lavatory footprint (1.07m x 1.24m) was for the 0° transfers. Risk factors for back injury to the transferor were also affected by the wheelchair-to-toilet angle. The 180° transfers, as performed, appeared to present the lowest risk of injury, as they resulted in the smallest load moment arms in the transferor. Overall, the results suggest that a trade-off exists between minimizing the spatial requirements of an accessible aircraft lavatory and minimizing the risk of injury during dependent toilet transfers within the lavatory. The findings further indicate that a “no lift” means of toilet transfers is needed.

• Corporate Authors:

  Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation

  302, Tower A, New Mandarin Plaza, 14 Science Museum Road, Tsimshatsui East, Kowloon
  Hong Kong,   China 
• Authors:
  • Hunter-Zaworski, Katharine
  • Pavol, Michael
  • Philbrick, Kenneth
• Conference:
  • TRANSED 2010: 12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons
  • Location: Hong Kong , China
  • Date: 2010-6-1 to 2010-6-4
• Publication Date: 2010

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 9p
• Monograph Title: TRANSED 2010: 12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons, June 1-4, 2010

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accessibility; Back; Barrier free design; Civil aircraft; Injuries; Persons with disabilities; Risk management; Toilet facilities
• Uncontrolled Terms: Floor space; Wheelchair users
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Design; Society; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01360796
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 25 2012 11:57AM