What's New

SEPTEMBER 2007 - TOTAL APPROACH TO IMPROVING ON ‘BOG STANDARD’



New Government guidance focussing attention on school toilets, and the ‘Bog Standard’ campaign are prompting one British manufacturer to try and inspire Local Education Authorities to solve several issues with one solution.

>And some schools are already ahead, having installed Clos-o-Mat automatic shower toilets- Bournside School in Cheltenham and King James College in Co Durham to cite just two.

Elaborates Robin Tuffley, marketing manager for Total Hygiene, manufacturer of the Clos-o-Mat, “The new DfES Guidance- Standard Specifications, Layouts and Dimensions3- Toilets in Schools- is aiming to make toilets in schools more attractive, cleaner and safer for pupils to use. The ‘Bog Standard’ campaign raises additional issues facing pupils, including no or not enough toilet paper and toilets not accessible to pupils, especially those with special needs. The continuing effort by the Government to integrate pupils with ‘special needs’ into mainstream schooling makes this latter point is particularly important. And the Campaign claims 10% of pupils have problems with continence- which isn’t necessarily classed as ‘special needs’ At the end of the day, access to decent toilets is a basic human right.”

“Where our Clos-o-Mats score is that they combine a washing and drying facility as standard. This eliminates the need for toilet paper, yet ensures ALL users are properly cleansed (though toilet paper can be used if preferred). The Clos-o-Mat looks exactly like a ‘normal’ toilet, so helps counteract potential bullying issues in that a pupil is using a ‘different’ toilet. As toilet paper isn’t needed, the risk of the toilet becoming blocked by too much paper being put down the pan, with the associated maintenance costs and inconvenience whilst the toilet is unblocked, is drastically reduced.”

Bournside School installed a Clos-o-Mat a couple of years ago. Site manager Robert Farrow observed, “As a school, we aim to be inclusive and give all our students, regardless of ability, every tool to achieve their full potential and help them achieve personal growth to prepare them for adult life. The Clos-O-Mat has been installed for a while now, giving us time to assess its impact. It has helped the children be as independent as possible. They have found it easy to use, and we have had no complaints.”

King James 1 Community College has been designated as a physical resource base by the Local Education Authority, and as a result has invested in providing a bespoke toilet and physiotherapy room for its students with physical difficulties. The school now incorporates a Clos-o-Mat Lima Lift toilet, plus adjustable washbasins and changing tables all supplied by Total Hygiene. The school’s SENCO (Special education needs co-ordinator) observes, “The students love it!”

The new Clos-O-Mat Palma Vita is WRAS approved, so enabling it to be connected to the UK water supply: the only complete, automatic shower toilet that has this certification. Unique simultaneous flushing and washing improves hygiene as the user is cleaned by warm water, not paper, and increases independence as manual cleansing is eliminated. One simple press of the flush pad (by hand, elbow or body pressure) or the remote control hand switch can trigger the washing and drying process, without the handle having to remain depressed, making it easily useable by all, regardless of manual dexterity. If necessary, an additional push at any time can repeat the drying cycle. The functions can be stopped at any time simply by standing up.

Water can be heated as required, saving energy, and is controlled to body temperature with a ‘fail safe’ cut-out. The douching process effectively cleanses and the dryer provides a gentle flow of warm air for up to 3 minutes.

The Clos-O-Mat Lima Lift is a height adjustable complete automatic shower toilet suite, that in one compact unit incorporates toilet, douching and drying facilities. The Lima Lift works like a Palma Vita, yet can be automatically adjusted up and down to each user’s personal requirements for both comfort during use and ease of getting on and off, up to a maximum seat height adjustment of 730mm. A separate, discreetly located over-ride switch enables the Lift to be turned off if required, preventing unnecessary operation.

back >