Disabled Sinks & Accessible Washbasins

Never fit standard crosshead taps to a disabled basin, as they require significant wrist dexterity to turn. You should pair the basin with a sequential lever mixer tap or an infra-red sensor tap. Lever taps can be operated easily with an elbow or the side of a hand, while infra-red taps offer a completely touch-free, hygienic solution.

Many fully compliant Document M and special needs basins are supplied with zero tap holes so that the installer can utilize wall-mounted taps or spout controls. This completely removes the brassware from the basin deck, maximizing the available washing area and preventing a user from accidentally knocking into a hot tap body.

To be fully accessible, a basin must be completely wall-hung without a full pedestal underneath. This ensures the required knee clearance for a wheelchair user to roll directly under the bowl. Furthermore, many special needs basins feature a concave front profile, which allows the user to get physically closer to the taps without overstretching.

Basins designed with integrated front or side hand grips serve a dual purpose. Firstly, they act as a stable, weight-bearing support point to help ambulant users lower themselves or pull themselves up. Secondly, they provide wheelchair users with a safe, textured grip to manually pull themselves closer to the water flow. Heat and Plumb highly recommends the AKW Onyx range for heavy-duty ergonomic support.