In this research, we carried out verification experiments by actually installing doors, as there are few pieces of research including door operation of simple type toilets for wheelchair user up to now. Although the verification space was based on the barrier-free law design standard, the recommended sliding doors could not be installed in the simple type toilet booth for wheelchair users due to its limited space, the outward-swinging door or the folding door is usually adopted. However, they are complicated in operation as compared with sliding doors, and furthermore, a dead space forms inside and outside the booth during the door operation, especially for the folding doors; it is also envisaged that the inner sizes indicated in the design standards cannot be fully utilized. Therefore, we prepared a toilet with outward-swinging door and folding door installed in front of the toilet seat as well as on the lateral side of the toilet seat respectively. Meanwhile, to clarify the influence on a stream of movements when using toilet due to the different door type and the necessary space for wheelchair user inside the booth, we invited 12 men and women in their 20s to 80s with various physical characteristics. We divided them into groups according to their moving or driving methods, standing postures, sitting postures, transfer methods, and the like.
We found the results as follows.
(1) In the case of an outward-swinging door, ample space is required outside the toilet booth to avoid contact between the door and the wheelchair (including the walker) during door operation from the outside of the toilet booth. Besides, since the operation is performed with the forward leaning posture to avoid the contact, there are cases that those in unstable sitting posture cannot use the toilet properly. Also, there is a need for an easy-to-operate lock for users with disabilities in their fingers.
(2) In the case of folding doors, a dead space forms inside the toilet booth so that it may need an inner space broader than that of outward-swinging doors. However, the influence of the dead space is small for those booths if the size indicated in the design standard considering the transfer is secured. Besides, we found that folding doors are efficient in simple type toilet booth with limited space for wheelchair users. As for the case of a folding door, even those who are unstable in sitting posture and challenging to operate outward-swinging door can perform door operation without problems. However, since the wheelchair position is limited to avoid contact between the door and the wheelchair during the door operation, it is difficult to avoid the dead space as well as to perform switching operation of a folding door in case of low wheelchair operating ability.
(3) In the standing position transfer group, since a space for raising oneself up during transfer is required, an area more spacious than the sitting position transfer group is required.
(4) Even for a toilet booth with the same type of door installed, a stream of movements when using the toilet are different between the side entrance and the front entrance, and the space required is also dissimilar. In particular, in the B, C, and D standing position transfer groups, there is a tendency for those who enter from the front side requiring a broader space than those of entering from the side entrance. Also, it is apparent that those who enter from the side entrance could move smoothly because the rotation of one's body at the time of transfer is small.
