Towards Universal Design – the future of Access.

aqua — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 02:44:34 +0000

The ethos behind aquaBUBBLER has always been to offer the best-engineered, most usable and most appealing drinking fountains on the market.

This is partly about encouraging the public, and children especially, to choose tap water (over soft drinks, or expensive and ecologically costly bottled water) by using visually appealing design, creating a clean and hygienic drinking environment, and making sure everything is as convenient and easy-to-use as possible.

aquaBUBBLER drinking fountain with water bottle refill station

The other side to this philosophy is access. The Classic aquaBUBBLER is designed to be easy for children and adults to use and has a handy water bottle refill station to enable users to meet their hydration needs away from the drinking fountain. And being positioned at a lower level, the water bottle refill station also allows better access to those who have difficulty reaching the top of the unit. The Universal Access aquaBUBBLER goes a step further by meeting DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliance standards for universal access by those with disabilities including the wheelchair-bound.

Universal access is becoming ever-more important for architects, planners and designers, especially those involved in creating public facilities and spaces. This reflects an understanding of the benefits for individuals and society in providing those with disabilities the best opportunities to reach their full potential without being hindered by their physical environment. It also recognises that in an ageing society the numbers of people with limited mobility or other disabilities is increasing rapidly and better infrastructure can play an important role in prolonging independence and reducing the care burden.

Universal access aquaBUBBLER with water bottle refill station

As manufacturers of the Universal Access aquaBUBBLER, we’ve taken the opportunity to be product sponsors and exhibitors at the upcoming ACAA (Association of Consultants in Access Australia) National Conference and Trade Exhibition starting on the 18^th-20^th November at the Waterview Convention Centre near Olympic Park, Homebush in Sydney.

The conference is a great meeting-place and ideas exchange for those involved in designing and specifying for universal access, with a wealth of content from speakers from Australia and around the world including the keynote speaker, Dr Satoshi Kose, Professor of Graduate School of Design, Shizuoka University of Art and Culture, Japan, who has more than a decade of experience in disability access in Japan. Japan is one of the most rapidly ageing populations on the planet and is in the forefront of dealing with issues of access and mobility.

For more information about the ACAA visit the ACAA website, or www.access.asn.au/conferences_and_events for details of the conference.

DDA compliant drinking fountain for CEFPI conference.

aqua — Thu, 23 May 2013 03:46:00 +0000

The new DDA Compliant Universal Access aquaBUBBLER Drinking Fountain with water bottle refill station.

aquaBUBBLER is thrilled to be launching its new Universal Access aquaBUBBLER at the CFFPI (Council for Educational Facility Planners) Conference in New Zealand next week. The new aquaBUBBLER is designed in accordance with the principles of Universal Design – a concept at the heart of members of CEFPI.
The Universal Access aquaBUBBLER is DDA compliant. It features 3 state-of-the-art, drip-free taps including a water bottle refill station. The taps are designed to be used simultaneously without any major reduction in water pressure/flow.

It is ideal for heavy traffic/high activity areas – where time is limited and demand for having a drink and refilling water bottles is high.

It can be accessed by children, adults, people using mobility aids and people who might otherwise experience difficulties accessing drinking fountains.

The conference kicks off on 28 May for 3 days. For more details, see http://disruption.cefpi.org.au/about/

aquaBUBBLER Drinking Fountains » Universal access drinking fountain

Towards Universal Design – the future of Access.

DDA compliant drinking fountain for CEFPI conference.