BetteFlat: Standard shower area for barrier-free bathrooms

The new BetteFlat is a shower area made of glazed titanium steel, especially for barrier-free use of bathrooms according to DIN 18040-2, certified by DIN CERTCO. It can be installed flush to floor, and 50 percent of its surface can be used to provide space for the access of other bathroom items, such as the basin, so it can be particularly useful in bathrooms with small floor plans. In addition, it protects the user with slip resistance according to rating group B, is easy to maintain, robust and equipped as standard with a sound insulation set. BetteFlat is therefore ideally suited for use in commercial and private residential construction.

The DIN 18040-2 is binding for the planning of a house if it is part of a regional building code (LBO) or if it has been issued as a technical building regulation. The extent to which the standard has to be applied to new buildings varies from one state to another. In order for the shower area to be considered as accessible according to the standard, it must be at least 120 x 120 cm in size and be of the same floor level, so that it can be entered with the rollator. In addition, stability and slip resistance according to evaluation group B and a high-contrast design are required. All requirements of the barrier-free standard are met by the new BetteFlat shower area in full, tested and confirmed by DIN CERTCO.

Makes small bathrooms accessible

In addition, the BetteFlat can also be installed in bathrooms in which the user’s movement areas for the shower, washbasin and WC are overlapping. With a gradient of less than two percent, half of its total area can be counted as a movement area. This allows a bathroom of high aesthetic quality to be realized, even with a compact floor plan of only four square meters, which is not impaired by optical or functional barriers.

Safety for all generations

Due to the frequency and severity of falls in the bathroom, DIN 18040-2 with good reason requires slip-resistant floor coverings with slip class B (GUV-I 8527 "Floor coverings for wet-loaded barefoot areas", rating group B) in the shower area. With its proven Anti-slip Pro surface, the BetteFlat offers standard-compliant safety for people with movement restrictions, but also for families with young children or those future-proofing their bathroom - in fact for anyone who wants to enjoy a carefree shower.

"There's never too much safety in the bathroom," explains Florian Lenzmeier, product manager at Bette, "because any slipping or stumbling in the midst of the hard materials and edges can change life in a fraction of a second." In fact, in Germany, bathroom accidents are among the most common types of accident, affecting about a quarter of a million people every year - especially seniors and people with low mobility, but also over 40,000 children.” 

A welcome side effect of the integrated slip resistance is that emergency aids such as anti-slip mats or pads, which with their uneven and difficult to clean surfaces offer the ideal breeding ground for dirt and germs, become superfluous. On the hygienic and non-porous surface of the glazed titanium steel BetteFlat, dirt and bacteria find it difficult to adhere.

Aesthetics also means safety

The BetteFlat is available in white, in the exclusive colours of Bette and in the selected sanitary colours Pergamon, Manhattan, Bahamas, Edelweiss, Jasmine and matte black. As a result, the shower area can be used in any bathroom interior design and, as required by the Standard, the BetteFlat can form a visual contrast to the surrounding bathroom floor. For people with reduced vision, this means that they can orient themselves more safely even in poor light conditions. 

The anti-slip surface leaves its flawless and elegant effect of the glazed titanium steel. However, the difference between the shower area made of glazed titanium steel and the surrounding floor, usually tiles, is also noticeable under the feet, so that two senses signal entering the shower area.

Ease of care and sound insulation included

In addition, the BetteFlat offers a high level of hygiene, ease of care and durability. The glazed titanium steel is impact-resistant, scratch-resistant, chemical-resistant and UV-resistant - Bette provides a 30-year guarantee on the material. With the BetteInstallation System Universal, the shower area is also sealed according to DIN 18534 and can be inspected at any time, because the shower area can be easily removed. 

At the factory, the shower area is also equipped with a basic sound insulation set, which ensures more peace when showering. If a higher sound insulation in accordance with DIN 4109 is required, the set can be extended with further sound insulation measures.