Barrier-Free Hotel Design: Thinking About Door Peepholes

Barrier-Free Quiz

Here’s a quiz for you!

Q: Hotel room doors have small holes (peepholes) to check who’s outside. To make these easy for wheelchair users to use, at what height should a second peephole be installed in addition to the standard height one?

Think about it. Are you ready? The answer is…

A: About 100-120cm (approximately 39-47 inches) from the floor

Explanation

Peepholes on hotel room doors are very important for guest safety. However, peepholes at the standard height can be difficult for wheelchair users to use.

That’s why barrier-free hotels install a second peephole at about 100-120cm (approximately 39-47 inches) from the floor, in addition to the standard height peephole. This height is close to eye level for someone sitting in a wheelchair, making it easy to check who’s outside.

Another solution some hotels use is installing a camera intercom near the door. This allows anyone to easily see who’s outside, regardless of their height.

Barrier-Free Design Around the World

The idea of making buildings usable for everyone is spreading around the world. This is called “Universal Design”.

For example, in the United States, there’s a law called the “Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)” that requires public buildings to be accessible to everyone. Many European countries have similar laws.

However, the specific rules can vary slightly from country to country. For instance, the recommended height for peepholes might differ depending on the country.

What About Your Country?

How about hotels in your country?

• Do the doors have peepholes?
• Is there a second, lower peephole for wheelchair users?
• Or do they have camera intercoms instead?

It might be interesting to visit a nearby hotel with your family or teacher to see. Of course, always go with an adult when entering a hotel.

Barrier-Free Exploration Team

Let’s use what we learned today to explore barrier-free design in your town!

1. Look at hotels or shops in your neighborhood from the outside. Do the doors have peepholes?
2. If they do, check if there’s a second peephole at a lower position.
3. Is there a camera intercom?
4. Share what you find with your family, friends, or teachers.
5. If you think something could be improved, try to think of how it could be done.

Let’s work together to create a town where everyone can live comfortably!

Important Note

This article is based on experiences and ideas from Japan. Barrier-free efforts and ideas might be different in other countries and cultures. Please discuss with your family or teachers about how things are in your country. Let’s think about creating a world where everyone can live comfortably while respecting our differences. This article is not meant to force Japanese ideas on anyone. Always prioritize safety and act with trusted adults.

Also, this article simplifies explanations to generate interest in barrier-free design rather than provide precise information. For accurate information, please check the websites of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (Japan) or relevant agencies in your country.

For inquiries: https://lahainars.com/contact/

Note: As I’m not fluent in English, please use simple and short English when contacting me.