For 126 years, FSB has been the quality brand for door and window hardware. It was the eastern Westphalian company’s proficiency in everything pertaining to “handle culture” that led it to develop its multiple award-winning ErgoSystem. This has established itself as a solution of the first order for barrier-free products in domestic and sanitary settings in recent years.
Handicapped and elderly people rate the wide-ranging system highly because, as well as being an ideal means of self-help, it also boasts first-class looks. FSB is of the opinion that “barrier-freedom” does not necessarily entail sacrifices as regards visual properties: functionality, aesthetics and ergonomics enter into a compelling symbiosis with the ErgoSystem. It is an able source of assistance in the bathroom without making the place look like a clinic or rehabilitation centre. The timelessly attractive design of the system’s products makes for ideal integration into any bathroom architecture and is conducive to greater convenience at no visual cost.
Underpinning our ErgoSystem is a hardware collection in a range of variants and lengths for all conceivable areas of application. It becomes a truly universal system, however, when used in conjunction with practical add-ons such as toilet-roll holders, touch-sensitive switches, armrest pads or shower seats with rotating, height-adjustable seat sections, all of which markedly raise comfort levels in the bathroom. They thus make it easier to perform a wide variety of routines whether one is handicapped or not. ErgoSystem products speak a language of their own from an ergonomics point of view, too: their diagonally oval cross-section has affinities with the human anatomy and palpably reduces the force required to take hold of the fitting.
The long-established FSB company is launching new products that complement the range in a formally harmonious and functionally consistent manner. It is in this way underscoring the strategic thrust of its ErgoSystem as well as revealing how conscientiously it is going about further developing the system.
Tilting mirror
Our tilting mirror is unobtrusive compared with other similar products marketed. Its pared-down, restrained design, which dispenses with visible mechanical adjusting devices, adheres rigorously to FSB’s design and finish philosophy with its high-end aesthetics. As with the other products in the ErgoSystem, user friendliness enjoys top priority: ease of action of the tilt adjustment gear can be preset as required. The maximum tilt angle has been optimised to ensure the least possible image distortion. The mirror height has been carefully selected to make sure that there is visual contact between the patient (seated in his/her wheelchair) and the nursing staff behind him or her, which is important for communication between the two parties. Despite being unequivocally geared to the needs of handicapped or elderly persons, the FSB tilting mirror’s neutral visuals also suggest it for non-medical areas of application.
Hanging seat
Seats in showers are a definite plus in comfort terms. The FSB hanging seat is a useful accessory for the ErgoSystem that is conducive to comfort in the bathroom and also has tangible benefits for nursing. Its well-conceived design meets all possible aspirations as regards looks and handling. Its slender restrained visuals make it conspicuously inconspicuous: it does not thrust itself into one’s field of vision like an item of medical apparatus, preferring instead to discreetly and compellingly reveal its special functional properties through use. Seat and backrest are made of kind-on-the-skin PUR and are ergonomically fashioned. A hygiene opening has additionally been worked into the seat. There is plenty to grip hold of at the top of the backrest, making it easier for patients to steady themselves when sitting down. Freedom of movement in bathrooms is enhanced by the seat’s non-intrusive dimensions. FSB’s hanging seat also offers outstanding benefits for care staff, however. The seat can be speedily removed for flexible utilisation and refitted elsewhere. Facilitating this is a cut-out in the backrest as well as a spring-supported folding mechanism that causes the seat to be positioned vertically when not in use. Its flexible means of attachment additionally allows a scenario whereby not every bathroom is permanently fitted with a seat and deployment is as required. These seats are lighter than comparable products on the market, making them a good deal easier to transport. Rounding the hanging seat’s demand-responsive functions off are optionally available wall or floor-based support elements.
Shower head holder
Proof that, as well as being an all-inclusive barrier-free system from a single source, the ErgoSystem can also be operated using a single hand is provided by our new shower head holder. It rigorously adheres to FSB’s philosophy of secure holding: height, tilt and direction can be conveniently adjusted with one hand, leaving the other hand free so the user can, for instance, support him/herself by means of the grab rail. Releasing the retention mechanism requires neither a turning action nor any significant exertion of force. Once the retainer has been released, the shower head holder lies safely and seemingly naturally in the hand. FSB likewise laid great store by clear user guidance. The fashioning of the adjustment mechanism is such that there can be no doubt about how to operate the shower head holder. As with all the other system constituents, this product shares the ErgoSystem identity in all respects, marrying functionality to fine formal aesthetics.
Shower splash guard
In the nursing sphere in particular, our shower splash guard promises increased comfort for patients and staff alike by upholding the patient’s privacy whilst also making it easier for nursing staff to provide body-care assistance. Doubling up as a screen and splash guard, it hooks into the grab rail at variable positions. Its straightforward means of attachment allows one shower splash guard to be used economically and flexibly throughout the ward - so that it’s always just where it’s needed. The fabric features a Velcro fastener, has been fungicide treated of course, and can be washed and ironed. The means of attachment is made of PUR.
Radio-controlled toilet switch
A simple wave of the hand is enough to flush the toilet with FSB’s new toilet switch. The universally applicable radio operation system requires neither cabling nor any structural preparations. It can be randomly positioned within the ErgoSystem and retrofitted at any time. This allows the switch to be flexibly adapted to its users’ changing needs as well as guaranteeing freedom and certainty in planning. It is compatible with toilet equipment by Geberit, TECE, Sanit and Viega (preparations are being made for others).
Drop-down support rail with function switches
As well as being convenient, randomly programmable function switches recessed into the grip of the drop-down support rail also meet the requirements of DIN 18 024/2, which lays down that it must be possible for a person to activate the toilet flushing system in public barrier-free buildings without moving their upper body. Besides causing the toilet to flush, the integral switches - which may be one, two or three in number - can be programmed to perform other functions as required (emergency ‘talk back’ function, for instance). They offer patients a high degree of independence from nursing staff by enabling them to activate any functions required autonomously and conveniently.
Walking aid holder
People availing themselves of the comfort of a barrier-free sanitary area are generally reliant on a wheelchair or walking aid in their day-to-day lives. An adequate means of retention is advisable to ensure that the latter is easily accessible in the bathroom and can be put to one side without falling over. The new walking aid holder by FSB takes up the ErgoSystem’s diagonally oval design theme by adapting its oval form and unpushily offering it to the user. It also has the advantage of being randomly positionable both in absolute terms and relative to other system components.
Leg
The randomly positionable, height-adjustable leg for drop-down support rails increases the load they can support by around 50 kg. It takes next to no time to fit the leg to the grip of the drop-down support rail and it can, therefore, be retrofitted at any time. Legs reduce the load exerted on the wall when the hardware is used by heavier individuals and simplify planning if there is any uncertainty regarding the structure of the wall or its load-bearing characteristics. When the support rail is retracted, the leg swings up with it, thus proving it can be as discreet as it is functional.