Latrine Rails

The Latrine Rail is a support rail system designed to aid safe and easy transfers between a wheelchair and a latrine. It provides a stable structure that a user can hold onto for balance and support during transfer, reducing fall risk in what is often a high-risk moment for wheelchair users.

The rail is constructed from PVC pipe, cut into sections of 40 cm, 45 cm, 70 cm, and 75 cm lengths, joined using PVC elbows and end caps, and bonded with solvent cement. Two M8 threaded rods, secured with eight nuts, join the 70 cm and 75 cm pipe sections together and pass through a plywood board, which forms a stabilizing base plate. Fabrication requires cutting pipe to length, drilling 8.5 mm holes at set points (34 cm from the pipe edge) for the threaded rod, and cutting the plywood base to a template.

Assembly follows a defined sequence: pipe sections are first dry-fit and tested for correct alignment before being disassembled and bonded permanently in stages, joining pipes to elbows and caps, connecting sections with the threaded rods and nuts, sliding the plywood base onto the rods, and completing the remaining elbow and pipe connections to form the full rail structure.

Levels are identified based on this reference: Field Ready Readiness Levels

About the manuals

Field Ready develops manuals to support both the fabrication and safe use of its products. A maker manual provides step-by-step instructions for replicating the design, including materials, tools, and assembly guidance, so that makers in different locations can build the product accurately and consistently. A user manual, where applicable, explains how to properly set up, use, and maintain the product once it is built, helping ensure it performs safely and as intended for the end user. Together, these manuals make the design accessible to both fabricators and the people who ultimately rely on the product.