Short Description

Water beds consist of a frame supported on a base or a pedestal.
Inside the frame is a waterproof liner which protects the base in the event of a leak developing in the bladder. The bladder contains the water and is made from vinyl with welded seams.

More Details

The water bed bladder may contain only water which is referred to as a free float system or it can contain baffles or layers of fibre which dampen the movement of the water. This is called a waveless mattress. The number of layers of fibre can vary depending on the amount of dampening effect that is required. The bladder is covered by an overlay which is often zippered into position.
It is important that the water in a water bed is heated and so these beds have a heating unit with a thermostatic control to maintain the water temperature at the desired level. Water beds come in a variety of sizes - single, double, queen and king.

A range of options is also available
. The frame can have padded wooden sides or foam sides.
. The base can resemble an ensemble bed or maybe a pedestal.
. The base can have drawers set into it.
. The overlay can be made from different materials including vinyl, polyester wool or real wool.
. The base can often be customized to facilitate the use of a mobile hoist.
. A dual system of bladders in 1 frame enables 2 people in the one bed to have different water temperatures and different flotation characteristics in the bed.
POINTS TO CONSIDER:
. Water beds may be difficult to get in and out of for a person with reduced mobility. In some cases the use of a mobile hoist may become necessary.
. The need to turn over in bed may be reduced on a water bed but the act of turning over may become more difficult for some people.
. The bladder of the bed can be punctured by sharp implements and care must be taken to avoid this happening.
. Water beds can be emptied and disassembled for moving, but this is not something that is undertaken lightly.
. Weight - any building meeting standard building codes should provide adequate support for a water bed. Less water is used in a water bed now than a few years ago and so weight is not such a problem. The weight per square foot of a water bed is, reportedly less than that of an 11cubic foot refrigerator.
. See listing in yellow pages telephone directory under `water beds' for
suppliers.

Place Of Manufacture

Various

Standards

Some assistive technology needs to meet Australian or other standards. Standards may relate to materials, manufacturing and installation. Products that meet Australian or international standards will have written certification. To find out if a product meets Australian Standards ask the supplier to show you the certificate. For a fact sheet about standards contact us or visit www.ilcaustralia.org/home/standards.asp