• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.256-264
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• 2013

A bathroom in house has been stressed not only as a space for physiology and hygiene but also leisure and healthcare. However, the bathroom is the most likely space where an elderly person can have an accident and it is uncomfortable space for them because of their deteriorating physical ability. So the purpose of this study is to help the elderly use their bathroom conveniently by providing smart service. Therefore, we carry out 18 smart service patterns that contain assistive devices and sensors for bathroom. Considering applicability and frequency, from among these service patterns, we suggest 4 service patterns. First is a fall prevention service. This service helps elderly use the bathroom safely at night. Second is a getting ready to go out service. This service helps the situation that elderly use the bathroom after getting up in the morning. Third is a security service in daily life especially before or after meals. And final is a service regarding personal hygiene service after returning home. This service helps to shower or bathe after return home. These services have positive influence in medical expense reductions, good health care and self-reliance of elderly.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.270-276
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• 2006

In this study, heat loss through free surface of water contained in bathtub due to conduction and evaporation has been analyzed. As a result of this study, a relational equation has been derived based on the basic theory of heat transfer to evaluate the performance of bath tubes. The derived equation was rational and quantitative. The major heat loss was found to be due to evaporation. Moreover, it has been found out that the speed of heat loss depends more on the humidity of the bathroom than the temperature of water contained in the bathtub. So, it is best to maintain the temperature of bathtub water to be between 41 to $45^{\circ}C$ and the humidity of bathroom to be 95％.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2017

It is very important for the elderly to maintain their independence and to live safe and comfortable daily lives in order to lead an independent life. The bathroom in the house has the greatest number of fall accidents and has a great influence on the independence of the elderly. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a bathroom design method that improves the independence of the elderly whose physical function is deteriorated through preventing falls. In this study, first of all, we investigated the causes of falling in bathrooms based on the previous studies, and identified the intelligent services that can prevent falls and selected them according to individual needs. Secondly, we investigated the bathroom size of the apartment among the various housing type, analyzed the type of the bathroom, and developed a standard type of the bathroom. Thirdly, we analyzed the design guidelines for the elderly residents in Korea and proposed improvement directions. We also divided the intelligent sanitary appliances and fall-prevention products and proposed the installation method and directions. Therefore, the comprehensive bathroom design standards and proposals proposed in this study will be the basis of bathroom design to prevent falls and improve independence of the elderly, and it will be easy to understand and help the designer in designing. Finally, this study is meaningful in that it provides independence of the elderly through fall prevention and increases the easiness of hygiene action and suggests direction to maintain self-sustaining life of the elderly.