Engineering design and evaluation of an ergonomically adaptable wheelchair-accessible ablution workstation: effects of anthropometric variability and wheelchair configurations
R. Rohimi1, A. Hambali2, W.O.A. Saifuddin3, SB. Mohamed1, Z. Abd. Rahman1 and IFA. Fatah1
Faculty of Innovative Design and Technology,Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin,Terengganu,Malaysia1
Faculty of Industrial and Manufacturing Technology and Engineering,Universiti Teknikal Malaysia,Melaka,Malaysia2
Faculty of Contemporary of Islamic Studies,Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin,Terengganu,Malaysia3
Faculty of Industrial and Manufacturing Technology and Engineering,Universiti Teknikal Malaysia,Melaka,Malaysia2
Faculty of Contemporary of Islamic Studies,Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin,Terengganu,Malaysia3
Corresponding Author : A. Hambali
Received : 16-April-2026; Revised : 18-August-2026; Accepted : 20-August-2026
Abstract
Ablution involves the washing of specific limbs by Muslims as a compulsory daily practice before praying. However, many public ablution facilities remain difficult for wheelchair users to access due to a lack of design guidelines, inadequate planning, and mismatched anthropometric data. Previous studies have given limited attention to the combined effects of the adjustable work surface height (WSH) and wheelchair configurations on ergonomic performance in ablution facilities. This study proposes an engineering design framework for an adaptable, wheelchair-accessible ablution workstation, considering three wheelchair configurations and three anthropometric percentiles for male and female Malaysian wheelchair users. A product design and development approach by Ulrich’s method was applied to translate user and technical requirements into target specifications and alternative design concepts. The Gouvali and Boudolos equation and the rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) were used to investigate postural risk for the tested variables, while finite element analysis (FEA) was conducted to evaluate the structural performance of critical assembly parts. The RULA results showed that the foldable armrest or no armrest wheelchair achieved the highest ergonomic performance, with acceptable postural scores across all percentiles and genders. Meanwhile, FEA indicated acceptable structural behavior, with maximum displacement of 0.44 mm, von Mises stress of 61.52 MPa, and a safety factor of 15. A full-scale prototype was fabricated and subjected to preliminary static load and user testing. Preliminary feedback from three wheelchair users tested shows that WSH adjustability helps to reduce forward bending, while the extendable water tap improves reachability among those with shorter arm reach forward. The findings demonstrate the importance of integrating adjustability, wheelchair configuration, and anthropometric considerations into design development.
Keywords
Accessible ablution workstation, Wheelchair accessibility, Ergonomic design, Anthropometric design, Rapid upper limb assessment (RULA), Finite element analysis (FEA).
Cite this article
Rohimi R, Hambali A, Saifuddin W, Mohamed S, Rahman ZA, Fatah I. Engineering design and evaluation of an ergonomically adaptable wheelchair-accessible ablution workstation: effects of anthropometric variability and wheelchair configurations. International Journal of Advanced Technology and Engineering Exploration. 2026;13(141):326-348. DOI : 10.19101/IJATEE.2026.131340488
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