One of the key features of universally accessible shops is properly designed checkouts.
Good lighting is important in the checkout area of shops, as it facilitates communication with people with visual and hearing impairments. There should be no windows behind the checkouts, as natural light causes glare and makes it difficult to read lips. It is recommended that at least one checkout counter be equipped with a (portable) hearing loop.
There should be a sufficiently wide, unobstructed path leading to the checkouts, with enough space next to it to pass the counter to reach the salesperson. In the area where communication with the salesperson and payment are required, there should be enough space to allow wheelchair users to access the counter from the front. The conveyor belt must be low enough for a person in a wheelchair to place selected items on it.
For easy payment, it is important to provide an adjustable payment terminal for card payment. It can be installed as a pull-out, portable, or fixed to a structure that allows movement in height and length.
When price displays for scanned products and the final purchase price for payment are installed at the checkout, they should be placed at an appropriate height so that they are also visible to a person in a wheelchair. It is also important that the displays are close enough to the payment point so that the reading distance is appropriate for the size of the text.
Special attention should also be paid to the suitability of the text on the displays. It should be large enough and have sufficient contrast. The screen should not be glossy and should not display store advertisements that interfere with reading and limit the space available for text.
It is also important to pay attention to accessibility at self-service checkouts. All surfaces, screens, and controls should be positioned at a suitable height for wheelchair users. If printed instructions for use are provided at the cash registers, they should be large enough and contrast well, and the screens should be non-glare. If written information appears on the screens, it should also be provided in a visual form so that customers with complete vision impairment can also use the cash registers.
Some information for designing an accessible checkout counter:
• product storage area: height from 470 to 900 mm
• lighting at the payment point: from 350 to 450 lux
• maneuvering space for wheelchair users: 800 mm for passage; 1500 mm x 1500 mm for a 90° turn; 2150 mm x 1600 mm for a 180° turn
• control elements (self-service checkout) and POS terminal: height from 800 to 1100 mm
• screen height: up to 1400 mm