Basic standards for Youth hostels
Below you can find the information that can be regarded as the basic minimal standard for youth hostels to be observed in all the countries where the standard of living allows it:
a) Bedrooms:
The space of not less than 5.0 cubic meters for one person is to be observed in the bedrooms. The minimal ceilings height shall be 2.5 m; the minimal floor area allocated for one bed shall be 4 cubic meters. Compact bedrooms are advisable.
Easily removable covers shall be provided for mattresses and pillows, they shall be taken off and washed on a regular basis.
The internationally accepted size of the bed is 80 x 190 cm. The free space between the beds is to be over 75 cm. If - for access convenience - two beds are placed side by side, a partition shall be arranged at the head of the bed for hygienic purposes. It is essential that the beds should be "noiseless".
Other equipment: two hooks per person for clothes, shelves or closing cabinets for luggage and personal belongings, a mirror, a socket for electric razors, a wastepaper basket. The following objects are recommended: bed-side lamps, chairs - not to make hostel visitors sit on the bed covers.
b) Rooms for group leaders
Wherever possible, separate bedrooms shall be provided for group leaders.
c) Sanitary arrangements, lavatories (in accordance with local/regional/ federal sanitary norms)
One lavatory for 12 persons (minimum one for each sex).
One washing sink for 6 persons.
One shower cabin (with the adjacent room for undressing) for 15 persons (minimum one for each sex).
Washing sinks can be placed in the bedrooms - it is especially recommended for small bedrooms. Showers and lavatories can be placed in adjacent rooms. Washing premises shall be provided with hooks, shelves, benches, mirrors and wastepaper baskets).
The lavatories shall have at least one washing sink with a hand-drier.
It is desirable that the hostels have hot and cold running water.
d) Communal premises
A separate dining-room (with the minimal area for one person of 1 square meter) is desirable; availability of an additional communal room or several premises, the number and space of which depends on the circumstances, is also desirable.
e) Board in hostels
Wherever possible, hostels shall be supplied with ready meals, for this purpose a kitchen and a larder ought to be arranged at the hostel.
f) Other premises
1) Room for drying
In the majority of countries a room for drying wet clothes is to be provided at the hostel.
2) Luggage premises
All the residents of the hostel shall be supplied with closing cabinets. These cabinets can be placed in bedrooms but availability of special rooms for the luggage may prove to be more convenient - it helps keep order in the bedrooms (see "Guarded premises" further).
3) Guarded premises
A special room where the residents of the hostel can keep their belongings safely protected when they leave the hostel in the daytime or at night is to be arranged at the hostel. Other facilities for keeping shall be provided: like special arrangements for safe keeping of money, video cameras and other personal things in the period of stay at the hostel.
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