Tag Archive for: bathroom regulations

ADA Compliant Bathroom Measurements

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When you’re about the begin a thorough remodel or your facility’s bathroom, or you’re about to break ground on your new facility, there are several regulations and guidelines you need to follow to not only pass inspection, but also to adhere to the needs of the occupants. One of the most common forms of these regulations are the ones set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These guidelines can help you design an accessible restroom and its features are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

What to Think About When Remodeling/Building Your Restroom

When you begin outlining the designs for your facility’s restroom, keep ADA compliance in mind. You’ll need to make sure that you hit the exact measurements when you’re figuring out the stalls and partitions. Forgetting to utilize the required measurements set by the ADA could lead to consequences including fines, as well as having to completely reconfigure the layout of your facility’s restrooms. Doing so would be a painstaking process that would delay construction as well as any tentative finish date of your facility’s renovations.

Specific ADA Compliant Restroom Measurements

Before ordering the parts and materials, you’ll need to lock down the specific ADA compliant measurements for the restrooms. There should be at least one stall designated for a disabled individual.

ADA Compliant Stall Dimensions:

  • 60 inches wide for a wall-mounted toilet
  • 56 inches deep for a wall-mounted toilet
  • 59 inches deep for a floor-mounted toilet

The stall should also include a grab bar for easy access when transitioning from wheelchair to toilet. The grab bar should be at minimum 36 inches long and no more than 6 inches from the inside corner of the stall. The adjacent grab bar shouldn’t be more than 12 inches from the back wall of the partition. All grab bars must be at least 33 to 36 inches from the floor. Bathroom sinks shouldn’t be more than 34 inches from the floor, and they should provide a knee clearance of 27 inches high and 30 inches wide.

Using the Right Materials for Your Restroom

Now that you know the specific measurements for the ADA compliant stall and sink, you’re ready to begin ordering your  materials. However, there are a few factors you should consider before choosing your material. You want to be sure to select a sturdy and durable material because you have to consider that when a disabled individual is using the grab bar, they’re placing their whole weight on the bar, so you’ll need a  bathroom partition that can stand up to the pressure.

While there are plenty of plastic and steel options to consider, HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is one of the more reliable materials to use. It’s impact- and scratch-resistant, and due to its solid plastic construction, it can stand up to the humidity and moisture as well as prevent mold from growing. Best of all, HDPE partitions are customizable, allowing you to choose your specific measurements in order to be compliant with the regulations set by the ADA.

Want to learn more about how to make your facility’s restrooms ADA compliant? Check out our eBook, ADA Guideline for a Compliant Restroom, from your friends at Scranton Products.

What is ADA-Compliant?

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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed by Congress in 1990. It’s a civil rights law that prohibits the discrimination of people with disabilities. Not adhering to the strict building standards to meet the needs of disabled people is an act of discrimination, and it’s a law that building managers need to address and to adhere to in order to make their facility easily accessible to disabled occupants. As a facility manager, it’s your job to not only implement ADA-compliant entrances and bathroom fixtures, but you also need to ensure that these designs are legal in accordance with the ADA, and can be easily accessed and utilized by any disabled occupant.

Four Major Priorities for Accessibility

According to the Department of Justice ADA Title III regulations, there are four major priorities to follow to ensure that you’re following the law and ensuring that your facility is ADA-compliant. Whether you’re building from the ground up, in the middle of a renovation, or beginning to embark on a remodel, you’ll want to be sure that you’re implementing these priorities to make your facility easily accessible. Read below to learn about the four major priorities when it comes to making your facility ADA-compliant.

1.      Accessible Approach & Entrance

Not all your facility’s occupants are able-bodied and agile. You need to ensure that entering your facility isn’t a difficulty for anyone with any disability that effects their mobility. Be sure to have a ramp and a railing so any wheelchair occupants can enter your facility without any hassle. The ramp should be 48’’ wide with a one-inch rise for every foot of ramp to ensure that the incline isn’t too drastic for the individual.

2.      Access to Goods & Services

Whether it’s a cafeteria in an office building or a sales rack in a department store, occupants of all abilities must be able to easily access these goods. Ensuring that countertops are at an appropriate height is paramount. The maximum height should be no higher than 36’’ with adequate floor space for any type of wheelchair to easily maneuver.

3.      Access to Public Toilet Restrooms

Every occupant in your facility will need to relieve themselves from time to time, and as a facility manager, it’s your responsibility that they can do so without too much strain or difficulty. Each restroom should have at least one handicapped-accessible toilet stall that consists of 60’’ of width. You also need to install a grab bar that’s 36’’ long with an adjacent grab bar on the other side, both of which should be 33” to 36’’ from the floor. Since occupants will be putting their whole weight on these grab bars, utilizing stronger materials like HDPE (high-density polyethylene) partitions may be a wise idea.

4.      Access to Other Items

This category consists of making sure that essential items like water fountains are easily accessible. Water fountain spouts should be no higher than 36’’ inches off of the ground so any wheelchair occupant can get a drink of water without a struggle.

Making Your Facility ADA-Compliant

It’s important to adhere to these guidelines when you’re building from the ground up, or starting an extensive remodel. Making sure that facets and features of your facility is accessible to all occupants is the law, so be sure to consider these regulations when going over your designs. Following these guidelines will come in handy when your facility gets inspected, and by complying with the ADA regulations, your facility has a great chance of passing the inspection.

Are you looking to get started on making your facility more ADA-compliant? Check out this free eBook, ADA Guidelines for a Compliant Restroom, from your friends at Scranton Products.