AN EXAMPLE OF A TYPICAL ACCESSIBLE TOILET ROOM WITH ACCESSORIES AND REQUIREMENTS

 
ADA Accessible Toilet Room

I don't know about you, but when I eat at restaurants or visit buildings I enjoy having a look at their toilet rooms. I look at the manufacturers of the fixtures and accessories, the type of finishes they used and if it is compliant with ADA. If you happen to walk in while I am looking around, then I'm the weirdo taking pictures. I find that they are usually compliant but I surprisingly still find ones that are not. Possibly because they did not get a permit or the construction cost of the remodel was not over $50,000, which is the maximum for not having to register a project with TDLR for a plan review and inspection. This article will study each element of a toilet room and the requirements for what it takes to create one that is compliant. 

A toilet room usually consists of obviously a toilet, lavatory and all of the accessories, such as grab bars and dispensers. There are many layouts of this type but we will explore one very simple design and the code requirements for each aspect. Not all code requirements or exceptions are discussed here, so make sure you read and understand the sections in the 2012 Texas Accessible Standards (TAS). You can download the TAS in PDF form.


WATER CLOSETS

Location

  • The water closet must be located 16" (405 mm) minimum to 18" (455 mm) maximum from the side wall or partition. Refer to Figure A. (604.2 Location)

  • The height of the seat must be 17" (430 mm) minimum to 19" (485 mm) maximum from the floor. Refer to Figure B. (604.4 Seats)

ADA Accessible Water Closet Position

Figure A Water Closet Position

ADA Accessible Water Closet Seat Height

Figure B Water Closet Seat Height

Clear Floor Space

  • The clearance around a water closet is required to be 60" (1525 mm) minimum measured perpendicular from the side wall and 56" (1420 mm) minimum measured perpendicular from the rear wall. Refer to Figure C. (604.3.1 Size)

ADA Accessible Water Closet Clearance

Figure C Water Closet Clearance

Overlap

  • The required clearance around the water closet is allowed to overlap clearances required at other fixtures and the turning space. Refer to Figure D. (603.2.2 Overlap)

  • You are not allowed to overlap the accessories for other fixtures such as soap dispenser, paper towel dispenser or trash, since these are not associated uses of the water closet but by the lavatory. (Technical Memorandum 2013-17 Water Closet Clearance Overlap)

  • The door swing is allowed to overlap the clearance for a water closet and a lavatory in a toilet room as long as there is a 30" (760 mm) x 48" (1220 mm) clear floor space beyond the arc of the door. Refer to Figure E. (603.2.3 Door Swing Exception 2)

ADA Accessible Water Closet Clearance Overlap

Figure D Water Closet Clearance Overlap

ADA Accessible Water Closet Clearance Overlap at Door Swing

Figure E Water Closet Clearance Overlap at Door Swing


LAVATORIES

Height

  • Lavatories must be installed with the highest part of the front rim or counter surface 34" (865 mm) maximum above finished floor or ground. Refer to Figure F. (606.3 Height)

ADA Accessible Lavatory Height

Figure F Lavatory Height

Clear Floor Space

  • The lavatory requires a 30" (760 mm) x 48" (1220 mm) clear floor space positioned for a forward approach with knee and toe clearance. Refer to Figure G and Figure H. (306 Knee and Toe Clearance, 606.2 Clear Floor Space)

ADA Accessible Lavatory Clearance

Figure G Lavatory Clearance

Accessible Lavatory Knee & Toe Clearance

Figure H Lavatory Knee & Toe Clearance

Overlap

  • The required clearance around the lavatory is allowed to overlap clearances required at other fixtures and the turning space. Refer to Figure D. (603.2.2 Overlap)

  • The clearance for the lavatory is allowed to overlap accessories such as paper towel dispensers and trash receptacles.

  • However, these items cannot violate the protruding object requirements. (307 Protruding Objects)

  • The door swing is allowed to overlap the clearance for a lavatory in a toilet room as long as there is a 30" (760 mm) x 48" (1220 mm) clear floor space beyond the arc of the door. Refer to Figure J. (603.2.3 Door Swing Exception 2)

ADA Accessible Lavatory Clearance Overlap at Door Swing

Figure J Lavatory Clearance Overlap At Door Swing

Exposed Pipes

  • Exposed pipes must be insulated or configured to protect against contact. (606.5 Exposed Pipes and Faucets)

  • In the example provided I have used a lavatory with a ADA shroud to hide the pipes. Refer to Figure K.

ADA - Accessible Lavatory ADA Shroud

Figure K Lavatory ADA Shroud


ADDITIONAL CLEARANCES

Turning Space

  • You are required to provide a turning space clearance inside the toilet room. Refer to Figure D. (603.2.1 Turning Space)

  • It can either be circular or t-shaped. Refer to Figure L. (304.3.1 Circular Space, 304.3.2 T-Shaped Space)

ADA - Accessible Turning Space

Figure L Circular & T-Shaped Turning Space


GRAB BARS

Location

  • Grab bars are required to be installed at water closets at the side wall and rear wall. (604.5 Grab Bars)

  • They must be 33" (840 mm) minimum and 36" (915 mm) maximum above the finish floor measured to the top of the gripping surface. (609.4 Position of Grab Bars)

Side Wall

  • The side wall grab bar must be 42" (1065 mm) long minimum, located 12" (305 mm) maximum from the rear wall and extended 54" (1370 mm) minimum from the rear wall. Refer to Figure M. (604.5.1 Side Wall)

ADA Accessible Grab Bar Side Wall

Figure M Grab Bar Side Wall

Rear Wall

  • The rear wall grab bar must be 36" (915 mm) long minimum and extend from the centerline of the water closet 12" (305 mm) minimum on one side and 24" (610 mm) minimum on the other side. Refer to Figure N. (604.5.2 Rear Wall)

ADA Accessible Grab Bar Rear Wall

Figure N Grab Bar Rear Wall


TOILET TISSUE DISPENSER

Location

  • The toilet tissue dispenser must be located on the side wall adjacent to the toilet.

  • The dispenser must be between 7" (180 mm) minimum and 9" (230 mm) maximum in front of the water closet measured to the centerline of the dispenser. (604.7 Dispenser)

  • The outlet of the dispenser must be between 15" (380 mm) minimum and 48" (1220 mm) maximum above the finish floor. Refer to Figure P. (604.7 Dispenser)

ADA - Accessible Toilet Tissue Dispenser

Figure P Toilet Tissue Dispenser Location


SOAP DISPENSER

Requirements

  • Soap dispensers must be located within the reach ranges and located so that they are conveniently usable by a person at the accessible lavatory. Refer to Figure Q. (308 Reach Ranges and Advisory 606.1 General)

ADA Accessible Soap Dispenser

Figure Q Soap Dispenser


PAPER TOWEL DISPENSER & TRASH DISPOSAL

Requirements

  • Paper towel dispensers and trash disposals must be located within the reach ranges and located so that they are conveniently usable by a person at the accessible lavatory. Refer to Figure R. (308 Reach Ranges and Advisory 606.1 General)

  • They cannot violate the protruding object requirements. (307 Protruding Objects)

  • Manufacturers are utilizing thinner designs that will not protrude more than 4".

ADA Accessible Paper Towel Dispenser & Trash Disposal

Figure R Paper Towel Dispenser & Trash Disposal Location


MIRRORS

Requirements

  • You are not required to have a mirror above a lavatory.

  • Mirrors located above lavatories must be installed with the bottom edge of the reflecting surface 40" (1015 mm) maximum above the finish floor or ground. (603.3 Mirrors)

  • The top edge of mirrors should be 74" (1880 mm) minimum from the floor or ground. Refer to Figure S. (Advisory 603.3 Mirrors)

ADA Accessible Mirror Height

Figure S Mirror Height


BABY CHANGING STATIONS

Requirements

  • Baby changing stations are not required in toilet rooms but if you have one then it must comply.

  • TDLR put out Technical Memorandum 2013-15 that clarifies the requirements for baby changing stations.

Work Surfaces

  • Baby changing stations is classified as a work surface. (902.1 Advisory)

  • A clear floor space with a forward approach is required at work surfaces. (902.2 Clear Floor or Ground Space)

  • Knee andand toe clearance must be provided under a work surface in the open position. (902.2 Clear Floor or Ground Space)

  • The height of work surfaces must be between 28" (710 mm) minimum and 34" (865 mm) maximum. (902.3 Height)

Protruding Objects

  • Baby changing stations must comply with the protruding object requirements when the table is fully open or closed. (Technical Memorandum 2013-15)

  • In order for them to comply with the protruding object requirements and knee and toe clearance, then the bottom underside of the surface must be exactly at 27" (685 mm) when the table is fully open. Refer to Figure T.

  • If it is more then 27" (685 mm), then it is a protruding object. (307.2 Protrusion Limits)

  • If it is less then 27" (685 mm), then it does not comply with knee clearance. (306.3.1 General)

ADA - Accessible Baby Changing Station Height

Figure T Baby Changing Station Height

Overlap

  • The clear floor space for the baby changing station may overlap the clearance at the water closet. (Technical Memorandum 2013-15)

  • The table when fully opened must be outside of the water closet clearance. Refer to Figure U. (Technical Memorandum 2013-15)

ADA Accessible Baby Changing Station Overlap

Figure U Baby Changing Station Overlap


COAT HOOKS

Requirements

  • If you provide a coat hooks then one is required to be located within one of the reach ranges. (603.4 Coat Hooks and Shelves)

Position

  • Forward and side approach reach range is 15" (380 mm) minimum and 48" (1220 mm) maximum. Refer to Figure V. (308.2 Forward Reach, 308.3 Side Reach)

  • You are allowed to put in a second coat hook outside of the reach ranges.

ADA Accessible Coat Hook Height

Figure V Coat Hook Height


SIGNAGE

Requirements

  • Signs that are placed outside of the toilet rooms must provide both visual and tactile characters. (703.1 General)

Position

  • The height of signs must be located based on the location of the tactile characters.

  • The baseline of the lowest tactile character must be 48" (1220 mm) minimum above the floor or ground

  • 60" (1525 mm) maximum measured from the baseline of the highest tactile character. Refer to Figure W. (703.4.1 Height Above Finish Floor or Ground)

ADA Accessible Signage Height

Figure W Signage Height

Clearance

  • The sign must be located along the wall on the latch side of the door. (703.4.2 Location)

  • A 18" (455 mm) x 18" (455 mm) minimum clearance is required centered on the sign, located in front of the sign.

  • The clearance must be provided beyond the arc of the door swing. Refer to Figure Y.

  • You are allowed to place the sign on the push side of doors that have a closer and without hold-open devices. (703.4.2 Location EXCEPTION)

ADA Accessible Signage Clearance

Figure Y Signage Clearance

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF TOILET TISSUE DISPENSERS IN ACCESSIBLE TOILET ROOMS

One of the most common mistakes I find while doing inspections is the location of the toilet tissue dispenser. Below I have referenced the most common dispensers used in toilet rooms and the requirements for each.

ADA Accessible Single Roll Toilet Tissue Paper Dispensers

Single Roll Dispensers

ADA Accessible Double Roll Toilet Tissue Paper Dispensers

Double Roll Dispensers

ADA Accessible Double Roll Stacked Toilet Tissue Paper Dispensers

Double Roll Stacked Dispensers

Accessibility Standards Requires

  • The dispenser must be 7" min (180 mm) and 9" max (230 mm) in front of the water closet measured to the centerline of the dispenser.

  • The height measured to the outlet of the dispenser must be 15" min (380 mm) and 48" max (1220 mm) above the finish floor.

  • There is a construction tolerance built into the requirements. The accessibility standards requires when there is a min/max given that those dimensions must be met.

Single Roll Dispensers

  • The single roll dispenser must be measured from the center of the roll to the leading edge of the water closet.

  • The height must be measured from the finish floor to the bottom edge of a full roll of paper. Do not measure to the center of the spindle, that is not an outlet. Assume a toilet tissue roll is about 6" diameter, so give yourself a few inches from the center spindle. Some manufactures recommend 24" to the center of the spindle.

ADA & TAS Single Roll Toilet Tissue Paper Dispensers Height & Locations

Double Roll Dispensers

  • The double roll dispenser must be measured to the center of the unit, not the first or the last roll. There is usually a mark on the top of the unit that will show the center.

  • The height must be measured to the dispenser outlet, which is usually at the bottom edge of the unit where the paper comes out. Also, most manufacturers recommend a dimension. Follow their recommendation, but make sure you meet the accessibility standards. I've seen some sites that reference the old standards.

ADA & TAS Double Roll Toilet Tissue Paper Dispensers Height & Locations

Double Roll Stacked Dispensers

  • The height must be measured to the bottom of the lowest roll and the top roll is 1 1/2" min (38 mm) below the grab bar.

  • The manufacturers will recommend a height of these dispensers because they want to make sure you will be able to access the top seat cover dispenser. There are no requirements for the seat cover dispenser except that they must be within reach range.

ADA & TAS Double Roll Stacked Toilet Tissue Paper Dispensers Height & Location

Common Mistakes

Toilet Tissue Paper Dispenser Common Mistake

Dispensers must be located in front of the water closet.

Toilet Tissue Paper Dispenser Common Mistake

Movable dispensers are not allowed in accessible toilet rooms.

Toilet Tissue Paper Dispenser Common Mistake

Dispensers are required to be mounted on the side wall.