The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) bathroom regulations are designed to ensure that individuals with disabilities can use renovated or newly constructed bathrooms in public facilities. Title II of the ADA pertains to housing provided by state and local government agencies; Title III covers public and common areas of housing developments. The original regulations became law on July 26, 1990, when President George H. W. Bush signed the act.
Significance
At present, there are 12 categories of public facilities covered in the ADA bathroom regulations. The facilities include schools, hotels, theaters, restaurants, recreation buildings and most private enterprises. A federal agency called the United States Access Board developed the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). The guidelines spell out very detailed requirements for many items found in typical bathrooms, including toilets, showers, lavatories and grab bars.
The ADA bathroom regulations start with entering the facility. The doors must swing out and be at least 32 inches wide in order for walkers, crutches and wheel chairs to comfortably enter and exit. The threshold at the bathroom's entrance door should be level with the toilet.
Toilet Stalls
The ADAAG states that bathrooms intended for common use, or available to the public, must be accessible to people with disabilities. The ADAAG requires bathrooms with six or more stalls to have one stall that is accessible. In addition, there must be a stall, at minimum, three feet wide. If urinals are installed, one must be an elongated type. It is required to be attached to the wall no more than 17 inches from the rim to the floor.
Grab Bars
The ADA bathroom regulations for grab bars are intended to facilitate disabled individuals' maneuvering themselves from their wheelchairs when in toilet stalls or tub and shower areas. The bars must to meet certain requirements regarding placement, diameter, length and other specifications for the area in which they are installed. For example, in a toilet stall, the minimum length of the side wall grab bar is 42 inches. Also, it cannot attach more than 12 inches from the rear wall and must extend at least 54 inches from the rear wall.
Tubs and Showers
Establishments with tubs or showers must have at least one accessible fixture. A seat must be situated at the head of the tub or inside the fixture. Showers have two acceptable dimensions: 1) Roll-in showers must be at least 36 inches by 36. A seat, running the entire length of the wall must be present and attached to the wall opposite the control valve.
2) A 60 inches by 30 inches shower should have a foldaway seat installed on the wall next to the controls. Shower seat placement needs to be 17 to 19 inches above the shower floor. The shower head should have a hose that is a minimum of 60 inches long. It must function as a hand-held unit or fixed shower mechanism.
Other Requirements
Mirrors placement must be no higher than 40 inches from the bottom edge to the floor. Currently, lavatories and sinks can be no more than 34 inches from the bowl surface to the floor. A wheelchair-bound person should be able to maneuver up to the sink in space underneath the sink. This requires at least 29 inches of room extending from the bottom of the apron to the bathroom floor.
The model of faucets should be easy to operate, such as electronic control, lever type or push-operated. Valves that shut off automatically should run for at least ten seconds. According to ADA bathroom regulations, hand dryers must be motion-activated or touch-free devices. Baskets or shelves should be accessible to people seated in wheelchairs.
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