Restroom Space Planning
Public restrooms are often utilitarian spaces that can be stark, uninviting, and even downright ugly. If you are planning to build a new bathroom or remodel an existing one for your facility, working with an architect can go a long way to create an accessible, functional, and beautiful space that will make your patrons happy.
Benefits of Restroom Space Planning
The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures that restrooms are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. Guidelines for restroom space planning can be found on the ADA website and state building departments. Your architect and contractor should be able to help you with the technical details.
Well planned and ADA compliant bathrooms benefit not only customers but business owners too.
- More business. Clean, inviting, and accessible restrooms make people happy and attract potential customers. Satisfied patrons are more likely to spread the word to others about how much you care about your customers, thus promoting your business.
- More savings. Many bathroom fixtures are designed to save water, energy, paper towels, tissues, liquid soap, and other resources. Energy efficient fixtures could significantly slash your utility bills each month. Compliance with ADA regulations also reduces the risk of complaints and potential lawsuits.
- Improved safety. ADA requirements are designed with accessibility and safety in mind, and compliance means improving the overall safety of your facilities. You can sleep well knowing that your restroom fixtures won’t cause injury or harm.
- Improved hygiene. Well-designed restrooms encourage frequent handwashing, improve hygiene, and prevent the transmission of disease-causing germs. When your restrooms are clean, safe, and inviting, people are more likely to use the lavatories to clean their hands.
- Long-lasting facilities. Well-designed restrooms are built to last. From the lights to the tiles on the floor, the use of high-quality materials ensures durability. Some bathroom products even come with anti-vandal features to prevent tampering and keep the fixtures in pristine condition as long as possible.
Technical Requirements for Restroom Space Planning
Every fixture in a public or commercial restroom must be up to standard. The different measurements for shower stalls, toilets, urinals, lavatories, tubs, grab bars, doors, and door handles can be found on the ADA website. Actual measurements and spacing depend on what you plan to install in the restroom and what your state requires. Make sure to check the local code before starting to build or remodel.
Clear Space
A restroom must fully accommodate a single wheelchair and allow it to rotate freely. The clear rotating space must be at least 60 inches in diameter. Some of this space can be under a fixture in certain cases.
Toilet Stalls
Stalls must be at least 60 inches wide and have enough space for a wheelchair for a forward or side approach to the toilet.
Toilets
Toilet seats must be installed 17 to 19 inches from the floor, with clear space for a wheelchair around the toilet (either forward or parallel approach) measuring 30 by 48 inches. In certain cases, some clear space can be located under fixtures to meet the minimum requirement, but the legs must be free to move without obstruction. The flush control should be installed at a maximum of 44 inches above the floor on the side of the toilet with the clearest floor space.
Sinks/Lavatories
At least one lavatory must be present in each bathroom, installed no higher than 34 inches from the floor. The lavatory must extend at a minimum of 17 inches from the back wall with a 29-inch clearance from the bottom of the sink apron to the floor. Countertop sinks must be no more than two inches from the edge of the countertop.
Grab Bars/Hand Rails
Horizontal grab bars must be installed behind the toilet on the nearest wall 34 to 38 inches above the floor. Hand rails must be fully anchored and easy to grab. They must be 1.25 to 1.5 inches in diameter.
Accessories
ADA compliant bathrooms require touch-free hand dryers and soap dispensers that can be accessed by left- or right-handed users. The hand dryer sensor must be 38 to 48 inches above the floor.
To learn more, visit our page on restroom products or contact us today!
Anti-Microbial Lavatory Systems
COVID-19 has changed the way we live in a matter of months. In addition to the economic and psychological impact of social distancing, there’s a newfound fear of infectious disease and carriers like viruses and bacteria. In the long term, individuals, businesses, and governments are expected to shift focus towards creating cleaner and more hygienic places to live and work.
Businesses are already increasing the demand for antimicrobial building materials, especially in publicly accessible spaces like bathrooms. While there’s still no product proven to protect against COVID-19 and coronaviruses, the use of antimicrobials is in line with CDC guidelines and remains a great first line of defense.
Antimicrobial surfaces on bathroom fixtures have been proven to actively reduce microorganism populations, prevent cross contamination, and stop the spread of infectious disease. Antimicrobial lavatory systems can be part of infection control procedures in facilities with high hygiene standards. These include healthcare and food preparation facilities.
Many hospitals already use antimicrobial lavatory systems and other fixtures to control infection and minimize the transmission of disease-causing pathogens. Antimicrobial sinks can be installed in patient rooms, intensive care units (ICUs), restrooms, laboratories, and housekeeping areas.
Antimicrobial Lavatory Surfaces
Plumbing fixture manufacturers use different types of antimicrobial surfaces. The most common are baked on, powder-coat finishes with an antimicrobial agent and plastic or composite materials with the antimicrobial agent mixed into the polymer during processing. The antimicrobial agent usually contains silver ions to neutralize microbes on surfaces.
The antimicrobial agent is released on contact with moisture and is designed to be effective against a range of microorganisms. The mechanism of action is simple: The positively-charged antimicrobial agent attracts negatively-charged microbes when in contact with moisture. The resulting electrical imbalance cause the microbe’s cell wall to burst and kill the organism.
Cleaning products and disinfectants do not reduce the effectiveness of the antimicrobial agent, which remains active throughout the product’s lifetime. Antimicrobial agents can be used in a variety of fixtures, including lavatory systems, toilets, shower pans, sinks, door handles, toilet flushes, and faucet levers.
Benefits of Antimicrobial Lavatory Systems
Prevents the buildup of bacteria, mold, and mildew. Antimicrobial lavatory systems are proven effective against microorganisms. Antibacterial properties combined with solid surfaces prevent the buildup of dirt, mold, and mildew.
Improves hand hygiene. Hand hygiene is one of the best ways to prevent disease transmission. Antimicrobial lavatory systems actively kill bacteria and prevent cross contamination to ensure that hands stay clean after washing.
Resists stains. Antimicrobial surfaces are designed to be durable and stain resistant. The material won’t burn, stain, or dissipate even when using chemical disinfectant. Dirt can easily be wiped off or scrubbed away with household cleaning products. Stain-resistant fixtures keep facilities clean and aesthetic.
Safe for food preparation. Some antimicrobial lavatory systems are designed specifically for handwashing use only, while others are safe for use in food preparation facilities. Check with the manufacturer to make sure you are getting the right type for your facility.
Resource efficient. Many antimicrobial lavatory systems are resource efficient and meet or exceed LEED requirements. Installing these fixtures reduces waste and shows customers that you care for the environment.
Durable. Some antimicrobial lavatory systems are designed to stand up to the heaviest abuse. These fixtures are ideal for behavioral healthcare settings as well as hospitals. Spend less money on repairs and maintenance by choosing high-quality bathroom fixtures.
Aesthetic. Most manufacturers produce antimicrobial lavatory systems that are both functional and aesthetic. Choose from an array of colors to complement existing layouts or new builds and install modular units to fit your space exactly. Some units can even be customized to exact requirements.
Make customers and patients feel at home. Institutional fixtures tend to be cold and ugly. Modern antimicrobial lavatory systems are like those you would normally find in residential settings. These add a touch of home to any space and make users feel at ease.
Seamless design. Antimicrobial solid surface lavatories are seamless. This means no grooves or crevices where bacteria can hide. Seamless designs not only look modern and beautiful, they also aid in infection control.
No need to seal or paint. Antimicrobial solid surface fixtures are low maintenance by design. No need to reseal or paint every few months. Dirt, grease, and stains are easily removed with household cleaners or abrasive material.
Helps businesses save money. Antimicrobial lavatory systems made from high-quality materials tend to be more expensive than standard fixtures, but help businesses save money in the long run. Durability, resource efficiency, and reduced maintenance help reduce bills and costs.
To learn more, visit our page on lavatory systems or contact us today!
ADA Compliance in Restrooms
ADA compliance in restrooms is easy to achieve for business owners who understand the requirements. If you’re a new business looking to set up a physical store (or anyone who wants more information about ADA compliant restrooms and establishments), this article will help you get started.
ADA Compliance in Restrooms: What is the ADA?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law passed in 1990. The law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and public and private places that are open to the public. The goal of the ADA is to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities given to individuals on the basis of age, sex, race, religion and national origin. The ADA guarantees that individuals with disabilities have equal opportunities in public employment, transportation, state and local government services, telecommunications and accommodations.
An amendment to the ADA was signed into law (ADAAA) in 2008 and took effect on January 1, 2009. The ADAAA significantly changed the definition of ‘disability.’ These changes apply to all titles of the ADA, including Title I, Title II and Title III. Title III includes private entities considered to be places of public accommodation, Tile II refers to state and local government activities, and Title I covers employment practices.
The ADA of 1990 includes guidelines for building ADA compliant restrooms. These requirements must be met for public and commercial bathrooms. They can also be used as a general guide for constructing safe and accessible establishments when ADA compliance is not mandatory. In addition to the ADA compliant restrooms, business owners must also meet additional requirements that may be set by the local code authority.
ADA Compliant Restrooms Dimensions
Dimensions are important when building ADA compliant restrooms. These dimensions are designed for accessibility, safety and ease of use for individuals with disabilities and limited range of motion. Detailed information and the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) are available on the U.S. Access Board website.
Doors
To be ADA compliant, doors should open with minimal force and have handles that are easy to grab with one hand. Doorways should be at least 32 inches wide with the door open at 90 degrees.
Door Latches
Door latches and other parts must be operable with one hand, using less than five pounds of pressure. Door latches must not need tight grasping, twisting or pinching of the wrist to operate.
Rotating Space
A single wheelchair must be able to freely rotate inside an ADA compliant bathroom. This requires a clear floor space of at least 60 inches in diameter to allow for a 180-degree turn. In some cases, open space under a fixture can supplement the clear floor space to meet the minimum requirement.
Dispensers
For dispensers that protrude from the wall in restrooms and toilet stalls or anything that a person might need to reach should be a maximum of 48 inches from the finished floor. Toilet tissue must be within arm’s reach and the outlet of the tissue dispenser must be between 24 inches minimum and 42 inches maximum from the back wall and at least 18 inches above the finished floor. The ADA guideline defines “easily within arm’s reach” as within 7-9 inches from the front of the bowl and at least 15 inches above the finished floor or 48 inches maximum.
Grab Bars
Grab bars are hand rails that are used for support when moving around a room. They are not used for hanging towels, and towel bars are not intended to be used as grab bars. An ADA compliant grab bar must be fully anchored and have a smooth surface for easy grabbing. The bar itself must be 1.25 to 1.5 inches in diameter, at least 36 inches long on the rear wall or 42 inches on the side wall and must be installed between 33 to 36 inches above the floor. At least 1.5 inches of space must separate the bar from the wall surface. The bar must have round edges and no exposed ends. It must be able to withstand at least 250 pounds of pressure.
Lavatories
At least one lavatory must be present in each bathroom. To be ADA compliant, the lavatory must be at least 17 inches from the back wall and not be installed higher than 34 inches. Knee clearance must be 27 inches high, 30 inches wide and 11 to 25 inches deep. Countertop lavatories should be installed no more than 2 inches from the front edge of the counter. In addition, there must be clear floor space and insulated pipes under the sink.
Faucets
Faucets should be operated by a lever or controlled by push, touch or electronics. Individuals must be able to use faucets with one hand without needing to exert more than five pounds of force to operate the faucet. The user also shouldn’t need to grasp, pinch, or twist the wrist when using the faucet.
Water Closets
Water closets must be 17 to 19 inches from the floor to the top of the toilet seat. Flush valves shouldn’t need tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist.
Hand Dryers
ADA compliant bathrooms must have touch free or motion activated hand dryers with sensors that are 38 to 48 inches above the finished floor. The hand dryer itself must be accessible for right- and left-handed users.
Mirrors
Mirrors must be mounted with the bottom edge of the reflective surface at a maximum of 40 inches above the floor with the top edge at least 74 inches from the floor. If it’s not possible to install a mirror 40 inches above the floor, a full-length mirror fulfills the ADA requirement.
Trash Cans
Recessed trash receptacles or a combination of paper towel dispenser and trash bin is recommended. Trash bins on the floor are barriers to someone in a wheelchair when reaching for a dispenser mounted above it.
Toilet Stalls
Toilet stalls must be at least 60 inches wide and have enough space to fit a single wheelchair in front of or parallel to the toilet. Horizontal grab bars must be installed behind the toilet and on the nearest wall or partition, whichever is nearest. There must be at least 30 x 48 inches of clear space around the toilet to fit a single wheelchair.
The clear space must be designed for either a forward or parallel approach to the toilet. Parts of the clear space can be under fixtures to meet the minimum requirement, as long as there is enough space for the legs to move around freely when the individual is seated in a wheelchair. The toilet seat must be 17 to 19 inches above the finished floor. The flush control must be on the open side of the toilet with the clearest floor space and installed no higher than 44 inches above the floor.
Urinals
ADA compliant urinals should be wall mounted or stall type at a maximum of 17 inches from the floor.
Ensuring ADA Compliance in Restrooms
Working with an ADA expert before construction will save you a lot of headaches, as compliance is a civil rights issue and may be out of the purview of engineers, architects and contractors regardless of how knowledgeable they are about building code.
Want to know more about ADA-compliant restroom fixtures? Don’t hesitate to contact us today!