5 Most Common ADA Restroom Compliance Mistakes
When looking for luxury restroom trailers to rent, you will often see ADA compliant models. Meaning, it should be able to accommodate all persons including those with disabilities. However, not all of those who claim ADA compliance is up to standard. Since several requirements should be met before being considered compliant, some contractors may miss a thing or two. In this article, we will discuss these common mistakes in ADA restrooms.
What Is An ADA Compliant Restroom?
An ADA compliant restroom is accessible to all groups and not just those with mobility issues. It should also be accessible for individuals with hearing, cognitive, and visual disabilities. These types of facilities follow a strict set of rules to make sure that they are safe and easy to use.
When you are planning for an event, you should consider having an ADA restroom to make sure you can accommodate all your guests. If you are planning a public event, you have no option but to provide one since it is mandated by the law.
Top 5 Common Restroom Mistakes in ADA Compliance
Now that you know some of the requirements for ADA compliance, let's now discuss some of the most common mistakes in restrooms.
- Improper toilet position
- Wrong toilet flush position
- Mirrors are too high
- Improper position for grab bars
- Sinks are too high
Aside from the height of ADA toilet, its position is also very important. It should be located within 16 to 18 inches from the wall's centerline. If it's positioned more or less than that, maneuvering can be difficult.
Some toilets also have their flushes installed on the wrong side. With this design, users have to reach over the toilet which can be an inconvenience.
For many restrooms, their mirrors are positioned too high or more than 40 inches from the floor. In this case, a person in a wheelchair needs to be really tall to see himself/herself.
While some bathrooms do have grab bars, they are not positioned properly. They can be sometimes too far, making them difficult to reach once seated on the toilet.
Additionally, some grab bars have the toilet paper dispenser too close to them, making them more challenging to grab on.
This is a very common problem for many restrooms, especially for sink base cabinets. See, base cabinets have a standard height of 36 inches. Thus, you have to special order to get a unit that's 34 inches high - which some don't do since it's added cost.
What Are The ADA Requirements?
To be considered ADA bathrooms and ADA toilets, several objectives need to be met. The Act includes very specific guidelines in constructing accessible toilet and bathroom / ADA-compliant restrooms. Here are some of the requirements to take note of:
- Space
There should be enough space in a bathroom for a single wheelchair to rotate freely. The clear floor space should be at least 60 inches in diameter, which is enough to allow a 180-degree turn. The open space under a fixture can supplement the floor space to meet this minimum requirement.
- Toilet
To be considered as an accessible toilet, the top of its seat needs to have a distance of 17 inches to 19 inches from the floor. It also needs to be installed between 16 inches and 18 inches from the side wall to the centerline. If it is an ambulatory accessible toilet compartment, then it has to be positioned at least 17 inches to 19 inches from the side wall.
- Grab Bar
The side wall grab bar should be at least 42 inches long and its distance from the rear wall should also not exceed 12 inches. For the rear wall grab bar, it should be 36 inches at a minimum and extends 12 inches from the centerline of the water closet on one side and at least 24 inches on the other.
Grab bars should have smooth surfaces, round edges, and with no exposed ends so they can easily be grabbed. They also need to be fully secured to make sure that they can support a person's weight. They should be at least 1.25-1.5 inches in diameter and installed at 34-38 inches above the floor. Additionally, there should be a space between the grab bar and the wall of at least 1.5 inches.
- Mirrors
Mirrors that are installed above the lavatory or countertop should not exceed 40 inches above the ground. If it's not installed along with the countertop and lavatory, then it should not be any higher than 35 inches above the ground. To be usable by people who are ambulatory or those who use wheelchairs, the top edge of a mirror should be at least 74 inches from the ground.
- Sink
A sink or lavatory should be 17 inches at a minimum from the back wall and have a clear space between the bottom of the sink and the ground of at least 29 inches. It should also be installed not greater than 34 inches high. If the sink is installed in a countertop, it should be located not more than 2 inches from the front edge.
The pipes should also be insulated or covered and the faucets should be accessible and operated easily with one hand.
- Flush
Hand operated flush controls shall not exceed 36 inches high above the floor. It should also be located on the open side of the toilet.
- Entrance
ADA restrooms should be able to accommodate wheelchairs as well as mobility aids. Thus, they should have an entrance that features a 32-inch wide opening.
- Ramp
For restrooms that have ramps leading to the entrance, there should be a leveled area before reaching the door. It will be extremely difficult for people with disabilities to maintain their positions on a slope to open the door.
- Hand Dryers and Soap Dispensers
Installing hand dryers and soap dispensers depend on their position and whether there's a fixture like a countertop mounted below. Their height also depends on the depth of the fixture below them. If the fixture is lower than 20 inches deep, soap dispensers and hand dryers can be mounted a maximum of 48 inches. If the fixture below is 20 to 25 inches high, the dryers and dispensers can be no higher than 44 inches from the floor. If there are no fixtures below, dispensers and dryers can be installed a maximum of 48 inches high.
Dryers and dispensers should be usable with one hand. They should also not require more than 5 lbs. to be activated.
- Trash Cans and Waste Receptacles
Loose waste receptacles and trash cans should not block access to fixtures such as the hand dryer or sink. They shouldn't be on a clear path as well.
These are just some of the restroom requirements for ADA compliance. If you want to know them all, you can check the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for an ADA accessible restroom trailer that can provide exceptional comfort to every person at your event, let us help you. Island Restroom Suites offer a full line of elegant and fully ADA-compliant trailers that are available in a variety of layouts and interior finishes. Call us today to learn more.