DO'S AND DON'TS FOR ACCESSIBLE LAVATORIES IN TOILET ROOMS

March 1, 2020 Clint Ryan

During my obsessive behavior of photographing every toilet room I visit, I have accumulated enough images of toilet rooms to show the requirements of lavatories using real images. You should notice that every toilet room has at least one accessibility lavatory, which is required. Please refer to the Accessibility Standards for more information or contact us if you have any questions.

Accessible lavatory is not installed 60" min from the wall adjacent to the water closet for TDLR compliance

This lavatory is not installed 60" min from the wall adjacent to the water closet

Accessible lavatory must provide 30" min wide clear floor space under the lavatory and knee and toe clearance during RAS Inspection

This one does not provide the 30" wide clear floor space under the lavatory or the required knee and toe clearance

Accessible lavatory must provide clear floor space and knee toe clearance under the lavatory for Registered Accessibility Specialist

Here is a good example of the required clearances provided underneath the lavatory

Pedestal style lavs are not ADA Accessible and are best for residential homes required by TDLR

Pedestal style lavs are best for residential homes since they do not provide the required clearances

Accessible lavatory with counter mounted bowl installed at 34" max above the finish floor

The height of the lavatory must 34" max above the finish floor measured to the top of the bowl...

or to the top of the counter if the bowl is recessed

TDLR RAS requires accessible lavatory pipes must be insulated

Exposed pipes must be insulated to protect against contact

ADA Accessible lavatories with a shroud to conceal the pipes in lieu of insulation for TDLR compliance

A shroud may be used to conceal the pipes in lieu of insulating them

ADA Accessible lavatories manual faucets operated with elbow or closed fist for TAS compliance during Registered Accessibility Specialist inspection

Use manual faucets that can be operated with an elbow or closed fist, or an automatic faucet. A metering faucet must remain open for 10 seconds minimum.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SINKS LOCATED IN EXAM ROOMS

January 1, 2020 Clint Ryan

While visiting a doctor's office recently I noticed that the work surface and sink in the exam room did not comply with the accessibility standards. This is because the exam room is considered an employee work area. Employee work areas are mostly exempt from the accessibility standards, except that they must be constructed so that individuals with disabilities can approach, enter and exit the employee work area. However, designing employee work areas to be more accessible at the outset will avoid more costly retrofits when current employees become temporarily or permanently disabled, or when new employees with disabilities are hired.

The work surface in exam rooms that usually contains brochures and a sink is exempt only if it is used by the doctors and not the patients. However, if during the examination the patient is asked to wash their hands or use the work surface, then it will be required to comply. If this exception is taken, then no patients are allowed to use the work surface or sink. The accessibility standards prohibit discrimination based on disability.

However, if the work surface is required to comply then, the height of the counter must be 28" (710 mm) minimum and 34" (865 mm) maximum above the finish floor. Clear floor space for forward approach must be provided along with knee and toe clearance under the work surface. If a sink is provided, then it must also contain clear floor space and knee and toe clearance for the sink. If multiple sinks are provided in a room, then at least 5% of the sinks must comply.

ADA & TAS Forward Approach at Accessible Work Surfaces

Forward Approach at Accessible Work Surfaces & Sinks

ADA & TAS Knee and Toe Clearance at Accessible Work Surfaces

Knee and Toe Clearance at Accessible Work Surfaces & Sinks

REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCESSIBLE URINALS IN TOILET ROOMS

January 1, 2019 Clint Ryan

Urinals are not required in toilet rooms. The Building Code allows you to substitute a urinal for a toilet. If you have more than one urinal, then the second one is required to be accessible. You are not required to make a urinal accessible if there is only one provided.

URINALS

These are the standard accessible urinals that you generally see in restrooms

Figure A - Stall Type

Figure B - Wall Hung Type

ADA Accessible Toilet Room with one urinal is not required to be accessible

Figure C
Urinal is not required to be accessible if there is only one provided.

Clear Floor Space

The accessible urinal is required to have a 30" x 48" (760 mm x 1220 mm) clear floor or ground space positioned for forward approach. Refer to Figure A.
Where urinals are placed in a alcove deeper than 24" (610 mm), then the alcove must be 36" min (915 mm) wide. Refer to Figure B.

Figure A - Clear Floor Space

Figure B - Urinal in Alcove

Height and Depth

Urinals must be the stall type or the wall hung type with the rim 17" max (430 mm) above the finish floor or ground.
Urinals shall be 13 1/2" (345 mm) deep minimum measured from the outer face of the urinal rim to the back of the fixture. Refer to Figures C & D.
The accessibility code recommends using stall type urinals as they provide greater accessibility for a broader range of persons, including people of short stature.

Figure C - Stall Type Urinal Depth

ADA Accessible Wall Hung Urinal Height & Depth

Figure D - Wall Hung Urinal Height & Depth

Flush Controls

Flush controls must be hand operated or automatic.
Hand operated flush controls must be within one of the reach ranges, between 15" min (380 mm) & 48" max (1220 mm).