REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCESSIBLE URINALS IN TOILET ROOMS

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

ADA Accessible Stall Type Urinal

Figure A - Stall Type

ADA Accessible Wall Hung Type Urinal

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.

ADA Accessible Clear Floor Space at Urinal

Figure A - Clear Floor Space

ADA Accessible Urinal in Alcove

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.

ADA Accessible Stall Type Urinal Depth

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).

REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR ACCESSIBLE DRINKING FOUNTAINS

Drinking fountains are required by the Building Code as part of the plumbing fixture calculations. It will tell you how many are required based on the occupancy type and number of occupants. The Building Code may only require one drinking fountain be provided, but the Accessibility Standards require at least two. One at a lower height and the other at standing height. The Accessibility Standards have requirements for both types. However, if you are required to provide more than two drinking fountain, then 50% must be at lower height while the other 50% at standing height. Manufacturers of drinking fountains all have accessible units available, that will meet the requirements listed below.

DRINKING FOUNTAINS

These are the standard accessible drinking fountains that you generally see in buildings or at exterior facilities:

ADA Accessible Interior Drinking Fountain

Figure A - Interior Drinking Fountain

ADA Accessible Interior Drinking Fountain

Figure B - Interior Drinking Fountains

ADA Accessible Exterior Drinking Fountain

Figure C - Exterior Drinking Fountains

Clear Floor Space

  • The lower height drinking fountain shall have a 30" x 48" (760 mm x 1220 mm) clear floor or ground space positioned for a forward approach and centered on the unit. Refer to Figure D.

  • Knee and toe clearance must be provided. Refer to Figure E.

ADA Accessible Drinking Fountain Clear Floor Space

Figure D - Clear Floor Space

ADA Accessible Drinking Fountain Knee Toe Clearance

Figure E - Knee Toe Clearance

Protruding objects

  • The walls on the sides of the units are required since drinking fountains are considered to be protruding objects. Meaning that they must not protrude out from the wall more than 4" (100 mm) and the bottom edge of the standing unit is no higher than 27" (685 mm).

  • To prevent the units from being protruding objects the drinking fountains must not stick out past the wall more than 4" (100 mm). Refer to Figure F.

ADA Accessible Drinking Fountain Protruding Object

Figure F - Protruding Object

  • However, if you do not provide walls or the units stick out past the wall more than 4" (100 mm), then to prevent them from being protruding object, you must install the bottom edge of the lower unit at 27" (685 mm) and provide an ADA Cane Apron on the standing height unit to bring the bottom edge to exactly 27" (685 mm). Manufacturers offer the ADA Cane Apron as an accessory. Refer to Figure G & H.

Accessible Drinking Fountain ADA Cane Apron

Figure G - ADA Cane Apron

Accessible Drinking Fountain ADA Cane Apron

Figure H - ADA Cane Apron

  • Another option is to put the drinking fountains in a corner with standing height unit adjacent to the wall and the lower unit bottom edge would need to be at 27" (685 mm). Refer to Figure J.

ADA - Accessible Drinking Fountain

Figure J - Drinking Fountains

Spout Location

  • The spout shall be located 15" min (380 mm) from the wall and 5" max (125 mm) from the edge of the unit, including bumpers. Refer to Figure K.

ADA Accessible Drinking Fountain Spout Location

Figure K - Spout Location

Spout Height

  • Spout outlets of drinking fountains for lower height shall be 36" max (915 mm) above the finish floor or ground.

  • Spout outlets of drinking fountains for standing height shall be 38" min (965 mm) and 43" max (1090 mm) above the finish floor or ground. Refer to Figure L.

ADA Accessible Drinking Fountain Spout Height

Figure L - Spout Height