Skip to content

Blog

‘Restrooms’ Category

Bathrooms in Residential Dwelling Units – What Needs To Be Done?

Posted on January 3rd, 2024

Explore guidelines for designing accessible bathrooms in public dwelling units, with focus on fixture requirements, mobility, and adaptability.

Gender-Neutral Toilet Compartment vs Toilet Room – What is the Difference?

Posted on July 24th, 2023

There seems to be a push for gender-neutral multi-user toilet rooms, rather than gender-specific, but, there are some points that need to be understood.

The Elderly – Toilets & Grab Bars – Some Thoughts

Posted on September 12th, 2022

The requirements in the ADA Standards apply to toilets and grab bars used by people for independent use and include medical and long-term care facilities. But in housing that supports seniors such as in nursing facilities and assisted living residential communities, there is also the necessity to provide for assisted-use for toileting needs.

manufactured bathtubs

Manufactured Tubs & Showers with Integral Surrounding Walls – What Do You Need to Know About Their Grab Bars?

Posted on November 11th, 2021

An item that has come up a number of times is tubs and showers that come with integral manufactured surrounding walls that do not necessarily meet the ADA requirements for grab bars even though the manufacturer states they do. It is important that grab bar blocking and its attachments be engineered to meet the vertical and horizontal force of 250 lbs. This is an important element that should not be left to rule of thumb and should be carefully engineered and tested to meet the exact regulation and code requirements.

Grab bars stepping thru accessibility

Blocking for Grab Bars – What is There to Know?

Posted on April 8th, 2020

Recently something has come to my attention, namely what are the requirements for blocking for grab bars? When I review drawings I typically see the bar location specified and then a graphic rectangle to show diagrammatically the extent of the backing. But I have rarely seen the size of the actual blocking or its specific location and attachment.

toilet rooms in California restaurants

Toilet Rooms in California Restaurants & Other Food Facilities

Posted on January 5th, 2020

Any restaurant that has on-site food consumption, regardless of size, is required to have toilet rooms for the public and consumers. This article is based on the revised code effective January 1, 2019 and incorporates some of the earlier requirements.

Lavatory ADA requirements

The Lavatory — Clear Floor Spaces, Reach Ranges, & Protruding Objects

Posted on February 6th, 2018

Lavatories have some of the more involved clearances below which impact reach ranges above. The question of why is this important to understand might be arising in your thoughts. The answer is the impact on the location of faucet controls, soap dispensers, and any other built-in items including electrical outlets and switches.

Single user toilet rooms in California

Single User Toilet Rooms in California

Posted on August 23rd, 2017

Earlier this year a law was passed in California stating that all single user toilet rooms are to be unisex — in other words we will no longer have a men’s restroom or a women’s restroom for one user. Since the rooms are required to have privacy locks they can now be used by either sex.

Sinks, Sinks, Sinks, and Lavs - What needs to be done?

Sinks, Sinks, Sinks, and Lavs – What needs to be done?

Posted on April 19th, 2017

Sinks have many differing requirements depending upon how they are being used including types of approach, cabinetry below or not, and even the number required to be accessible. Following is a summary of different sink types and their uses that will hopefully shed some light on the issue and requirements for each.

The Accessible Restroom Compartment – A Room Within A Room

Posted on August 6th, 2013

Restrooms are one of the more difficult rooms to design having numerous specific requirements, similar to fitting pieces together of a large jig-saw puzzle. Solve one requirement and it is likely a new dimensional issue may arise. When we are talking about minimizing space as much as possible it adds another layer of complexity. I will just address the accessible toilet stall within a multi-accommodation toilet room and what needs to be included for new construction or alteration.