

The continuous bowl is also easier to clean than a row of individual sinks and eliminates crevices for microbes to hide. An added benefit of these fixtures is that the solid-surface finish is durable and can be repaired. Only one bowl in a multi-bowl sink needs to offer minimum knee and toe clearances, so these multi-height lavatory systems combine an ADA-compliant sink with higher sinks. Jon Villwock, Bradley Corp.’s product manager for lavatory systems and washfountains, recommends some features to look for when choosing ADA-compliant restroom products: Sink AreasĬonsider solid-surface lavatory systems with fully integrated sinks at various heights. The key to ADA compliance is choosing well-made, durable products that are easy to use and require minimal physical effort.

They should be able to withstand at least 250 pounds of pressure. They need a gripping surface of at least 1.25 inches, mounted at least 1.5 inches from the wall. Grab bars should be at least 36 inches long on the rear wall or 42 inches on the side wall and should be mounted 33-36 inches above the floor. Like faucets, flush valves shouldn’t require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist. Water closets must be 17 to 19 inches from the floor (measured from the floor to the top of the toilet seat). StallsĪDA compliant urinals should be stall-type or wall-hung at a maximum of 17 inches from the floor. Users shouldn’t have to exert more than 5 pounds of force to use the faucet to meet ADA requirements. They should be usable with one hand without the need to tightly grasp, pinch, or twist the wrist. You also need a clear floor space and insulated pipes under the sink.įaucets should be lever-operated, push, touch, or electronically controlled. To meet ADA guidelines, sinks shouldn’t be mounted higher than 34 inches from the floor, and they should have a knee clearance of 27 inches high, 30 inches wide, and 11 to 25 inches deep.

Sinks & Faucets This single-user restroom has been designed according to the ADAAG.
#ADA BATHROOM LAYOUT REQUIREMENTS HOW TO#
Received an ADA complaint? Click here for our exclusive checklist on how to handle it. George Spear, product manager at Moen, offers this information about sinks, stalls and doors.

The measurement starts from the point where a person has 9-inch vertical clearance for their feet and 27-inch vertical clearance for their knees. 30-inch by 48-inch access to the sink (the door can’t swing into this rectangle).
#ADA BATHROOM LAYOUT REQUIREMENTS UPDATE#
To assess your building’s restrooms for ADA compliance, “Grab a tape measure and conduct a walkthrough to evaluate any changes that might need to be made,” says Villwock.Īccording to the 2010 update to ADAAG, the basic ADA guidelines for a single-user restroom are: “The most basic and least expensive way to determine if a restroom is accessible is to review the American with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) and the American National Standards Institute’s standard (ICC/ANSI A117.1),” says Jon Villwock (pictured at right), lavatory systems and washfountains product manager at Bradley Corp. Restrooms can lead to serious confusion when it comes to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, ADA compliance and universal design.
