ADA compliance is not only required for most business types, but ensures you create a welcoming space for everyone who walks through your doors. ADA compliance covers not only entrances and exits, but a great deal of your bathroom design and the subsequent plumbing installations required to fulfill them.
Below are the general guidelines you must follow for ADA compliant bathrooms, as well as the considerations you’ll need to make for your plumbing installation and maintenance:
Bathroom dimensions for ADA compliance
Bathrooms must be large enough for a wheelchair to complete a 180 degree turn easily within the accessible stall and the common space. This is generally considered 60+ inches.
ADA compliant toilets
An accessible toilet stall must meet a certain height and stall capacity size to ensure a wheelchair can fit and that the toilet is easily used. ADA compliance requires:
- Each appliance must have a minimum width of 60 inches and enough space around to accommodate a wheelchair.
- Seat height must be between 17 and 19 inches above the floor.
- Flush controls must be placed no higher than 44 inches above the ground and placed on the open side of the toilet
- Grab bars must be placed behind the toilet and on the nearest wall or partition
- Toilet paper dispensers must be between seven and nine inches in front of the water closet.
- Dispensers should allow for continuous paper flow rather than control flow.
ADA compliant sinks and mirrors
In addition to stall requirements, The ADA requires certain sink, soap dispenser, and mirror heights and design elements to ensure accessibility:
- Sink or counter height must not exceed 34 inches above the floor.
- If hand soap and/or towel dispensers are available, they must be between 15 and 48 inches above the ground and not be obstructed by other design elements.
- Hand dryers must either be motion-activated or touch-free devices and not protrude more than four inches from where they are installed.
- Mirrors should be installed 40 inches maximum above the ground if located near a sink or countertop; stand-alone mirrors should be installed 35 inches maximum above the floor.
ADA compliant drinking fountains
While drinking fountains are not required for most businesses, they can be integral to public buildings, schools, playgrounds, and recreational facilities. If your facility has drinking fountains, they must be between 38 and 43 inches above the ground, and provide a stream of water that is between four and five inches from the spout. This is to ensure that a cup can be used under the stream.
To meet these standards, you must ensure that your plumbing system is set up to meet height and space requirements and provide the correct water pressure for water fountains. If you are upgrading your facility to meet ADA compliance, talk to your MaintenX team to learn more!
