Accessible Multi-User Toilet Rooms as Defined by the ADA
This article will discuss the design of an accessible multi-user toilet room for Title II and Title III facilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The sections of the 2010 ADA Standards that cover multi-user toilet rooms are 213, 216.8, 603, and 604. To be clear, a multi-user toilet room is a toilet room designed for use by more than one person at the same time. The graphic below is representative of the components commonly found in multi-user toilet rooms.
Common Components of an Accessible Multi-User Toilet Room
2010 ADA Standard 213.2, Toilet Rooms and Bathing Rooms, states, “Where toilet rooms are provided, each toilet room shall comply with [Standard] 603.” As is common in the ADA Standards, there are exceptions to this rule, especially for alterations of existing toilet rooms and clustered toilet rooms. But for new construction, most toilet rooms must comply with the ADA Standards. That includes single user, multi-user, unisex, and employee-only toilet rooms.
Toilet Compartment/Stall
2010 ADA Standard 213.3.1, Toilet Compartments, states, “Where toilet compartments [stalls] are provided, at least one toilet compartment shall comply with [Standard] 604.8.1. In addition to the compartment required to comply with [Standard] 604.8.1, at least one compartment shall comply with [Standard] 604.8.2 where six or more toilet compartments are provided, or where the combination of urinals and water closets [toilets] totals six or more fixtures.” Standard 604.8.1 covers wheelchair accessible toilet compartments [stalls]. The graphic on the right is representative. Standard 604.8.2 covers ambulatory accessible toilet compartments. The graphic below is representative of an ambulatory accessible toilet compartment.
Ambulatory Toilet Compartment/Stall
A toilet compartment [stall] is a partitioned space that is located within a toilet room, and that normally contains no more than one water closet [toilet]. A toilet compartment may also contain a lavatory. A lavatory is a sink provided for hand washing. Full-height partitions and door assemblies can comprise toilet compartments where the minimum required spaces are provided within the compartment.
2010 ADA Standard 213.3.2, [Water Closets and Toilet Compartments] Water Closets, states, “Where water closets [toilets] are provided, at least one shall comply with [Standard] 604.” Standard 604 cover an accessible toilet installation which includes clearances, spacing to and around the toilet, seat height, flush control location, etc.
ADA Compliant Wall-Mounted Urinal
2010 ADA Standard 213.3.3, Urinals, states, “Where more than one urinal is provided, at least one shall comply with [Standard] 605.” So if you only have one urinal, it does not have to be ADA compliant. If you have two urinals, at least one has to be compliant. The graphic on the left is representative of a compliant wall-mounted urinal.
2010 ADA Standard 213.3.4, Lavatories, states, “Where lavatories [sinks] are provided, at least one shall comply with [Standard] 606 and shall not be located in a toilet compartment [stall].” Standard 606 covers accessible sink installations including height above the finished floor, reach ranges for the faucet, knee and toe clearance below the sink, etc.
2010 ADA Standard 213.3.5, Mirrors, states, “Where mirrors are provided, at least one shall comply with [Standard] 603.3.” This Standard is mostly about the height of the accessible mirror above the finished floor.
Coat Hook Installation Limits AFF
2010 ADA Standard 213.3.7, Coat Hooks and Shelves, states, “Where coat hooks or shelves are provided in toilet rooms without toilet compartments, at least one of each type shall comply with [Standard] 603.4. Where coat hooks or shelves are provided in toilet compartments, at least one of each type complying with [Standard] 604.8.3 shall be provided in toilet compartments required to comply with [Standard] 213.3.1. Where coat hooks or shelves are provided in bathing facilities, at least one of each type complying with [Standard] 603.4 shall serve fixtures required to comply with [Standard] 213.3.6.” These requirements are again mostly for height above the finished floor if the coat hook is in a single user bathroom or a stall designed for ADA compliance. See the graphic above for a common coat hook installation.
Doors, including toilet compartment doors, cannot swing into the clear floor space required at plumbing fixtures, but they can swing into turning space. 2010 ADA Standard 603.2.3, [Toilet Rooms] Door Swing, states, “Doors shall not swing into the clear floor space or clearance required for any fixture. Doors shall be permitted to swing into the required turning space.” The graphic below is representative. Note that it is common for multi-user toilet rooms to not have a pedestrian entry/exit door.
Toilet Room Door Arc Misses Sink Clear Space
SUMMARY
A multi-user toilet room will likely have multiple installations of the common components found in most toilet rooms. Not all of these components need to be ADA compliant, but a minimum will need to be ADA compliant. Exceeding the minimum requirements of the ADA will be very helpful for the disabled individual and help avoid ADA complaints. Not complying with the ADA requirements is a common source of ADA lawsuits.
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