Accessible Outdoor Rinsing Showers at US Forest Service Facilities
Information reproduced from the USDA Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails.
Outdoor rinsing showers at US Forest Service (USFS) facilities must meet the requirements in the Forest Service Outdoor Recreational Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG). The graphic below is representative of an outdoor rinsing shower.
Beach Outdoor Rinsing Shower
Outdoor rinsing showers permit people to rinse off sand, dirt, and debris. They are not intended for bathing. They generally don’t offer privacy, and people usually are not permitted to disrobe when using them.
Outdoor rinsing showers in a recreation site should have at least one hand-held shower spray unit with a hose 59 inches (1,500 millimeters) long minimum. The hand-held shower spray must have at least one fixed position located 15 inches minimum (380 millimeters) and 48 inches (1,220 millimeters) maximum above the clear ground space.
Because hand-held showerheads are vulnerable to vandalism and breakage, they are not a durable design choice for some recreation sites. In these cases, two fixed shower heads may be provided instead of the handheld shower spray. When two fixed shower heads are provided, install a low shower head accessible to someone in a seated position and a high shower head accessible to someone who is standing, as shown in the graphic above.
When two fixed shower heads are installed, both showers must meet the clear floor and ground space and outdoor recreation access route requirements (ORAR) that follow. For a low outdoor rinsing shower, mount a fixed showerhead 48 inches (1,220 millimeters) above the ground or floor. For a high outdoor rinsing shower, mount a fixed showerhead at least 72 inches (1,830 millimeters) above the ground or floor. If self-closing controls or operating mechanisms are used, the controls must remain open for at least 10 seconds.
Each accessible outdoor rinsing shower must have a clear floor or ground space at least 60 inches by 60 inches (1,525 millimeters by 1,525 millimeters). Locate the clear space so that the shower pedestal or wall to which the showerhead is attached is at the center back of the clear space so that the water from the showerhead is directed toward the center of the clear space. The requirements for surface, slope, and openings in the clear space are the same as for other utilities. Accessible outdoor rising showers must be connected to the area’s other major features by an ORAR. The graphic below is a slightly different design than the one shown above. Note the grab bar installation and the circular clear spaces, which are also within a 60 inch square, and the clear spaces overlap.
Alternate Design for Beach Outdoor Rinsing Shower