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‘Restrooms’ Category
Toilet Room Clear Floor Spaces – How do they get synthesized?
Janis Kent, FAIA Architect, CASp © September, 2024 One of the items about Access that is challenging is putting together different portions of the codes and regulations. We probably know the requirements for separate elements but what gets triggered when you start putting them together in different layouts? Recently I came across an item in […]
Bathing Showers and Sloped Floors
Shower floors in roll-in showers can be a challenge meeting both the needs for Access and for drainage.
Bathrooms in Residential Dwelling Units – What Needs To Be Done?
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?
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
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 Tubs & Showers with Integral Surrounding Walls – What Do You Need to Know About Their Grab Bars?
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.
Blocking for Grab Bars – What is There to Know?
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 & Other Food Facilities
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.
The Lavatory — Clear Floor Spaces, Reach Ranges, & Protruding Objects
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
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.