With the pace at which the world is evolving, it is very easy to miss certain elements. These overlooked elements may not play a major role in most people’s lives. But they can be a cause of great inconvenience to the people whose lives revolve around them. 

As the world progresses, it is essential to make it a place where everyone feels welcome and comfortable. One major area of concern with regards to this is disability-friendly spaces. On top of the challenges that life has given them, our general infrastructure magnifies what they have to go through. Even seemingly mundane activities, like getting on and off the bus or using the restroom, can look like a Himalayan task. 

Fortunately, the government has stringent guidelines in place to help these individuals. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) offers a set of rules and regulations to make sure that certain spaces, especially government and commercial buildings, are accessible to individuals with disabilities. This includes planning disabled-friendly commercial bathroom layouts and numerous other elements that have the sole objective of making a facility easy to access. 

What is the ADA? 

As mentioned before, the ADA publishes guidelines that allow individuals with disabilities to use facilities, sites, or buildings with little to no difficulty. These guidelines apply to commercial facilities, public accommodations, and state and local government facilities. The guidelines also cover the alteration or new construction of elements to make a facility or site more disability-friendly. 

History of the ADA 

Since its inception in 1991, the ADA has come a long way. On the 26th of July 1991, The ADA Board released the original ADAAG (ADA Accessibility Guidelines). About two months later, an ADAAG for transportation facilities was released by the Board. 

Three years later, in 1994, the Board formed the ADAAG Review Advisory Committee with the purpose of providing assistance in updating the ADAAG. 

In January 1998, The Board released ADAAG Supplements. These included guidelines for state and local government facilities and constructing elements dedicated for children. Two years later, a supplement on play areas is published. 

On October 2006, the DOT (Department of Transportation) started following new ADA Standards. 

On September 2014, the Board issued a final set of guidelines for emergency transportable housing. 

Now that you know what ADA is about and a little about its history as well, let’s learn about its role in commercial restrooms. 

ADA-Compliant Bathrooms 

There are multiple considerations to make when designing ADA-compliant commercial bathrooms. It is essential to shift your focus on these considerations, especially during the design phase, as they can prevent issues later. 

There are two major aspects to ADA-compliant commercial bathrooms. They are: 

• Space 

• Accessories 

Let’s talk about them in detail. 

Space is a crucial element when you’re talking about disability-friendly spaces. When designing bathroom stalls, it is important to pay special attention to the overall space available in the bathroom. 

A bathroom should be big enough for a disabled individual to move around. This includes having sufficient space to turn around and room to move while in a wheelchair. The turning space should be roughly 60 inches in diameter or a T-shaped area, while the wheelchair space should be 30 inches wide by 48 inches deep. 

It is also necessary for designers to pay special attention to fixtures in the bathroom. These fixtures shouldn’t interfere with the wheelchair or turning spaces. 

Fixtures are another crucial aspect of commercial bathrooms. It isn’t just about installing additional elements to facilitate bathroom use. The concept of altering bathroom design to accommodate the unique needs of disabled individuals should also be taken into consideration. 

The ADA standards for bathroom fixtures are listed below. 

• Doors: Bathroom doors can open both ways as long as they don’t meddle with the turning space or the wheelchair maneuvering space inside the bathroom. 

• Grab Bars: Horizontal grab bars must be installed near the toilet. Once installed, they shouldn’t move and must be able to withstand at least 250 pounds of horizontal or vertical force. 

• Toilets: Toilets are expected to be placed roughly 18 inches from the side walls and 19 inches from the floor. Flush controls must be on the side and should be convenient enough to operate with one hand. 

• Urinals: Wall hung or stall type urinals are allowed. However, they must have clear floor space that is 30 inches wide and 48 inches deep. An extra 6 inches must be added to the floor space if there are partitions between stalls. 

• Sinks: According to ADA standards, sinks must be installed about 34 inches from the floor. This includes room for knee clearance as well. Also, pipes should be insulated to avoid burn-related injuries. 

• Toilet Paper Dispensers: These are among the essential bathroom fixtures, as they contribute a lot to hygiene. As such, there are certain ADA guidelines that need to be met when installing them. Toilet paper dispensers shouldn’t be installed behind grab bars. Also, the model installed must dispense toilet tissue continuously without interruption. 

What Lies Ahead 

Designers must prioritize the needs of disabled individuals right at the planning stages, whether it is a building or a public area like a children’s playground. This is particularly important if the building is expected to serve the general public. 

As difficult as it might be, it is important for businesses to pay special attention and come up with ideas to create all-inclusive places. Businesses must do this because it is the right thing to do. Also, there are chances that property owners could land in hot soup. If someone feels that they’ve been discriminated against, they have the right to file a lawsuit. The fines could be as high as $150,000. 

Constructing disability-friendly spaces does have its challenges. But that doesn’t mean businesses have to shy away from it. To avoid unnecessary complications, businesses can opt for the services of professionals who will make sure all ADA standards are met. 

And if you’re in the market for models of construction projects, a website like https://www.caddetails.com/ is your best friend. They have a massive collection of CAD, BIM, and 3D models that come in handy during the planning stage of a property. 

Author : Amelia Aiden

Cover image by Collov Home Design on Unsplash