What To Consider When Designing an ADA-Compliant Bathroom

Let’s cut to the chase: Does your home bathroom need to be Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant? No. The ADA applies to public accommodations like government offices, retail stores and businesses with more than 15 employees that are open to the public. Unless you’re running a hotel out of your home, you’re likely exempt.

But it’s still a good idea to plan for the future. Do you have aging parents? Installing ADA-compliant fixtures can help them stay longer in their homes. And if you have a family member with mobility challenges, it’s a no-brainer. So, what ADA bathroom elements are right for you?

Ahead, we spoke with experts in bathroom design and accessibility to help you navigate the choices available. First, we’ll cover the basics of an ADA-compliant bathroom, then we’ll walk through the specific elements.

What Is an ADA-Compliant Bathroom?

An ADA-compliant bathroom meets requirements set by the ADA, which means it’s accessible for a person with a disability or mobility challenges. “If someone uses a wheelchair, for example, installing wider doorways, accessible sinks, and accessible toilets would be essential,” says Leah Tuttleman, interior designer for Re-Bath with experience in ADA compliance. Another example would be grab bars in the shower, bath and next to the toilet, used to provide stability when standing, sitting and bathing.

What Are the Requirements for an ADA-Compliant Bathroom

The ADA covers multiple bathroom features, from sinks, toilets and tubs to doorway width, grab bars, heights for lights and switches and many other elements. Some sections, like the ones on “protruding objects” and “operable parts,” overlap with other rooms. On the other hand, because the standard is intended for public accommodations, requirements like bathroom signage are unlikely to be implemented in your home.

Ultimately, it’s up to you. “Space availability may require the homeowner to prioritize elements,” Tuttleman says. Renovations can be costly, so consider your budget. “It might be that the homeowner will need to focus on the most critical first, and plan for additional elements in the future,” Tuttleman adds.

Minimum dimensions for an ADA-compliant bathroom

The ADA doesn’t specify a minimum size for the entire bathroom. Instead, clearance space and access requirements to the specific features of the bathroom, like sinks, toilets and tubs, are covered. “But it doesn’t have to meet anything specific for overall size, as long as it meets each individual guideline,” says Sarabeth Asaff South, a home improvement consultant in Derry, New Hampshire who specializes in accessible design.

Best Products for Bathroom Accessibility

Because the ADA applies to government and commercial spaces, at home you’re free to pick and choose what features best suit your family. “To start, it’s important to look at the individual needs of the household member(s),” Tuttleman says. “If there are members of the household with disabilities or mobility limitations, their specific needs will guide the selection.”

Here’s what to consider when making your home bathroom accessible:

ADA-compliant entry door

Doorways must be 32 inches wide to accommodate a wheelchair. That’s a common width in new home construction, but you may find 30-inch doors as well, especially in older homes. If you’re renovating, you may be tempted to make the door as wide as possible. Just remember that larger doors are heavier, harder to open and take up more space when open.

Pay attention to wheelchair maneuverability needs once the door is open, too. These requirements vary, depending on the direction of the door swing. The threshold of the door should be no more than one-half-inch high.

ADA-compliant lighting

Lights and other protrusions, whether in a bathroom or elsewhere, can’t obstruct movement (aka the “circulation path”), so lights hung between 27 and 80 inches high, like a wall sconce, can’t stick out horizontally more than 4 inches. People must be able to reach the switch, too. Light switches should be 48 inches off the floor with no obstructions, or 46 inches if there’s a 10-inch reach depth.

ADA-compliant toilets

An ADA-compliant toilet, including the seat, must be 17 to 19 inches off the floor. The wall beside the toilet should be between 16 and 18 inches from the centerline of the toilet. Allow at least 60 inches of unobstructed clearance from the side wall and 56 inches from the back wall for wheelchair access. Toilet seats may not be spring-activated to return to a lifted position.

ADA-compliant sinks

Sinks should be 34 inches off the finished floor, measured from the rim or counter height, and there should be clear access underneath. People in wheelchairs must be able to approach the sink from the front, with room for knees and toes. That knee space must be 17 to 25 inches deep, and the ADA advises, but doesn’t require, the knee space be centered under the sink. The sink can’t extend into the 60-inch space around the toilet.

ADA-compliant towel racks

For a towel rack to be ADA compliant, the unobstructed high forward reach must not be more than 48 inches off the finished floor; the low reach not less than 15 inches off the floor. For obstructed reaches, like if there is a sink in front of the person needing a towel, the high reach limit is 48 inches with a 20-inch obstruction depth, and 44 inches with a maximum 25-inch obstruction depth.

ADA-compliant faucets

Faucets must be operable without tight gripping and twisting. “These should have lever handles instead of knobs, so they’re easier to turn on with one hand or without grasping,” South says. The force required to turn the handle should be 5 pounds or less. Touchless and smart faucets are a good option, too.

ADA-compliant grab bars

The ADA specifies multiple variations of grab bar installations, depending on your tub and toilet configuration. In general, grab bars should be a maximum of 2 inches in diameter, support 250 pounds, and they cannot rotate in your hand when grabbed.

Grab bars must be installed horizontally, 33 to 36 inches off the finished floor. There should be one beside and one behind the toilet. In a basic bathtub and shower combo, two bars should be installed on the back wall: one at 33 to 36 inches, and a second one 8 to 10 inches above the rim of the tub. A bar should also be provided at the faucet end of the tub.

ADA-compliant cabinets

Tuttleman says the ADA doesn’t specify specific cabinetry and bathroom storage requirements, but it’s still a good thing to plan around. “It is important to ensure that storage areas are designed and located in a way that does not obstruct accessibility or maneuverability within the bathroom,” Tuttleman says.

About the Experts

• Leah Tuttleman is an interior designer for Re-Bath bathroom remodeling. An Allied member of the Society for Interior Designers, with 25 years of experience in the industry, Tuttleman holds a BS in interior design from the University of Arizona.
• Sarabeth Asaff South is a home improvement consultant in Derry, New Hampshire who specializes in accessible design and works with Fixr.com.

Sources

• Americans with Disabilities Act: Accessibility Standards (2010)