Closer Look at Restroom Design<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Page 2

Closer Look at Restroom Design Continued
Building Operating Management October 2003

As time passed, some of the early questions and misconceptions that surrounded ADA were cleared up. As that happened, a larger picture emerged for facility executives who are responsible for planning ADA-compliant restrooms and other spaces. The underlying point is this: The purpose of ADA is to make these spaces useful to individuals with disabilities. That means an accessible restroom has to be based on an understanding of the often diverse needs of the people who will be using the space.

Although it may be subtle, there is a difference between thinking of accessibility strictly as compliance with the law and seeing it as a way of meeting people’s needs. Compliance with ADA is essential. But, by approaching accessibility as a way of meeting individual needs, facility executives can find the most effective and often most cost-effective ways of complying with the law.

The philosophy that embodies the latter approach is known as universal design. The idea is that a restroom or any other space should be usable by - that is, accessible to - everyone, including people with disabilities.

Consider the widespread acceptance of “family toilet rooms” in commercial applications. Those spaces are a good example of the way accessibility has been brought into the mainstream. The signage (including pictogram, Braille and raised character) depicts parents, a child and a wheelchair. The space can be used by parents with small children, by wheelchair users and by adults who need to assist an elderly parents or others in the restroom. The family toilet room works from a budgetary standpoint and meets the demand of the marketplace.

The essence of the universal-design approach is to create a space to accommodate the needs of the various people who will use the space. For example, there has been a dramatic increase in baby-changing tables in men’s rooms. The addition of those changing tables meets the needs of fathers who are out with small children. But it’s important for facility executives to keep in mind that the changing table should be mounted at a height that a parent who uses a wheelchair can reach. It’s also advisable to refrain from placing the baby changing station within the accessible stall in the bathroom. Putting the changing table inside the accessible stall can make it impossible to access the toilet.

The need for facility executives to keep in mind the diverse accessibility needs of people using different spaces will only grow. As baby boomers age, they will demand more of the environment than their parents did and will be willing to pay for it.

The Right Product Choices
Facility executives should understand that products can make the difference between accessible/usable and inaccessible/unusable. A label with the international symbol of accessibility stating “ADA compliant” is not tantamount to the “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.” The mechanics, such as dials, and placement of products are critical:

Ü A dispenser, typically of feminine items, that requires turning or twisting of the wrist is not ADA-compliant. In addition, it must take less than 5 pounds of force to operate the mechanism. The simple solution: Use dispensers with push buttons that are easy to push.

Ü Paper-towel dispensers have been through many redesigns. To be accessible/usable, they must not require tight grasping or twisting of the wrist. As dispensers are replaced or installed, choose models that do not have a crank to operate.

Ü Large toilet-paper cylinders have become popular for maintenance reasons; however, their placement can be pose problems to a person with a disability. If the cylinders are mounted directly above the grab bar, the bar can be unusable. If the cylinder is mounted too far below the grab bar, or too far from the toilet, reaching it can be difficult, even hazardous.

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