Accessible Solutions: Bath and Toilet Room Plans and Finishes

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Accessible Solutions: Bath and Toilet Room Plans and Finishes
Daily hygiene is critical to the health and well-being of wheelchair users. Accessible bathroom design is therefore a critical component of a residential project.

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Bathrooms should ideally reflect the precise needs and preferences of individual users, but this is impractical when they are shared among several family members. User needs and capabilities also change with the passage of time. To address these challenges, homeowners should develop a useable plan that provides for future flexibility.

Bathroom Design
Bathrooms are generally compact and efficient spaces, designed for specific activities. In spite of their small size, bathroom construction is expensive because of the plumbing fixtures and finish materials. Bathrooms are also inflexible because, unlike a living room or bedroom, residents cannot rearrange "the furniture" (the fixtures) to suit their needs and preferences.

The bathroom's minimum size should provide sufficient space to use, maintain, and clean each fixture and additional room for door operation and general circulation. Bathrooms should include storage space for equipment and supplies.

Wheelchair users need larger bathrooms to allow for maneuvering. Allowing space for knees and toes of a person in a wheelchair below fixtures can partially meet this requirement.

Extra bathroom space is seldom wasted. Additional space accommodates functional and decorative furnishings such as towel stands, drying racks, and laundry baskets. Larger bathrooms are more comfortable for simultaneous use by a husband and a wife, for example, or a parent and a child.



	A hall bath may have one or more entry doors depending on the bedroom arrangement. Most hall baths include a combination tub and shower unit in order to provide flexibility for multiple users.


	Powder rooms can be accessible to most wheelchair users if the room is enlarged to 5’ x 5. If more space is needed, the door can swing out. Most powder rooms include a small lavatory for handwashing and minimal storage space.


	Master bathrooms sometimes include multiple bath fixtures and two vanity bowls. For a wheelchair user, a roll-in shower can be included as well as a kneespace vanity. Since the bathroom door is often left open during grooming activities, a pocket door can be an appropriate selection.

Types of Toilets and Bathrooms
There are several types of residential bathrooms and toilet rooms, including master baths, hall baths, and powder rooms. Design requirements for each bathroom type are different, and accessibility requirements may also vary. A homeowner might elect to design a powder room, for example, that provides wheelchair access but does not include a kneespace under the sink. Each bath and toilet should therefore be individually evaluated to determine the need for full or partial wheelchair access. Most bath and toilet rooms are shared between several family members, so designs must address multiple requirements. Identifying and understanding these factors is the first step in making the right bathroom design decisions.

Powder Rooms - Powder rooms are typically the smallest residential toilet room with only two fixtures: a toilet and a sink. Powder rooms are primarily used as toilets with limited grooming such as hair combing or face washing. Powder rooms offer convenience for guests and family members, so they are located near the family room, living room, or kitchen.

Powder rooms are often so small that entry doors must swing out into the adjacent hall to allow a wheelchair user to enter and close the door. Accessible powder rooms must be at least 5' x 5' and are more usable if a pedestal or wall-mounted sink is installed, rather than a vanity with base cabinet.

Hall Baths - Hall bathrooms typically serve several bedrooms and include three fixtures: a sink, toilet, and either a bathtub/shower or a stall shower. Hall storage should accommodate several users' toiletries, linen, and grooming aids. In order to bathe young children, hall baths often include bathtubs rather than stall showers. Hall baths often have multiple entry doors that connect directly to bedrooms.

Accessibility provisions for hall baths depend on the anticipated users. If the master bedroom is accessible and the family's only wheelchair user is an owner, a relatively inaccessible hall bath can be appropriate. If a family has a child with a disability, the hall bath may be the primary accessible bathroom.

Master Baths - Master baths have a minimum of three fixtures (sink, toilet, tub) and as many as six, with an additional sink, a bidet, and a shower. Master baths often directly adjoin the bedroom or dressing area, so privacy requirements are different from hall baths and powder rooms. Master baths are often compartmentalized into two spaces with the vanity sinks separated from the toilet and bath fixtures. This arrangement allows simultaneous use by two occupants.

Accessibility in master baths may be provided in part with duplicate fixtures. If there are two vanity sinks, for example, one can be tailored to the wheelchair user and the other to the other occupant. Master bath doors, especially from dressing areas, are often left open when the room is either unoccupied or being used solely for grooming. Compartmentalized bathrooms may include an inner and an outer door. For master bedrooms, a swinging door, a pocket door, or a pair of small cafe-style doors may be appropriate as long as the open door is not an obstruction.

Components of Accessible Bath and Toilet Rooms
Special design consideration is recommended for toilet rooms that will serve a wheelchair user. Every component-- including the doors, finishes, lighting, mechanical, and storage facilities-- should be carefully selected.

Bathroom Doors - Different doors are appropriate for different bathrooms depending on their use and location. Hall bathroom or powder room doors, for example, are typically kept partially open when the room is not in use. The open door signals that the room is vacant and provides daylight to the hall. If the hall bath is large enough, an in-swinging door is usually most appropriate. Out-swinging doors must remain closed, otherwise the open door obstructs the hallway.

Bathroom doors should be wide enough to allow comfortable passage, but no wider than necessary in order to minimize the clearance required for the swing. For wheelchair users, a 32" clear opening is recommended. A narrower width may be adequate, particularly when a bathroom door location allows a straight wheelchair approach.

Bathroom door hardware should be easy to operate. Special care should be exercised in selecting hardware for pocket doors. Recessed hardware is difficult to use without good hand function, so surface-mounted pulls are recommended. These pulls reduce the opening width, however, so extra width should be provided.



	Bathroom windows provide both light and ventilation so it is convenient if some units are installed in accessible locations. Although many types of windows are appropriate for a variety of different reasons, casements are often easy to operate because of their crank mechanism and their simple latch catches.

Bathroom Finishes - Bathroom finishes for walls, floors, ceilings, and built-in casework must meet demanding performance requirements. Because they may get wet, bathroom finishes must be moisture resistant and easy to clean. Finishes should not absorb odor and should resist staining, so bathroom surfaces are usually hard and smooth. These surfaces can be slippery when wet and, in the event of an accidental fall, can result in serious injuries. Powder rooms and the grooming portion of compartmentalized bathrooms do not need similar moisture protection because they do not include bath fixtures.

Floor finish options are generally limited to either ceramic tile or vinyl products. Ceramic tile is a harder floor material, but with a no-skid finish it can provide a more, slip-resistant surface when wet. Vinyl products are less expensive, softer in the event of a fall, and warmer to the touch. Both finishes can be easily cleaned. Carpet can create hygiene problems and makes wheelchair travel difficult.

For bathroom walls, moisture-resistant gypsum board is the most common finish material, painted with an oil-base or semi-gloss paint for moisture resistance and ease of maintenance. Ceramic wall tile above tubs and inside showers can protect locations where moisture collects. Extensive ceramic tile application, however, increases construction costs and makes installation of surface-mounted accessories such as grab bars more difficult.

Bathroom ceilings require special consideration if lift tracks or a trapeze bar will be installed. On the first floor of multi-story homes, most equipment can be anchored directly to the structural framing above. For top-floor bathrooms, however, roof truss chords or ceiling joists may need structural reinforcement. If ceiling-mounted equipment will be installed, ceiling lights and fans should be located where they will not interfere.



	Ideally, the vanity basin should be close to a wing wall that provides anchorage for a towel bar and electric outlet. A medicine cabinet can also be installed for the convenient storage of small items on shelves near eye level.

Bathroom Lighting and Electric Service - Bathrooms should be illuminated with artificial lighting enhanced by natural daylight. Bathroom windows are often covered with blinds or shutters, but even diffused sunlight makes these spaces more pleasant. Since window access is often obstructed, units should be selected and installed so that they can be easily reached and operated. A casement or awning type window is generally easiest to use. A skylight is another way of bringing daylight into the bathroom.

Artificial lighting should be selected to suit specific needs and circumstances. The highest illumination level is required at vanity mirrors for close activities such as applying make-up and shaving. Incandescent or full-spectrum fluorescent light is best for this location. Since vanity lighting is high intensity, the light source should be baffled to reduce glare.

Vanity lighting for wheelchair users may require minor adjustments to conventional arrangements. Most wheelchair users, for example, cannot get close enough to the wall mirror for focused activities such as shaving or applying make-up. A portable self-illuminated mirror set on the vanity top is often helpful.

Shower interiors are often dark when the curtains are closed, so a waterproof light fixture is recommended inside stalls and above tub/shower enclosures.

Light and fan switches should be installed in accessible locations away from water sources. Electrical outlets should also be located to serve bathroom appliances such as hair dryers and razors. The vanity wing wall is an excellent outlet location.

Bathroom Heat and Ventilation - Bathroom heating and cooling requirements depend on the local climate. Ventilation, however, is always necessary to eliminate odor and moisture. Operable windows are helpful, but exhaust fans provide more positive ventilation.

In colder climates, thermal protection, such as weather-tight windows and insulated exterior walls, is important for bathers' comfort and protection. A quick-acting supplemental heat source is also recommended. People are particularly susceptible to cold drafts after showering or bathing because the pores of their skin have opened. The use of hand showers also increases bathers' exposure to drafts.

Radiant ceiling lamps are an inexpensive and effective option for supplemental heat. If baseboard heaters are installed, they should be located to prevent inadvertent contact with bathers' exposed skin. This is particularly dangerous for wheelchair users who may have limited sense of touch.



	This partially cantilevered vanity provides extra maneuvering room in the bathroom as well as access to the sink basin.

Bathroom Storage - Bathroom storage should accommodate an array of items. Wheelchair users' storage needs may include extra medical equipment and disposable products. Consequently, accessible bathrooms should include generous storage capacity. Stored items can be divided into categories based on size and frequency of use.

For daily grooming and hygiene, small items to be stored include toothbrushes, dental floss, razors, combs, tissues, and make-up. These items can be stored on the vanity top, in adjacent shelving, or in shallow drawers. Larger frequently used grooming aids such as hair dryers can be stored on wider shelves or in deeper drawers near the vanity.

Prescription medicine can be stored in an accessible wall cabinet with shallow shelving. Shelves should be near eye level so small print on the labels can be easily read. For wheelchair users, the vanity wing wall is an excellent medicine cabinet location.

Cleaning supplies and home medical equipment, including hot water bottles, bed pans, vaporizers, heating pads, and scales, are ideally stored in bathrooms. Storage space should also be sufficient for extra supplies such as toilet paper, hand soap, and shampoo. Since these items are bulky and infrequently accessed, they can be stored in a bathroom closet, vanity base, or wall cabinet.

Towels, wash clothes, bath mats, and other linens are stored in bathrooms, although capacity may be supplemented by a hall linen closet. In bathrooms, towels can be stored on open floor stands or in shallow closets with louvered doors. Towel bars and hooks should be available to dry linens after use. For wheelchair users it is important to locate towel hooks near vanity basins and shower stalls so that they can dry their hands before propelling the chair.

From Accessible Home Design: Architectural Solutions for the Wheelchair User
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Text by Paralyzed Vetrans of America
Copyright Paralyzed Vetrans of America © 2001