When planning a new design with your customer, or even just working on a remodeling project, consider turning to my book, Accessible Housing. It addresses barrier-free issues and many other concerns that are important in the design of a new bathroom. You will want to consider the following when bidding on a barrier-free bathroom:

1. A minimum clear floor area that is 5' square (25 square feet) to allow wheelchair users to make a 360° turn.

2. An enlarged bathroom door with a minimum 32" width (36" is preferred) from doorstop to the face of the door when it is open in a 90° position to provide wheelchair access.

3. Hallways leading to the bathroom widened up to 60" with low-pile carpeting or non-slip flooring to ease the use of walkers and wheelchairs.

4.Easy-to-grasp door handles on all doors.

5. A barrier-free shower stall, 36" x 36" with seat or a minimum of 30" x 60" without a seat (but install a grab bar around the stall).

6. An easy-access bath with removable seat (standard 5' tub) or a permanent seat unit (5' plus a 15" allowance for the seat. There must be 30" of clear floor space in front of the tub when approaching from the end (head) and 48" if the tub is approached straight-on (side).

7. A motorized tub lift to automatically lower a person into the water or, for the less disabled, a removable bathtub seat.

8. A roll-under vanity top (34" maximum from top of counter to floor and 29" minimum from underside of sink to floor) with insulated hot water pipes to prevent burns.

9. Low mirrors.

10. Non-skid floors.

11. Handicapped toilet or an extended seat.

12. Wall-mounted grab bars in tub/shower areas and around toilet (diameters should be 1-1/4" to 1-1/2"). The space between the grab bar and wall should be 1-1/2".

13. Loop or single-lever faucet handles.

14. Faucets with anti-scald temperature controls.

15. An all-direction shower head.

16. Cabinet hardware with "D" pulls.

These guidelines provide a starting point and they follow the specs outlined in the Federal Register. It is important that you be sensitive to your customer's needs to make sure that the design does indeed work for them comfortably—and you need to know this before you start your next project!

Barrier-free is here to stay. Increase your knowledge, skills, and confidence as a construction professional by learning all you can about it and being prepared to address the needs of your customers. One way is to order Accessible Housing; click on puchase button to the left!

Looking for home improvement Q&As? Click here!

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C.R.S., Inc. · Spokane, Washington · USA

Accessible Bathrooms Design considerations - Page 2

Accessible Bathrooms
Design considerations - Page 2