Centre for Accessible Environments

Type of toilet

Ideally the toilet should be placed near to the meeting rooms, and certainly on the same floor as the principal meeting rooms.

Size of cubicle In new buildings

the size will be governed by the Part M Approved Document.In existing buildings the availability of space will govern the size of the cubicle. BS 8300 recommends a minimum size of 2.2m x 1.5m.

Signage

Where the accessible toilet is not placed immediately adjacent to the male and female toilets, a sign is needed to direct visitors to the accessible toilet.

Door

Minimum opening – 925mm.

No door closer should be fitted.

The door should stay open until the disabled person closes it behind him or her.

The door must be capable of opening outwards. It can also open inwards if the cubicle is large enough, but it must be capable of opening outwards in an emergency. (In case a disabled person falls over inside the cubicle.)

It must be possible for the disabled person to manoeuvre the wheelchair into the cubicle relatively easily, and close the door. (Unless it is a large cubicle, this means that the door must open outwards.)

It must be possible for the disabled person to manoeuvre the wheelchair into the cubicle relatively easily, and close the door.

There needs to be a horizontal closing rail on the inside of the door at a height of 680mm. (This will enable the disabled person to pull the door closed from the hinge side of the door, without having to 'fetch' the lock side of the door.)

There needs to be a lock that is convenient to operate and can be opened from the outside in case of emergency.

(The lock needs to be operated by a lever not by a rotating action.)

There needs to be a lock that is convenient to operate and can be opened from the outside in case of emergency.

The lock needs to be operated by a lever not by a rotating action. (This will make it easier to open and close for a person with restricted dexterity.)

Fitting within cubicle

The centre of the WC should be 500mm from the side wall on which the wash basin is fixed. (This ensures that the user can reach the grab rail.)

The flushing lever on the WC cistern should be positioned on the opposite side to the wash basin (ie the same side as the wheelchair will be positioned). (This will enable the user to flush the toilet after transferring back to his or her wheelchair.)

The fixings for the WC seat should be metal rather than plastic.

Plastic fittings are likely to break under the weight of the user.

Where the WC is forward of the cistern, a padded back pad needs to be provided. No back pad is needed if the WC and cistern are close coupled: the cistern will provide the necessary support. (The back pad allows the user to undress and dress while seated on the WC, by arching his or her back against the back pad.)

There should be no lid on the WC seat. (This will interfere with the use of the back pad.)

The seat on the WC should not have a gap-front.

The WC should be of a standard design that allows the fitting of a lavatory seat riser by people who need to use one. (This allows a user to raise the height of the WC.)

Where the WC and the cistern are close-coupled, the cistern lid needs to sit within the cistern and be screwed in.

The toilet paper, wash basin, soap dispenser and towel/hand drier should be within easy reach of a user sitting on the toilet.

The wash basin should have a lever-operated mixer tap on the side closer to the WC. (The user will be seated on the WC when using the tap.)

Suppport rails

A vertical rail is needed beside the WC, outside the hinged support rail, 600mm long with the bottom end of the rail at a height of 800mm.

A hinged (drop-down) support rail should be provided on the wheelchair side of the WC, at a height of 680mm, and 320mm from the centre line of the WC.A horizontal (grab) rail is needed on the wall beside the WC at a height of 680mm.

A vertical rail is needed either side of the wash basin, 600mm long with the bottom end of each rail at a height of 800mm

All rails should be 35mm in diameter, with a good grip when wet, and the fixed rails should have 60mm clearance from the wall.

The rails should be fixed very securely to the wall. (The rails each need to be able to support the weight of an adult man.)

Accessories

One mirror should be sited over the wash basin. Where space allows, there should be a second mirror located away from the basin, at least 1000mm tall with the bottom edge at a height of 500mm. (The second mirror is for use by wheelchair users.)

Two coat hooks should be provided, one at a height of 1050mm (for the wheelchair user) and the other at conventional height.

There should be no obstructions such as soil pipes, boxed-in pipework or columns, and no obstacles such as waste bins in the space adjoining the WC where the wheelchair will need to be put. (The space where the wheelchair will be placed is often referred to as the 'transfer space'.)

Emergency alarm

An alarm cord should trigger an audible signal both inside and outside the cubicle, and also (where possible) at a reception area that is constantly staffed. (The signal needs to be audible inside the cubicle so that the disabled user knows that the alarm is sounding whether accidentally or deliberately).

The alarm cord should be in a contrasting colour (conventionally red), positioned to hang between the WC and the basin, passing through the grab rail.

Two large pull handles (50mm in diameter) should be attached to the cord, one at between 800mm and 1000mm above floor level and the other at 100mm above floor level. (This will enable the user to summon help either from the WC itself or from the floor level.)

There needs to be a reset switch for the alarm within the cubicle. This should be within reach of the user seated on the WC as well as in a wheelchair. (This will enable the user to switch off the alarm if it has been triggered in error.)

Lighting

Where lighting can be individually controlled in a cubicle, the light switch should be within reach of a user in a wheelchair.

The lighting level needs to be sufficient.

Décor

There should be a good level of contrast between the following areas:
floor and walls
door and walls
rails and walls
porcelain fittings and surroundings

(This assists people with visual impairments.)

The finishes should be matt. (Shiny surfaces can be confusing for visually impaired people.)

Floor surface

The floor surface should be slip-resistant.