What Are the Key Features of an ADA-Compliant Bathroom?

The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requires business owners to modify facilities to accommodate physically challenged individuals. While homeowners don’t necessarily need to adhere to these guidelines, they can still be used when remodeling or designing a home for a person with special needs.

Doorways

Handicap doorways must have more than 32 inches of width, enough for a wheelchair user to enter and exit the bathroom. The doors should swing outward. The ADA requires at least 30 inches by 48 inches of clear floor space on both sides of the doorway.

Grab Bars

Grab bars must be installed directly into the wall studs 34 to 38 inches from the floor’s surface. The space between the handle of the bar and the wall should be less than 1½ inches. Depending on the thickness of the material, you may need to have anchor bolts mounted through the material instead of directly to the wall.

Rotating Space

All parts of the bathroom should have more than 60 inches of clearance in every direction to allow wheelchair users to move around easily. This clearance applies to the face of finish components like the sink edge, toilet and grab bars.

Toilet

When planning a bathroom remodel for a physically challenged individual, make sure that the toilet is at least 60 inches wide. The seat should be between 17 and 19 inches from the base of the toilet to the seat top, with 16 to 18 inches of space between the toilet’s centerline and sidewall. The flush handle shouldn’t be hard to reach from a seated position.

Sink

A wall-mounted sink or pedestal sink is ideal for wheelchair users because it has open space underneath. The ADA requires that the sink be at least 17 inches off the wall, with at least 29 inches off the finished floor to the bottom of the sink. Keep in mind that anything that’s more than three feet above the finished surface of the floor will be hard to reach.

Let’s Start a Conversation!

For bathroom upgrades, you can rely on DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Orland Park. Our team of experienced designers and builders will make sure that you have an appealing and functional space. Give us a call at (708) 320-3417 or fill out our contact form to start a conversation with a design expert. We serve homeowners in Tinley Park, Palos Heights and the surrounding suburbs.

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