“Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible.”

— Ronald Mace

In our series on designing accessible facilities for the persons with disabilities (PWDs), we share in this post useful tips for providing accessible toilets that everyone can use not compromising safety or convenience.

An accessible toilet is not a conventional toilet made larger. It is in fact a carefully planned space that allows people with disabilities (mobility, visual, sensory or other) to enter, use fixtures, transfer, wash their hands and leave independently. Good accessible toilet design should be incorporated from the beginning of a project, not as an afterthought.

India’s Harmonized Guidelines and Space Standards for Universal Accessibility 2021 makes unobstructive circulation, adequate manoeuvring space, accessible toilet compartments, good lighting, visual contrast, accessible information and easy-to-operate doors and controls mandatory.

Main Features of an Accessible Toilet

  1. Adequate Manoeuvring Space: The toilet should provide sufficient clear floor area for a wheelchair user to approach fixtures and make a comfortable turn. The ADA provides a minimum 60-inch (1525 mm) diameter turning space.
  1. Accessible WC and Grab Bars: The WC should permit a safe side transfer from a wheelchair. Designers should position strong, securely fixed grab bars beside and behind the WC.
  1. Accessible Washbasin: The washbasin should allow a wheelchair user to approach it comfortably, with appropriate knee and toe clearance underneath. Easy to operate faucets should be installed, preferably using lever, sensor or or low-effort controls.
  1. Safe, Non-Skid Flooring: Slip-resistant, even flooring without abrupt level changes should be used. Water accumulation should be minimized through proper drainage and floor slopes. Accessible routes and turning areas should remain unobstructed.
  1. Doors and Hardware: Doors should be wide enough for wheelchairs to pass and easy to operate. An outward-opening door can be used to preserve usable space inside the toilet when possible. Door hardware should be usable by people with limited hand strength or dexterity.
  1. Signage, Lighting and Contrast: Clear, high-contrast signage with recognizable accessibility symbols should be used to help users locate the toilet. Good lighting and contrast between walls, floors, doors and fixtures can assist people with low vision. India’s Accessibility Guidelines identify lighting, contrast and accessible information as important design considerations.

Ideal Placement in Public Buildings

Accessible toilets should be located on an accessible route. They should not be hidden in obscure corners or reached only through stairs. People should be able to easily find them from major circulation areas such as entrances, reception zones, corridors, lifts and public activity areas.

Accessible toilets should be provided on multiple floors in large buildings. An accessible toilet should also be close to accessible parking and major public facilities where possible.

A well-designed single-user accessible toilet can be provided for users who require additional space, including wheelchair users and people accompanied by a caregiver.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

  • Provide generous, unobstructive manoeuvring space.
  • Install Well-anchored grab bars.
  • Use slip-resistant flooring.
  • Provide easy-to-operate taps and door hardware.
  • Use clear signage and visual contrast.
  • Keep accessible routes and toilets permanently unobstructed.

Don’t:

  • Using accessible toilets as store rooms.
  • Placing bins, cleaning equipment or furniture in transfer areas.
  • Installing grab bars without structural support.
  • Using slippery or highly-polished flooring.
  • Making users travel long distances to reach toilets.

Good Examples of Accessible Toilet Design

A single-user accessible toilet with an outward-opening door, clear wheelchair turning area, side-transfer space beside the WC, rear and side grab bars, accessible washbasin, slip-resistant flooring and clear signage can be a good example.

Another good example can be when accessibility is integrated into the entire toilet suite instead of creating a visibly segregated facility. Accessible cubicles within multi-stall toilets, supplemented by well-designed single-user facilities can provide greater choice and dignity.

Accessible toilet design is about independence, safety and dignity. When architects plan accessibility from the very beginning, toilets become usable spaces for people with different abilities.

We shall take you on this trip to accessible design in our future posts every time, do not miss the opportunity!

Sources

About the author
Sandeep Singh is an architect from IIT Roorkee. He is a prolific writer and a sensitive poet. His professional posts mostly cover the future in Architecture.  His books are chiefly devoted to the inner and outer battles that a disabled person in India faces every day. His poems mostly reflect his inner world. He also manages NGOs focussed on livelihood to remote areas, empowerment of women, inclusive tourism and support to small businesses.