Plumbing for People (or Persons) with Disabilities

INTRODUCTION
Most U.S. plumbing codes today include some type of provision for people with disabilities.
Also, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 includes plumbing provisions. The
plumbing engineer must determine which codes are applicable to the project he or she is
designing and incorporate any provisions these codes require, in addition to ADA requirements.
Legislation
In order to clarify construction requirements, the Attorney General’s office commissioned the U.S.
Architectural and Transportation Barrier Compliance Board (ATBCB) to prepare architectural
guidelines.
After incorporating public comments, the “final rule” was issued on July 26, 1991, in the federal
register (28 CFR Part 36) as “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations
and in Commercial Facilities.” The Act became effective on January 26, 1992, and applies to all
construction with application for permit after January 26, 1992.
In order to clarify construction requirements, the Attorney General’s office commissioned the U.S.
Architectural and Transportation Barrier Compliance Board (ATBCB) to prepare architectural
guidelines
After incorporating public comments, the “final rule” was issued on July 26, 1991, in the federal
register (28 CFR Part 36) as “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations
and in Commercial Facilities.” The Act became effective on January 26, 1992, and applies to all
construction with application for permit after January 26, 1992.
Types of Disabilities
• Non-ambulatory disabilities—Those that confine individuals to wheelchairs.
• Semi-ambulatory disabilities—Those that necessitate individuals to require the aid of braces,
crutches, walkers, or some other type of device in order to walk.
• Sight disabilities—Total blindness and other types of impairment affecting an individual’s sight.
• Hearing disabilities—Total deafness and other types of impairment affecting an individual’s
hearing.
• Coordination disabilities—Those caused by palsy due to cerebral, spinal, or peripheral nerve
injury.
• Aging disabilities—Those brought on by the natural process of aging, which reduces mobility,
flexibility, coordination, and perceptiveness in individuals. (Note: To some extent, various
national standards—e.g., HUD’s Minimum Property Standards—differentiate the elderly from
“people with disabilities.”)
Plumbing Design Consideration:
The disability classifications that affect the plumbing engineer the most, in terms of design, are
the non-ambulatory and the semi-ambulatory groups. Adequate plumbing facilities must be
provided for these individuals. The architect is responsible for analyzing the needs of a person
confined to a wheelchair and those forced to use walking aids such as crutches and braces.
So it is necessary for plumbing design engineers they must familiar with characteristics of wheel
chair.
Dimensions of Wheel Chair
CLEAR FLOOR
OR GROUND
SPACE FOR
WHEELCHAIRS
The minimum clear floor or ground space
required to accommodate a single,
stationary wheelchair and occupant is 30
inches – 48 inches (760 mm – 1220 mm).
Forward reach :
The maximum high forward reach
allowed shall be 48 inches (1220 mm).
The minimum low forward reach is 15
inches (380 mm).
Side reach:
The maximum high side reach allowed
shall be 48 inches (1220 mm), and the
low side reach shall be 15 inches (380
mm)
Drinking Fountains
and Water Coolers
Spout height
Spout outlets shall be 36 inches (915
mm) maximum above the floor or ground
Spout location
Units with a parallel approach shall have
the spout 3½ inches (89 mm) maximum
from the front edge of the unit, including
bumpers. Units with a forward approach
shall have the spout 15 inches (380 mm)
minimum from the vertical support and 5
inches (125 mm) maximum from the
front edge of the unit, including
bumpers.
Drinking
Fountains and
Water Coolers
Water Flow

The spout shall provide a flow of water

4 inches (100 mm) high minimum to
allow the insertion of a cup or glass
under the flow of water. The angle of
the water stream from spouts within 3
inches (75 mm) of the front of the unit
shall be 30 degrees maximum.
Toilet and
Bathing Rooms
Doors:
Doors shall not swing into the clear floor or
ground space or clearance for any fixture.
Compartment doors shall not swing into the
minimum required compartment area. The
door shall be self-closing
Mirrors
Mirrors shall be mounted with the bottom
edge of the reflecting surface 40 inches
(1015 mm) maximum above the floor or
ground
Coat hooks and shelves
Coat hooks provided within toilet rooms
shall be 40 inches (1015 mm) minimum and
48 inches (1220 mm) maximum above the
floor or ground.
Water Closets
and Toilet
Compartments
Location:
The centerline of the water closet shall
be 16 inches (405 mm) minimum to 18
inches (455 mm) maximum from the side
wall or partition.
Size:
Ambulatory Accessible Compartment
shall be 36 inches wide minimum
measured perpendicular to the side wall,
and 60 inches deep minimum for wall-
hung water closets and 59 inches, While
wheelchair accessible Compartment shall
be 60 inches wide minimum measured
perpendicular to the side wall, and 56
inches deep minimum for wall-hung
water closets.
Height:
The top of water closet seats shall be 17 inches
(430 mm) minimum and 19 inches (485 mm)
maximum above the floor or ground.
Grab Bars:
Grab bars shall be provided on the rear wall and
on the side wall closest to the water closet.
Grab bar shall be 42 inches (1065 mm) long
minimum, 12 inches (305 mm) maximum from
the rear wall.
Flush controls:
Flush controls shall be hand operated or
automatic.
Dispensers:
Toilet paper dispensers shall be 7 inches (180
mm) minimum and 9 inches (230 mm)
maximum in front of the water closet.2 The
outlet of the dispenser shall be 15 inches (380
mm) minimum and 48 inches (1220 mm)
maximum above the floor or ground.
Urinals
Height:

Urinals shall be of the stall type or shall be of

the wall-hung type with the rim at 17 inches
(430 mm) maximum above the floor or ground.

Flush Controle:

Flush controls shall be hand operated or

automatic. Flush valve handles should not
exceed 48 inches (1220 mm) above the floor.
Lavatories and Sinks
Height:

The front of lavatories and sinks shall be 34

inches (865 mm) maximum above the floor or
ground.

Faucets:

Faucets shall remain open for 10 seconds

minimum.

Bowl Depth:

Sinks shall be 6½ inches (165 mm) deep

maximum. Multiple-compartment sinks shall
have at least one compartment complying with
this requirement.
Bathtubs:
Clearance:

Clearance in front of bathtubs shall extend the

length of the bathtub and shall be 30 inches
(760 mm) wide minimum.

A permanent seat is provided at the head end of

the bathtub, the clearance shall extend a
minimum of 15 inches (380 mm) beyond the
wall at the head end of the bathtub.

Seat :

A permanent seat at the head end of the

bathtub or a removable in-tub seat shall be
provided
BATHTUBS WITH PERMANENT SEATS BATHTUBS WITHOUT PERMANENT SEATS

Back wall Back wall

Two grab bars shall be provided on the back wall, Two grab bars shall be provided on the back wall 9
9 inches (230 mm) above the rim of the bathtub. inches (230 mm) above the rim of the bathtub. Each
grab bar shall be 24 inches (610 mm) maximum from
Each grab bar shall be 15 inches (380 mm) the head-end wall and 12 inches (305 mm)
maximum from the head-end wall and 12 inches maximum from the foot-end wall.
(305 mm) maximum from the foot-end wall.
Foot-end wall
Foot-end wall A grab bar 24 inches (610 mm) long minimum shall
A grab bar 24 inches (610 mm) long minimum be provided on the foot-end wall
shall be provided on the foot-end wall at the Head-end wall
front edge of the bathtub.
A grab bar 12 inches (305 mm) long minimum shall
be provided on the head-end wall at the front edge
of the bathtub.
 Shower Compartments
TRANSFER-TYPE SHOWER COMPARTMENTS STANDARD ROLL-IN TYPE SHOWER
COMPARTMENTS
Transfer-type shower compartments shall be 36 inches Roll-in type shower compartments shall be 30
(915 mm) wide by 36 inches (915 mm) deep inside inches (760 mm) wide minimum by 60 inches (1525
finished dimension mm) deep minimum
Grab bars: Grab bars:
Grab bars shall be provided across the control wall and on Grab bars shall be provided on the three walls of the
the back wall to a point 18 inches (455 mm) from the
control wall. shower. Grab bars shall be 6 inches (150 mm)
maximum from the adjacent wall.
Controls:
Controls:
In transfer type shower compartments, controls, faucets,
and the shower unit shall be on the side wall opposite the Controls in roll-in showers shall be above the grab
seat 38 inches (965 mm) minimum and 48 inches (1220 bar but no higher than 48 inches (1220 mm) above
mm) maximum above the shower floor. the shower floor.
Shower unit: Shower unit:
In transfer-type showers, the controls and shower unit
shall be on the control wall within 15 inches (380 mm), left In roll-in type showers, shower spray units mounted
or right, of the centerline of the seat. on the back wall shall be 27 inches (685 mm)
maximum from the side wall.
Grab Bars:
Size:
Grab bars have a circular cross section with a diameter of 1¼ in. (32 mm) minimum and 2 inches (51 mm)
maximum
Spacing
The space between the wall and 609.3 Spacing The space between the wall and the grab bar shall be 1½
inches (38 mm). The space between the grab bar and objects below and at the ends shall be 1½ inches (38
mm) minimum. The space between the grab bar and projecting objects above shall be 15 inches (355 mm)
minimum.
Position of grab bars
Grab bars shall be mounted in a horizontal position, 33 inches (840 mm) minimum and 36 inches (915 mm)
maximum above the floor.
Structural strength
Allowable stresses in bending, shear, and tension shall not be exceeded for materials used where a vertical
or horizontal force of 250 pounds (113.5 kg) is applied at any point on the grab bar, fastener mounting
device, or supporting structure.