ADA Restroom Accessory Requirements: What Every Facility Manager Needs to Know

The ADA Standards apply to all areas of newly designed and newly constructed buildings and facilities, and to altered portions of existing ones (201.1). Where toilet rooms are provided, each one must comply with 603, subject to the exceptions listed in 213.2. This guide covers the accessories inside those rooms and links to a detailed height page for each. Partitions are covered separately in our partition material guide.

Stall dimensions (Section 604)

Where water closets are provided, at least one must comply with 604 (213.3.2). For the wheelchair accessible compartment:

• Width: 60 in. minimum, measured perpendicular to the side wall (604.8.1.1)
• Depth: 56 in. minimum with a wall hung water closet and 59 in. minimum with a floor mounted one, measured perpendicular to the rear wall (604.8.1.1)
• Toilet centerline: 16 to 18 in. from the side wall or partition, which is the wall that carries the side grab bar (604.2, 604.5). In an ambulatory accessible compartment, the range is 17 to 19 in. (604.2)
• Toilet seat height: 17 to 19 in. above the finish floor, measured to the top of the seat (604.4)
• Door: self-closing, with a door pull on both sides near the latch, and never swinging into the minimum required compartment area (604.8.1.2)
• Door location: in a front partition, the door opening sits 4 in. maximum from the side wall or partition farthest from the water closet (604.8.1.2)
• Door clear width: compartment doors comply with 404, which calls for a 32 in. minimum clear width measured with the door open 90 degrees (604.8.1.2, 404.2.3)

Grab bars

Grab bars go on the side wall closest to the water closet and on the rear wall (604.5). The full rules are on the ADA grab bar height page.

• Side wall bar: 42 in. long minimum, located 12 in. maximum from the rear wall and extending 54 in. minimum from the rear wall (604.5.1)
• Rear wall bar: 36 in. long minimum, extending from the water closet centerline 12 in. minimum on one side and 24 in. minimum on the other (604.5.2)
• Centered rear bar: allowed at 24 in. long minimum only where a recessed fixture next to the water closet leaves no wall space for 36 in. (604.5.2)
• Mounting height: 33 to 36 in. above the finish floor, measured to the top of the gripping surface (609.4)
• Strength: no allowable stress exceeded under a 250 pound vertical or horizontal force at any point on the bar, fastener, mounting device, or supporting structure (609.8)
• Diameter: 1¼ in. minimum and 2 in. maximum outside diameter for circular bars (609.2.1)
• Spacing: 1½ in. from the wall; 1½ in. minimum to projecting objects below and at the ends; 12 in. minimum to projecting objects above (609.3)

Toilet paper dispenser

More detail is on the ADA toilet paper dispenser height page.

• Location: 7 to 9 in. in front of the water closet, measured to the centerline of the dispenser (604.7)
• Outlet height: 15 in. minimum and 48 in. maximum above the finish floor, and not behind grab bars (604.7)
• Operation: 604.7 requires compliance with 309.4, meaning one hand, no tight grasping, pinching, or wrist twisting, and 5 pounds of force maximum
• Paper flow: not a type that controls delivery or that does not allow continuous paper flow (604.7)

Mirror

Measuring tips are on the ADA mirror height page.

• Above a lavatory or countertop: bottom edge of the reflecting surface 40 in. maximum above the finish floor (603.3)
• Not above a lavatory or countertop: bottom edge of the reflecting surface 35 in. maximum above the finish floor (603.3)
• Scoping: where mirrors are provided, at least one must comply with 603.3 (213.3.5)
• Top edge: advisory guidance in 603.3 suggests 74 in. minimum above the floor so both ambulatory people and wheelchair users can use the mirror

Soap and paper towel dispensers

Advisory 606.1 is guidance, not a requirement. It says soap and towel dispensers must be located within the reach ranges in 308 and recommends locating them for convenient use at the accessible lavatory. Their operable parts fall under 309 through 205.1, and 309.3 places them within those reach ranges. See the soap dispenser height page and the paper towel dispenser height page.

• Unobstructed forward or side reach: 15 in. minimum and 48 in. maximum above the finish floor (308.2.1, 308.3.1)
• Forward reach over a counter with clear floor space extending beneath it: 48 in. maximum up to a 20 in. reach depth; beyond that, 44 in. maximum with a 25 in. reach depth limit (308.2.2)
• Side reach over a counter: the counter is 34 in. high and 24 in. deep at most. The high reach is 48 in. maximum up to a 10 in. reach depth, then 46 in. maximum (308.3.2)
• Operation: one hand, no tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist, and 5 pounds of force maximum (309.4)

Coat hooks and shelves

See the coat hook height page and the restroom shelf height page.

• Coat hooks: within one of the reach ranges in 308 (603.4, 604.8.3). With an unobstructed reach, that means 15 in. minimum and 48 in. maximum above the finish floor (308.2.1)
• Shelves: 40 in. minimum and 48 in. maximum above the finish floor (603.4, 604.8.3)
• Compartments: if toilet compartments have coat hooks or shelves, at least one of each type meeting 604.8.3 goes in the compartments required by 213.3.1 (213.3.7)

Baby changing stations

No provision names baby changing stations, but Advisory 902.1 lists baby changing tables among its examples of work surfaces, and 902.3 places work surface tops 28 to 34 in. above the finish floor. The baby changing station height page covers every rule that applies.

• Height: Advisory 902.1 lists baby changing tables among examples of work surfaces. Where a changing table is treated as a work surface, 902.3 puts its top 28 in. minimum to 34 in. maximum above the finish floor
• Work surface scoping: where work surfaces are provided for use by other than employees, at least 5 percent must comply with 902 (226.1)
• Closed projection: 4 in. maximum into a circulation path where the leading edge is more than 27 in. and not more than 80 in. above the floor (307.2)
• Location: not in the required water closet clearance, which only the items listed in 604.3.2 may overlap. Advisory 604.8.1.1 adds that changing tables cannot obstruct the minimum compartment space
• Operable parts: within the reach ranges (309.3) and operable with one hand at 5 pounds of force maximum (309.4)

Hand dryers and waste receptacles

The Standards do not mention hand dryers or sensors. The hand dryer height page explains how the operable part and protruding object rules apply.

• Hand dryer controls: a start button is an operable part, and treating a sensor the same way is the cautious reading. Operable parts go within the reach ranges (309.3), which is 15 in. minimum and 48 in. maximum with an unobstructed forward reach (308.2.1)
• Button operation: one hand, 5 pounds of force maximum, and no tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist (309.4)
• Hand dryer projection: with a leading edge more than 27 in. and not more than 80 in. up, 4 in. maximum into a circulation path (307.2)
• Waste receptacles: keep them out of the water closet clearance, which bars fixtures and obstructions not on the 604.3.2 list. Keep them out of the clear floor space at the accessible lavatory too (606.2)

Sanitary napkin disposal

• Operable parts: within the reach ranges (309.3), which is 15 in. minimum and 48 in. maximum with an unobstructed forward reach (308.2.1)
• Water closet clearance: sanitary napkin disposal units are on the list of items permitted to overlap the required clearance around the water closet (604.3.2)

Shower seats

Where bathtubs or showers are provided, at least one bathtub complying with 607 or one shower complying with 608 is required (213.3.6). The shower seat height page covers seat sizes and nearby grab bars.

• Height: top of the seat 17 to 19 in. above the bathroom finish floor (610.3)
• Type: a transfer shower gets a folding or non-folding seat (608.4). Where a seat is provided in a standard roll-in shower, it must be a folding type on the side wall adjacent to the controls (610.3)
• Size: rectangular seats follow 610.3.1, and L-shaped seats follow 610.3.2
• Strength: the same 250 pound vertical or horizontal force test applies at any point on the seat, fastener, mounting device, or supporting structure (610.4)

Common installation mistakes

• A side grab bar shorter than 42 in., or one that does not extend 54 in. from the rear wall (604.5.1)
• A short rear grab bar centered on the toilet that reaches less than 24 in. past the centerline on both sides, with no recessed fixture to justify it. The bar must reach 12 in. minimum on one side of the centerline and 24 in. minimum on the other (604.5.2)
• A toilet centerline outside 16 to 18 in. from the side wall or partition, or outside 17 to 19 in. in an ambulatory accessible compartment (604.2)
• A toilet paper dispenser located by its face instead of its centerline, which must be 7 to 9 in. in front of the water closet (604.7)
• A coat hook above the reach range, such as higher than 48 in. with an unobstructed reach (603.4, 308.2.1)
• A soap dispenser push pad above 48 in., or above 44 in. over a counter with a reach depth past 20 in. (308.2.1, 308.2.2)
• Self-closing hardware removed during maintenance, although compartment doors must be self-closing (604.8.1.2)
• A waste receptacle parked in the clear floor space at the lavatory, which is 30 in. minimum by 48 in. minimum (606.2, 305.3)

Federal vs state code

State and local codes can be stricter than the ADA Standards. The authority having jurisdiction has the final word on how any rule applies to a project.

Why this matters at bid time

Backing for grab bars and shower seats has to be planned before walls close. Section 609.8 applies the 250 pound force to the grab bar, fastener, mounting device, and supporting structure, and 610.4 applies the same force to shower seats. Checking centerlines, outlet heights, reach ranges, and projections on the submittals is simpler than moving fixtures after finishes go in.

Restroom accessory packages

We carry grab bars, toilet paper dispensers, mirrors, soap and towel dispensers, hand dryers, baby changing stations, and shower seats. Brands include Bobrick, Bradley, Gamco, ASI, and Koala Kare. Request a quote with your accessory list or restroom plans, and check each cut sheet against the rules above.