We recently had an embarrasing experience in our church, when a wheelchair guest needed to use the bathroom. As with many older churches, the toilet facilities are limited, cramped, and on another floor from the main one.
We do have a very small toilet on the main floor, but the word is SMALL! BUT— we have the sewer connection, and it is accessible from the basement, so it could be easily modified to put in a new bathroom nearby.
I need information about the space requirements (and clearances) for ADA toilet facilities so I can make up a sketch to show the church council that it is feasible without major structural problems. I have searched, because I remember threads about this problem, but I cannot find the threads.
Replies
Since you're in Illinois, the Illinois Accessibility Code governs. It is a more stringent version of the ADA that is enforced throughout the state.
Here's a link to the website:
Illinois Accessibility Code
I've also attached PDF copies of the code and illustrations.
I think the most significant requirement is for a 5-foot turning circle in the stall area. If you have that and adequate door/passageway clearances, plus flat floors, most of the rest can be fudged fairly easily.
Thank you both for the help. I think I now have the information I need for my sketch.
The only other thing I would add is serious framing/blocking to support the grab bars. Plastic anchors in the drywall is not going to cut it.
Best of luck
Bruce
Yeah, since new construction is being discussed, take the time to carefully place the stool appropriately, install all needed blocking, reenforce the floor under the stool to account for someone heavy rocking the stool as they transfer from their chair, etc.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
Installation will be done by a contractor--the walls are currently cement block; I don't know if we should put new block up or studs/dw. I tend to the latter, but that comes much later, and probably not with much of my input if I can avoid it. But, you know what happens in a volunteer organization: "You suggested it, you should be in charge!"
Floor is concrete, so rigidity of the stool installation ought not be a serious problem.
The main body of the church has radiant heating in the floor. I don't think that the office has it, but that could be a nuisance. In the worst case, we can get a contractor with an infrared camera and locate the heating pipes.
Make sure the floor is flat around the stool. It's common for the concrete to end up mounded up around the flange, and that creates problems. Of course, in this case a wall-mounted stool should considered -- if nothing else would reduce concerns relative to the heating pipes.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
Good point. I saw this in another context. The University of #### (name furnished only upon serious request) built a new four-floor chemistry annex--all laboratories mostly for graduate students. The utilities for the benches in the center of the rooms were supplied from below; they cut a hole in the floor to run water, gas, etc up to the benches.
BUT............ The floor drains were set in first, and the concrete added. I don't know if the plumbers set them too high, or if the contractor cheated on the thickness, but every drain was high, and the finishers did a really nice job of trowelling the concrete up to the drains.
SO....... When a hose burst (on average of once or twice a month) the water would puddle on the floor, drop through the utility hole, and wind up on the bottom floor regardless of where the leak started. And, know which floor had the most expensive electronic equipment? YUP!
But back to the remodel. The new stool plumbing will have to be cut into the concrete floor, and the floor is reasonably flat. Again, this will be the contractor's problem. <edit> Since the plumbing is nonexistent in this area, it MUST have a hole in the floor, no matter how things are mounted.
Edited 8/29/2007 12:12 pm by JohnD1
The wall-mounted stool gives you a lot more flexibility in terms of routing the plumbing. The drain can travel horizontally (plus slope, of course) for 6 feet or more. You do need to bolt the bracket to the floor, but that's four relatively small bolts, and you'd have some flexibility to work around the heating pipes.Plus of course the cleaning people will love you.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
Another benefit of a wall-hung closet is that the stall depth can be reduced from 59" to 56" and still be ADA compliant.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
I deal with ADA requirements constantly. I'm mostly commercial any more & this is my 2 cents. the turning radius availible must be 60" clear, non of which is allowable under a counter, wall hung terlit or even under a partition. Partition door width is a minimum of 36". If there are urinals the top of the horn is no more than 17" on at least one. IF there is only one it must comply. Grab bars should always have blocking as they are required to hold 250 lbs. You might also check & see if the drawings are required to be stamped by & architecht or engineer. In ohio they are.
Not very easy to read but here the source
http://www.access-board.gov/ada-aba/final.htm