Handicap Toilet Installation for ADA Compliance

All new public restrooms or remodeled ones must feature at least one handicap toilet and there are specific requirements that must be met to accommodate handicapped users comfortably.

A standard handicapped compartment featuring a toilet must measure at least 60 inches wide to allow for ample space for a wheelchair to maneuver in. The length of the compartment run must be large enough to allow a wheelchair to approach the handicap toilet from the side or straight on.

Grab bars are an integral part of handicapped bathroom design. These safety mechanisms must be installed horizontally, both directly behind the toilet and beside the toilet on either side of the handicap toilet. These bars help a handicap individual to raise and lower themselves from a wheelchair to the toilet and back into the wheelchair.

Toilet seat heights for handicapped patrons are required to be between 17 and 19 inches from the finished floor. Flush mechanisms must be mounted on the most open and clear side of the toilet and cannot be placed higher than 44 inches from the floor.