ADA bathroom guidelines are important for public restrooms, but they also provide guidance to those who are renovating private bathrooms or designing new ones. They detail requirements like doorway width, grab bars and heights for light switches and other fixtures. ADA regulations also cover specific accessories, such as toilet paper dispensers and trash receptacles.

For example, a ada bathroom guidelines toilet needs to be 17.-19 inches high off the floor and must allow for 60 inches of clear space around it when positioned in a stall. In addition, the ADA requires two grab bars, one beside and one behind the toilet, both installed between 33 and 36 inches from the wall. And for a tub/shower combo, the grab bar should be installed at a minimum of 27 inches from the top of the tub and 8 to 10 inches above the faucet end of the tub.

ADA Bathroom Guidelines: Ensuring Accessibility and Safety

In addition, ADA bathroom sink faucets must have lever handles that are easier to operate and require less force than knobs to turn, says Sarabeth Asaff South, a home improvement consultant in Derry, N.H. She also recommends touchless or smart faucets to cut down on germs. And ADA bathroom accessories like soap dishes, towel racks and coat hooks should be placed at an appropriate height for accessibility. Towel and trash receptacles should be located between 15 and 48 inches from the floor. And toilet paper dispensers should be recessed and not placed above or below (and never behind) the grab bars.