BARRIER-FREE BATHING FACILITIES REQUIRED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF BUILDINGS

Hotels, athletic clubs, school gymnasiums and dormitories, parks and camp grounds, nursing homes, and hospitals are examples of the many buildings that must meet accessible bathing requirements for people with physical disabilities. Barrier-free bathing facilities fall into two basic categories: individual shower stalls or combination tub/shower units. Shower stalls may be constructed of conventional water-resistant wall and flooring materials, or shower dividers may be specified that are manufactured of solid phenolic, fiberglass, acrylic, or other water-resistant material. If more than one shower stall is provided in a facility, it is recommended that the control and seat locations be alternated for left- and right-hand use to ensure universal usability. In buildings for transient lodging, a percentage of the sleeping rooms (see ADAAG 9.1.2) must be accessible and equipped with either an individual shower stall or combination tub/shower unit.

INDIVIDUAL SHOWER STALLS.
Transfer shower stalls (Fig. 21, 25) are the most common type of individual shower stall used to accommodate people with disabilities. They must be 36" x 36" (914 x 914mm) with a fixed or folding L-shaped shower seat mounted on a side wall opposite the shower head and controls. The size must not be altered because the 36" x 36" (914 x 914mm) inside dimension is optimum for both reach and safety of adult users. Curbs may be installed, but they must be no higher than 1/2" (13mm). When equipped with a folding seat, this shower stall can also be used comfortably by standing people, and some people using wheelchairs can use it as a roll-in shower (see following paragraph) because of its maximum 1/2" (13mm) curbs. Minimum clear floor space 48" x 36" (1219 x 914mm) must be positioned outside the shower stall to allow proper wheelchair positioning for transfer to shower seat.

Roll-in shower stalls (Fig. 22a, 26, 27) are needed by some people in wheelchairs who cannot transfer to a shower seat or tub. ADAAG requires roll-in shower stalls to be at least 60" x 30" (1524 x 762mm), which was selected primarily for remodeling purposes to allow replacement of an existing tub with a roll-in shower stall. This minimum size, though, is truly inadequate in most cases because it is too difficult to contain water within the 30" (762mm) depth. If the minimum size is used, it is recommended that the floor of the entire room be waterproofed (also referred to as a wet-area shower). Curbs should not be used; instead, warped tile, grout berms, trench drains, and sloping floor surfaces are acceptable methods for containing water. 48" x 60" (1219 x 1524mm) and 60" x 60" (1524 x 1524mm) are good sizes to use where space is limited for the wet area. Minimum clear floor space 60" x 36" (1524 x 914mm) must be positioned outside the shower stall to allow wheelchair maneuvering space. This space may incorporate knee clearance under adjacent lavatories or countertops, and may be part of the total floor space in wet-area showers.

Combination roll-in/transfer shower stalls (Fig. 22d, 28, 29) are required in all buildings with more than 50 rooms providing sleeping accommodations (see ADAAG 9.1.2), such as hotels, resorts, motels, inns, boarding houses, and dormitories. They must meet the ADAAG specifications for roll-in showers and have a folding shower seat that does not interfere with wheelchair access.

COMBINATION TUB/SHOWER UNITS.
Combination tub/shower units located in accessible bathrooms must have either a portable in-tub seat or an integral seat at the head of the bathtub. In-tub seats should attach to the rim of standard 60" x 30" (1524 x 762mm) bathtubs (Fig. 23, 30). This type of seat is generally used to sit on while showering. Seats at the head of the bathtub must be 15" (381mm) wide and are usually built-in structural extensions, making the total width of the bathtub at least 75" (1905mm) (Fig. 24, 31). They are used only while transferring into the bathtub. Adjacent clear floor space must extend the full width of the bathtub (possibly more for ICC/ANSI 98) and be at least 30" (762mm) deep.

CONTROLS and ACCESSORIES
Complete Shower and Bathtub Installations.
Controls must meet ADAAG specifications (refer to Controls and Operating Mechanisms on page 5 of this guide). The control area must be located on the side wall opposite the shower seat in transfer shower stalls; on the back or side walls of roll-in shower stalls; on the wall adjacent to the shower seat in combination roll-in/ transfer shower stalls; and on the wall at the foot of bathtubs (Fig. 21d, 22c, 23c, 24b). Controls with anti-scald, pressure balanced or similar features should be used. ICC/ ANSI 98 standards require water to be thermal shock protected to 120°F maximum.

Shower heads in accessible bathing facilities must be hand-held models with 60" minimum (1524mm) long hoses (Fig. 21d, 22c, 23c, 24b). It is recommended that a slide-bar or a series of wall clips be provided to attach the shower head to the wall and allow it to be used as a fixed shower head at various heights. In facilities where vandalism is a problem, a fixed shower head mounted 48" (1219mm) above the finish floor may be installed in lieu of a hand-held unit; or vandal-prone showers may be equipped with a secondary quick connection for optional hand-held shower heads that can be assigned to patrons as needed.

Grab bars must be installed in all accessible bathing facilities. They must have a diameter of 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" (32–38mm) and a clearance of 1 1/2" (38mm) between the grab bar and wall. Two horizontal grab bars or a single two-wall grab bar must be installed on the walls next to and opposite the folding shower seat in transfer and combination roll-in/transfer shower stalls (Fig. 21a, 22d). Roll-in shower stalls must have a single three-wall grab bar or three single grab bars with ends mounted as close as possible to the corners (Fig. 22a). All grab bars must be mounted 33" to 36" (838–914mm) (for children mounting heights are 18" to 27", 457–686mm) above the finish floor (Fig. 21c & d, 22b & c). Bathtubs must have a horizontal grab bar mounted at the foot that extends at least 24" (610mm) from the front edge of the tub, 33" to 36" (838–914mm) above the finish floor (Fig. 23c, 24b); and two parallel, horizontal grab bars, 24" to 48" (610–1219mm) long depending on total width of tub, mounted on the back wall: one 9" (229mm) above the rim of the bathtub and the other 33" to 36" (838–914mm) above the finish floor (Fig. 23e, 24d). Bathtubs with in-tub seats must have a fourth grab bar mounted at the head that extends at least 12" (305mm) from the front edge of the tub (Fig. 23d & e).

Folding shower seats (Fig. 20) must meet the specific dimensions required by ADAAG and must be mounted with the top surface of the seat 17" to 19" (432–483mm) above the finish floor. Upholstered, cushioned seats are preferred by many physically disabled people and the elderly. Water-resistant solid phenolic seats are vandal-resistant and more sanitary.

Soap dishes are normally placed on the same wall as the shower head and controls where they are least likely to collect standing water. It is recommended that they be recessed and mounted 38" to 48" (965–1219mm) above the finish floor when installed in shower stalls, or they should be mounted between the grab bar and the rim of the bathtub.

Shower curtains generally work the best as enclosures for wheelchair users in all types of shower installations. If other types of shower enclosures are used, they should fold back completely out of the way so as not to obstruct transfer to shower seats or interfere with controls, and they must not incorporate a track along the rim of bathtubs.

Medicine cabinets installed in bathrooms must be mounted so at least one accessible shelf is no higher than 44" (1118mm) above the finish floor and the bottom edge of the mirror is no higher than 40" (1016mm) above the finish floor.