Toilet rooms: fixture and transfer clearances

Chapter 6: Plumbing Elements and Facilities Toilet Rooms Toilet Room Signs [§216 and §703] Where provided, signs that identify permanent rooms and spaces, including toilet rooms, must have raised characters and braille and meet criteria for visual access (§216.2). Visual content and tactile content can be provided on separate signs. If pictograms are provided to identify toilet rooms (i.e., symbols for men’s, women’s, and unisex restrooms), they must be on a field at least 6” high, include the verbal equivalent below in raised characters and braille, and meet finish and contrast specifications (§703.6). These pictogram requirements do not apply to any informational pictograms that are also provided on the sign, including the International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA). If not all toilet rooms are accessible, those that comply must be labelled by the ISA. The ISA can be included on the toilet room sign or be provided separately. Where existing toilet rooms in an alteration do not comply, signs with the ISA must be provided indicating the location of the nearest accessible toilet room, and those that comply must be labeled by the ISA as well (§216.8). Restroom The content of directional signs is not specified. Common Questions Toilet Rooms Are toilet rooms that serve employees but not the public required to comply? Yes. Public and common use toilet rooms, including those used exclusively by employees, must comply. Private toilet rooms for a single occupant accessed only through a private office are permitted limited exceptions for certain access features, such as the later installation of grab bars if walls have blocking or are reinforced. Can access be provided to a unisex restroom instead of to men’s and women’s rooms? If men’s and women’s rooms are provided, they must be accessible even if a unisex toilet room is also provided. However, in alterations when it is technically infeasible to make existing men’s and women’s rooms comply, an accessible unisex toilet room can be provided instead if it is located on the same floor and in the same area as the men’s and women’s rooms (§213.2, Ex. 1). 32