Every colour has its own LRV number, to aid partially sighted people washrooms must allow for 30-point contrasts in colours on wall and floor finishes, the surface finish of sanitary fittings and grab rails should contrast visually with background wall and floor finishes, between indicator bolts and doors, between sanitaryware and back panels or vanity tops, between doors and pilasters and when considering grab rail colours.
Standard Cubicle:
In order to ensure full compliance, each standard toilet cubicle or WC compartment must allow for a minimum of 450mm in maneuvering space. This is measured between the swing of the door, the WC pan, and the sidewall of the cubicle to allow for plenty of userspace.
Doors and bolts on the WC should open with a force of 20 newtons and indicator bolts and doors should be capable of being operated with a closed fist.
Cubicle doors require an emergency release mechanism that allows doors to open from the outside in an emergency. Doors should also be able to be opened even if someone has collapsed inside the cubicle, against the door. This will usually mean the doors can be lifted off their hinges from the outside of the cubicle.
Enlarged Cubicle:
Building Regulations Doc M states that enlarged cubicles can assist people with babies or small children, people carrying luggage, and ambulant disabled users.
Where there are four or more WC cubicles in a separate sex toilet accommodation, one of these must be an enlarged cubicle. This cubicle must be in addition to the ambulant disabled cubicle and must include opening and closing bars on doors, there must be adequate moving space for say someone in a shopping centre with a pushchair or in an airport where someone may have large bags or a suitcase which wouldn’t fit in a standard cubicle.
Ambulant Disabled Cubicle:
In a separate sex toilet accommodation, at least one WC cubicle should be provided for use by ambulant disabled people. If there is only one cubicle in the washroom, this must be suitable for an ambulant disabled person.
This cubicle must have an outward opening door with opening and closing bars on it. The cubicle must include suitable activity space for someone on crutches or with impaired leg movement. The WC in this cubicle is of a raised height – 480mm to the top of the WC seat, there must be grab rails in the cubicle, including one placed either side of the WC to allow the user to lift themselves on and off the WC.
Bushboard supply Doc M accessories – including sanitaryware, brassware and grab rails – as a complete pack or pre-plumbed to panels.
Wheelchair Accessible Unisex Toilet
In a separate sex toilet accommodation, at least one WC cubicle should be provided for use by ambulant disabled people. If there is only one cubicle in the washroom, this must be suitable for an ambulant disabled person.
This cubicle must have an outward opening door with opening and closing bars on it. The cubicle must include suitable activity space for someone on crutches or with impaired leg movement. The WC in this cubicle is of a raised height – 480mm to the top of the WC seat, there must be grab rails in the cubicle, including one placed either side of the WC to allow the user to lift themselves on and off the WC.
Note: While Bushboard is happy to assist, it is the sole responsibility of the customer to ensure compliance with the Equality Act of 2010 and the latest Building Regulations Part M. To learn more about full compliance, please contact your Local Authority Access Control Officer.