One common use bathing facilities such as bathtubs or showers are provided for residents or guests, at least one of each type of fixture in each facility and not less than 1% of all fixtures shall comply for accessibility. The following are summarized excerpts from some of the new building codes for these accessible bathroom fixtures. Please refer to the 2013 California Building Code books for more details and drawings. ACCESSIBLE BATHTUBS Bathtub Clear Floor Space A clear space of 30 x 60 shall be provided in front of a bathtub or shower compartment to allow parallel or side approach A clear space of 48 x 60 shall be provided in front of a bathtub or shower compartment to allow forward approach Clearance in front of bathtubs shall extend the length of the bathtub and shall be 48 wide minimum for forward approach and 30 wide minimum for parallel approach. The entrance opening into a roll-in shower compartment shall be a minimum of 42 wide with clear floor space of 48 deep An alternate roll-in shower opening shall be 36 wide minimum on the long side of a 36 x 60 shower compartment Bathtub Seats The foot end of the tub where the controls and water entry are located. The head end of the tub is opposite the foot end. A removable in-tub seat or permanent seat at the head end of the tub shall be provided The structural strength of seats and their attachments shall support a 250-pound load The top of bathtub seats shall be 17 minimum and 19 maximum The depth of a removable seat shall be 15 minimum and 16 maximum Page 1 of 7
The depth of a permanent seats at the head end of the bathtub shall be 15 deep minimum and shall extend from the back wall to or beyond the outer edge of the bathtub (fig 11A-9E) A permanent seat at the head end of the bathtub shall extend 12 minimum beyond the wall at the head end of the bathtub (fig 11A-9E) Bathtub Grab Bars When separate grab bars are required at a common mounting height, an L-shaped or U-shaped grab bar meeting dimensional requirements shall be permitted. Three grab bars shall be required for bathtubs with permanent seats. o Two 48 long horizontal grab bars shall be installed on the back wall 15 maximum from the head end wall and 12 maximum from the control end wall o One grab bar shall be located 33 minimum and 36 maximum above the finished floor measured to the top of the gripping service o The second grab bar shall be located 8 minimum and 10 maximum above the rim of the bathtub o A 24 long minimum third grab bar shall be installed on the control end wall at the front edge of the bathtub Three grab bars shall be required for bathtubs with removable seats. o Two 24 long horizontal grab bars shall be installed on the back wall 24 maximum from the head end wall and 12 maximum from the control end wall o One grab bar shall be located 33 minimum and 36 maximum above the finished floor measured to the top of the gripping service o The second grab bar shall be located 8 minimum and 10 maximum above the rim of the bathtub o A 24 long minimum third grab bar shall be installed on the control end wall at the front edge of the bathtub Page 2 of 7
Bathtub Controls Faucets and controls other than drain stoppers shall be located on an end wall between the bathtub rim and grab bar and between the open side of the bathtub and centerline of the width of the bathtub. Controls, faucets, and shower spray units shall be operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist. The force required to activate operable parts shall be 5 pounds maximum Bathtub/Shower Spray Units The hose shall be at least 59 long that can be used both as a fixed shower head and a hand-held shower The spray unit shall have an on/off control with a non-positive shut-off An adjustable height shower head on a vertical bar shall not obstruct the use of the grab bars Bathtub Enclosures Enclosures shall not obstruct controls, faucets, shower and spray units Enclosures shall not obstruct transfer from wheelchair onto bathtub seats or into bathtubs Enclosures on bathtubs shall not have tracks installed on the rib of the open face of the bathtub ACCESSIBLE ROLL-IN SHOWERS Standard Roll-in Shower Compartment Sizes 30 minimum depth and70 minimum width between wall surfaces with a full opening width on the long side 42 in width between wall surfaces and 48 minimum in depth with an entrance opening of 42 Page 3 of 7
Alternate Roll-in Shower Compartment Size 36 minimum in depth and 60 minimum in width between wall surfaces with a 36 wide minimum entrance at one end of the long side of the compartment Shower Floor Clearance A clear space of 30 x 60 shall be provided in front of a shower compartment to allow parallel or side approach. A clear space of 48 x 60 shall be provided in front of a shower compartment to allow forward approach Shower Thresholds in a Roll-In Shower Compartment ½ maximum in height with a beveled slope no greater than one vertical units in two units horizontal (50% slope) Exception changes in level not exceeding 1/4 shall be permitted to be vertical Shower Floor Slope Shower compartment floor surfaces shall be stable, firm and slip resistant The maximum slope of the floor shall be ¼ per food in any directions Grate openings in drains shall be ¼ maximum and located flush with the floor surface Shower Controls Controls, faucets, and shower spray units shall be operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist. The force required to activate operable parts shall be 5 pounds maximum Page 4 of 7
All controls shall be a of a single-lever design Operable parts of standard roll-in shower compartment controls and faucets shall be located above the grab bar on the back wall o Controls and faucets shall be mounted no higher than 48 above the shower floor with their centerline at 39 minimum and 41 maximum above the shower floor o Shower spray units including the handle shall be installed on the back wall adjacent to the seat wall, 29 minimum and 27 maximum from the seat wall and shall be no higher than 48 above the shower floor Operable parts of alternative roll-in shower compartment controls and faucets shall be located above the grab bar on the side wall adjacent to the seat wall, 19 minimum and 27 maximum from the seat wall o Controls and faucets shall be mounted no higher than 48 above the shower floor with their centerline at 39 minimum and 41 maximum above the shower floor o Shower spray units including the handle shall be installed on the side wall adjacent to the seat wall, 17 minimum and 19 maximum from the seat wall and shall be no higher than 48 above the shower floor or on the back wall opposite the seat 15 maximum, left or right of the centerline of the seat and shall be no higher than 48 above the shower floor Page 5 of 7
Hand-held Shower Spray Units The hose shall be at least 59 long that can be used both as a fixed shower head and a hand-held shower The spray unit shall have an on/off control with a non-positive shut-off An adjustable height shower head on a vertical bar shall not obstruct the use of the grab bars Page 6 of 7
Shower compartment seats A seat shall be a folding type, installed on the side wall adjacent to the controls The seat in a standard roll-in shower compartment shall extend from the back wall to a point within 3 of the compartment entry A seat in an alternate roll-in shower compartment shall be a folding type installed on the front wall opposite the back wall and shall extend from the adjacent side wall to a point within 3 of the compartment entry Seats shall be located within 27 of the shower controls The top of the seat shall be 17 minimum and 19 maximum above the bathroom finish floor When folded, the seat shall not extend more than 6 from the mounting wall Rectangular seats o The rear edge shall be 2-1/2 maximum from the seat wall o The front edge shall be 15 minimum and 16 maximum from the seat wall o The side edge of the seat shall be 1-1/2 maximum from the adjacent wall L-shaped seats o The rear edge shall be 2-1/2 maximum from the seat wall o The front edge shall be 15 minimum and 16 maximum from the seat wall o The rear edge shall be 1-1/2 maximum from the wall o The front edge shall be 14 minimum and 15 maximum from the wall o The end of the L shall be 22 minimum and 23 maximum from the main seat wall Page 7 of 7