Public restrooms at businesses should be accessible to everyone, but some regulations set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are overlooked. Failure to meet all of the requirements can prevent people from accessing the restroom, cause injuries, and spark lawsuits against the business owner. With the help of a commercial contractor and the following tips, you can ensure your public restrooms are ADA compliant.

How Can You Make Public Restrooms ADA Compliant?

1. Sinks

Multi-user restrooms with multiple sink areas only need one basin to follow ADA guidelines. The top of the bowl needs to be mounted no higher than 34 inches above the floor with at least a height of 27 inches and a depth of 8 inches for knee clearance. If pipes beneath the sink are not hidden by cabinetry, they must be insulated or covered. Faucets for this sink should be easily reachable and operable with one hand. 

2. Grab Bars

An ADA compliant restroom must have grab bars to support and steady disabled people moving around the stall. They should withstand no less than 250 pounds of pressure. Grab bars must be at least 42 inches long on sidewalls and 36 inches long on rear walls. The commercial contractor should install them between 33 and 36 inches above the floor with at least 1.5 inches of space from the wall. 

3. Stalls

For restrooms with urinals, the commercial contractor should make a stall that is no higher than 19 inches from the floor. Toilet stalls need at least 60 inches of turning spaces so that a person in a wheelchair can maneuver around with relative ease. There should also be a 60-inch clearance from the toilet and the sidewall and 56 inches from the rear wall.

If you need a commercial contractor to bring your public restrooms into ADA compliance, don’t hesitate to contact BHI General Contracting in Fairfield, OH. For more than 35 years, this construction contractor has provided timely services to clients throughout Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. As a one-stop-shop for all contracting services, they offer commercial remodeling and renovations for everything from industrial buildings to restaurants to medical facilities. To speak with a staff member about your upcoming project, call (513) 330-5686. You can also learn more about their full list of services by visiting them online today.