Universal Design

Accessibility Guidelines

The National Kitchen and Bath Association’s bathroom planning guidelines include accessibility standards that should be taken into consideration when creating a bathroom with universal design features. Visit the NKBA’s Web site for a complete list of access standards for the bathroom, as well as building codes for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities.

Door Entry: The clear opening of a doorway should be at least 34 inches. When a passage exceeds 24-inches in depth, the minimum clear opening increases to 36 inches.  

Benefit: A door this wide can make bathroom entrance easier if you use a wheelchair, walker, or other devices that assist with maneuverability.

Clear Space: Plan a minimum clear floor space of 30 inches x 48 inches at each fixture, plus space for maneuvering including approach and turning for a person using a wheelchair.

Plan a knee space at the lavatory or workspace to allow for a seated user. Recommended minimum size of a knee space is 36 inches wide by 27 inches high by 8 inches deep, increasing to 17 inches deep in the toe space, which extends 9 inches from the floor. Insulation for exposed pipes should be provided.

Consider the user’s method of transfer to the toilet to plan a clear space to fit the user’s needs.

Benefit: Providing the recommended clear space allows people in wheelchairs maneuver more easily in the bathroom.

Allowing room for a seat and knee space under a vanity is helpful for anyone who prefers to sit or has problems standing for a prolonged period of time, not just those in wheelchairs.

Having adequate clear space allows people in wheelchair to transfer to the toilet easier.

Lavatory/Vanity Height: Lavatory controls should be within the user’s reach and operable with minimal effort.

Benefit: A vanity and sink that people of various heights can use provides accessibility for children, seated vanity users and adults of all heights. Vanity heights are usually between 30 and 36 inches.

Shower Size: Plan either a transfer or a roll-in shower. A transfer shower provides support to a standing person or a person who can stand and transfer to a seated position. Plan for it to be 36 inches by 36 inches.

A roll-in shower is a waterproof area large enough for a person in a wheelchair to remain in the chair to shower. Plan for a minimum size shower of 36 to 42 inches wide by 60 inches deep.

Benefit: Extra square inches in the shower will allow for increased maneuverability.

Tub/Shower Controls: Controls should be offset toward the room [instead of centered above the tub faucet and/or below the showerhead] and easy to grasp, as with a lever or loop handles.

Hot and cold settings should be identified with red and blue indicators, respectively.

Provide a handheld shower spray at a height accessible to the user.

Benefit: Whether you are washing a child, an adult or even a pet, having tub and shower controls located on the side near the bathroom allows you to adjust temperature and water pressure without having to lean over the tub or under the showerhead.

Color-coded hot and cold settings are useful indicators for small children or adults with vision problems who have trouble reading print.

Shower/Tub Seat: Plan a seat in the shower and/or bathtub to fit the parameters of the space and the needs of the user.

Benefit: Seats make showering and bathing safer for people of all ages and abilities.

Grab Bars: Walls throughout the bathroom should be prepared (reinforced) at time of construction to allow for installation of grab bars to support a minimum of 250 lbs. of pressure.

Grab bars should be placed according to the needs and height of the user, particularly near the tub/shower and toilet.

Benefit: Much like shower and bath seats, grab bars can make the shower and bath environment safer for everyone by preventing slips and falls.

Tub/Shower Door: Minimize thresholds at the shower entry to no more than ½ an inch.

Benefit: Having a low threshold makes stepping or rolling into the shower easier and safer, especially those who have limited maneuverability or use wheelchairs.

Toilet/Bidet Placement: The recommended height of the toilet seat is between 15 and 19 inches high.

Benefit: Having a toilet or bidet seat that is set 15 inches or higher can make sitting on and getting up from toilets easier and more comfortable.

Toilet Compartment: To maximize access, provide privacy in the toilet area without using a separate compartment.

Benefit: Separate toilet compartments in residential bathrooms are often tight spaces that are not functional for people with maneuvering difficulties. Finding other means of creating privacy than enclosing the toilet with walls and a door will result in a more functional space.

Storage: Plan storage of frequently used items 15 to 48 inches above the floor.

Benefit: Placing cabinet storage within that height range assures that everyone, regardless of height or range of motion, will be able to access important bathroom items.

Accessories: Plan a full height mirror to provide reflection at eye level, regardless of the user’s height or stature.

Benefit: Full length mirrors, as opposed to mirrors that are placed above the countertop, are more useful for shorter people and people in wheelchairs.

Lighting: Task lighting at the vanity should be beside the mirror and at eye level, with the lamp not visible to the eye. Lighting controls should be between 15 and 48 inches above the floor and operable with a closed fist and with minimal effort.

Benefit: Lights that can be switched on easily with minimal hand and finger movement can make life easier for people who have limited hand movement or ailments like arthritis.