ADA Bathroom Violations: 25 Common Mistakes That Fail Inspections
If you provide a bathroom to the public, it is important you optimize it for ADA compliance. This means adhering to the relevant building code and laws that ensure ADA accessibility. People with wheelchairs, scooters, or other mobility aids deserve equal access to public facilities and understanding the laws benefits you. With so many codes and regulations for ADA compliant bathrooms, we created a list of the top 25 most common ADA bathroom violations. As a business owner or property manager, you should be aware of what is legally required of you utilize a professional ADA inspector, and work toward ADA compliance to avoid getting sued or paying fines. All of the cited violations are according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Common ADA Toilet Installation Violations
1. Toilet seat height is a major component of ADA bathroom compliance. Seat heights must be 17″ inches minimum to 19″ inches maximum to the top of the toilet seat (§604).
2. The centerline of the toilet from the wall is another common violation, and a relatively easy fix. The toilet must measure 16” inches up to 18” inches center from the wall.
3. Toilet clearance requirements are vital for allowing people to approach your toilet. Proper ADA toilet clearance will include a 56” inch minimum x 60” inch minimum clear space at the toilet.
4. Toilet paper holder placement ensures toilet users can reach the toilet paper with relative ease. This requirement states toilet paper dispenser outlets may be 15” inches minimum up to 48” inches maximum as long as there are no obstructions like grab bars.
5. Proper configuration of grab bars can be complex. There are too many elements to list here but make sure your rear grab bar is 36” inches long minimum and your side grab bar 42” inches long minimum. Check out the full grab bar guide for placement and height.
ADA Bathroom Violations: Sink and Lavatory
6. Sinks are often mounted too high. Sinks and lavatory requirements call for a maximum height of 34” inches.
7. Lack of proper knee and toe clearance is a super common ADA violation we find. Check out our guide to proper knee and toe clearance here.
8. Exposed plumbing under sinks such as a hot water supply lines can cause skin burns or obstruct clearance. Make sure to use proper insulation in ALL exposed plumbing under sinks.
9. When looking at sinks and lavatories, how you use them matters. Make sure your faucet controls are ADA compliant with ease and make sure auto shut off faucets run for at least 10 seconds.
10. Soap dispensers must meet proper height requirements and are usually too high, out of ADA compliance. Code requires 15″ inches minimum to 48″ inches maximum to the operable part of the soap dispenser.
Bathroom Accessory Violations
11. Paper towel dispensers are common ADA bathroom violations. These dispensers must be no higher than 48” inches maximum.
12. In addition to height, accessories such as paper towel dispensers must have proper space. If you want to prevent ADA bathroom violations, make sure to allow 30″ inches minimum by 48″ inches minimum in front of the element with clear floor space.
13. ADA Mirrors are the 13th most common ADA bathroom violations list. People mistakenly measure to the frame of the mirror, not the reflective surface. Mirror height requires the reflective surface to start no higer than 40” inches maximum.
14. Coat hooks in bathrooms on doors and bathroom stalls require proper placement. Coat hooks must adhere to proper reach range requirements of 15” inches minimum to 48” inches maximum above the finish floor.
15. Hand dryers are often mounted too low when trying to compensate for the ADA. If you want to avoid ADA bathroom problems, make sure to not surpass the maximum height of 48” inches.
Most Common ADA Bathroom Layout Violations
16. If you want to avoid lawsuits, make sure you provide a circular turning space of 60” inches minimum or a t-shaped turning space. This is a common ADA bathroom layout issue.
17. Proper clear space is the seventeenth violation that includes all the elements floor space in a bathroom. Make sure to provide proper floor space to all bathroom elements and proper turning space.
18. One violation that can be present one day and not the next is the presence of movable object like a free standing bathroom trashcan. Ensure your bathroom does not block any clear floor space with trash cans or obstructions.
19. ADA bathroom violations also include all types of door requirements. Ensure your door pressure is a maximum of 5lbs of force, and check out the page for even more door requirements.
20. As ADA inspectors, we see ADA bathroom violations like absence of self-closing stall doors. If you have a bathroom stall, ensure the door is self-closing.
Miscellaneous ADA Bathroom Violations
21. ADA compliant urinals are often subject to violations because they are not properly aligned. Ensure your urinal is mounted no more than 17” inches maximum above the finished floor.
22. The 22nd most common ADA bathroom violation is the distance of the urinal from the wall. Urinals must be mounted 15 inches minimum from the side wall to centerline to ensure proper access according to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).
23. Missing ADA bathroom signage is common and can be the difference between someone finding your bathroom or not. Many signs have braille that the visually impaired rely on. Ensure you have proper ADA bathroom signage by hiring an ADA inspector.
24. Correct ADA door hardware in bathrooms is always needed. Make sure your bathroom door handle does not require any tight pinching, grasping, or twisting. This is because someone with difficulty utilizing their hand may require an easier opening method.
25. Incorrect restroom layouts are also very common. Ensure you are providing the correct amount of accessible and ambulatory stalls. If you don’t know the necessary amount, reach out for a free ADA consultation estimate!
Avoid Bathroom Accessibility Liability While Ensuring Access
ADA bathroom violations are common in every single bathroom we evaluate. As a business owner, it is beneficial to hire a professional ADA inspector to assess your bathroom. We’ll take photos, gather measurements, and deliver a report that goes over exactly what you need done in order to reach ADA compliance. If you want to provide access to your property for your customers, it’s a great idea to get a free estimate. Additionally, there is an influx of ADA related lawsuits floating around that all stem from out of compliance properties. If you own a business, manage a property, or provide a service in a public area you are likely liable to an ADA lawsuit if you are not working towards compliance. Reach out for a free quote and we’ll save you from fees and help you reach the most amount of customers you can.
