YOUR GUIDE TO ACCESSIBLE AND AMBULANT TOILETS

What is the difference between an accessible toilet and an ambulant toilet?

Accessible toilets are designed for wheelchair users and people who require carer assistance with toileting, therefore they are much larger than ambulant toilets, with greater minimum circulation spaces around the toilet pan and other fixtures. Unlike ambulant toilets, accessible toilets are never located within single sex restrooms as they must be unisex to accommodate people with disabilities and carers of different genders.

Accessible toilets can also be referred to as Accessible Sanitary Facilities and may include a shower. They are often located in a public facility associated with a bank of male and female restrooms. Bathrooms in an accessible hotel room or accessible aged care room can also be referred to as accessible toilets.

Ambulant toilets are intended for people with ambulant disabilities, which are typically physical disabilities that do not require any or fulltime use of a wheelchair and/or may require use of other mobility aids such as walking frames, crutches, or prostheses. To accommodate these needs, the toilet pan is higher and centred in a 900-920mm wide space with grabrails on both sides. Other fixtures also have specification standards.

Ambulant toilets are required where male and female toilets are provided in the same location as an accessible toilet. Many other people also use ambulant toilets, including older people, people with arthritis, those recovering from surgery or injury, and people who fatigue easily.

What signage is required for accessible and ambulant toilets?

The BCA and AS 1428.1-2009 contain specific requirements for accessible signage, such as their location, type, and information. Signs at each entry or airlock must let people know what facilities are within, and individual accessible or ambulant toilet doors must also be signed.

The signs include raised text and Braille to assist people who are blind or vision impaired to interpret the message. Pictograms offer a clear pictorial representation of the essential information and are particularly useful for people with intellectual disabilities, low literacy, or limited English.

Signs for accessible toilets indicate whether the toilet is for left-handed use (LH) or right-handed use (RH), which refers to the location of the side grabrail when someone is seated on the toilet. The signs must always be installed on the wall besides the door to allow someone to read the Braille message without interruption, even when the door is open or opening.

Where can I find the Australian standards for accessible toilets?

BCA Clause F2.4 and associated tables contain the standards for the provision, location etc of accessible toilets and showers, and ambulant toilets.

AS 1428.1-2009¹ Clause 15 is the primary source for technical compliance standards for accessible toilets and showers. AS 1428.1-2009 Clause 16 is the source for technical compliance standards for ambulant toilets.

What are the DDA toilet compliance requirements?

Did you know that the term ‘DDA toilet’ doesn’t appear anywhere in accessibility legislation in Australia? The Disability Discrimination Act doesn’t prescribe any specific toilet compliance requirements. The correct term is accessible toilet or accessible sanitary facility, and compliance is governed by the Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards (Premises Standards), BCA, and AS 1428.1-2009.

Many people are surprised to learn that accessible toilets are not intended exclusively for use by wheelchair users or even people with a disability. Generally they should be available for people with a disability who may have less suitable facilities available to them and may experience increased urgency to use a toilet. However, anyone can use an accessible toilet facility, including people who require carer assistance, parents or carers with children, or anyone who benefits from the increased space, support, and privacy available in these bathrooms.

What does the DDA say about accessible toilet dimensions?

The typical room size for an accessible toilet is at least 1900 x 2700mm or 2330 x 2300mm, although this will vary based on the room shape, specific layout, and inclusion of additional fixtures such as a baby change table. Depending on the layout, a slightly larger room is usually required to include an accessible shower.

An accessible toilet differs from an accessible adult change facility (BCA Clause F2.9) in that the latter contains more specialise equipment for carer-assisted toileting, showering, and changing. One cannot replace the other.

Want to know more?

There are over 70 compliance requirements for an accessible toilet, which often makes them a challenging part of any build! That’s where we can help make your build easier. For assessments at design and as-built stages, please contact us.