Sooner or later, you’re likely to be
asked to outfit a bathroom in an
accessible manner, to accommodate a
physically challenged user. In our
aging society, it probably isn’t a matter
of if, but when.
The ADA (Americans With
Disabilities Act), UFAS (Uniform
Federal Accessibility Standards), and
ANSI (American National Standard
Institute) all spell out the requirements
for public access compliance.
You won’t encounter official enforcement
of these guidelines in a residential
installation, yet they provide
a good model for any barrier-free
design. Consider them carefully with
your client before you deviate from
the pattern. Although there are sure
to be custom considerations pertaining
to individual needs, many of the
questions you’ll have, such as fixture
placement and area requirements,
are already addressed