inches (815 mm) wide. The minimum passage width for two wheelchairs is 60 inches (1525 mm). If an
accessible route is less than 60 inches (1525 mm) wide, passing spaces at least 60 inches by 60 inches
must be provided at intervals not to exceed 200 feet (61 m).
The ADAAG stipulates that the minimum clear floor space required to accommodate one stationary
wheelchair is 30 inches (762 mm) by 48 inches (1220 mm). For maneuverability, a minimum 60-inch
(1525-mm)-diameter circle is required for a wheelchair to make one 180-degree turn. In place of this, a
T-shaped space may be provided.
Doors and Doorways.
Doors should have a clear opening width of between 32 (815 mm) and 36 inches (915 mm) when the
door is opened at 90 degrees (Figure 11.8). The maximum depth of a 32-inch-wide (815-mm) doorway
is 24 inches (610 mm). If the depth exceeds this, the width must be increased to 36 inches (915 mm).
Threshold heights should not exceed 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) and should not contain any sharp slopes or
abrupt changes but should be beveled so no slope of the threshold is greater than 1:2. Door closers
should not hamper a door’s use by the disabled. No part of an accessible route may have a slope more
than 1:20 (1 inch rise for every 20 inches/508 mm distance). If a slope is greater than this, it is classified
as a ramp and must meet different requirements including the handrail provision.
Barrier-free codes also require that door hardware meet certain specifications. Lever handles on
doors for disabled people are usually cost-effective. All hardware on doors, cabinets, and windows should
be easy to grasp and operate with one hand and should not need a tight grip for turning. This includes
lever-operated, push-type mechanisms, and U-shaped handles. Standard doorknobs are not allowed.
Plumbing Fixtures and Public Lavatories
If a toilet-stall approach is from the latch side of the stall door, clearance between the door side of the
stall and any obstruction may be reduced to a minimum of 42 inches (1065 mm). Many toilet stalls are
positioned at the end of a path of travel between the row of stalls and the wall (Figure 11.9). The advan-
tage of using an end toilet for the accessible stall is that the grab bars can be fixed to the wall rather than
to a partition, which allows sturdier anchoring to meet minimum strength requirements.
There are several toilet-stall layouts that meet ADA requirements. Toilet rooms as well as toilet stalls
must have a minimum 60-inch (1525-mm) clear internal turning space. However, the clear floor space
at fixtures and controls may extend up to 19 inches (483 mm) under a wall-mounted sink. The clearance
depth varies depending on whether a wall-hung or floor-mounted water closet (60-inch by 56-inch min-
imum inside dimensions) is used. In most cases, the door must provide a minimum clear opening of 32
inches (815 mm) and must swing out, away from the stall enclosure. If a stall is less than 60 inches (1525
mm) deep, a 9-inch (225-mm) toe clearance is required under partitions. In planning toilet rooms, a 5-
foot diameter (1525-mm) clear space should be allowed for.
Grab bars must also be provided as shown in Figure 11.10, mounted from 33 inches (838 mm) to
36 inches (915 mm) above the finished floor. Grab bars should be a minimum of 42 inches (1065 mm)
long at a side wall and 36 inches (915 mm) at a rear wall. They should have a diameter of 1.5 inches (38
mm) and be located not more than 1.5 inches (38 mm) from the wall. In many toilets there is a lateral
space to the side of the water closet, which only allows provision of a side horizontal rail. Toilet-paper
dispensers are to be located below the grab bar, a minimum of 19 inches (483) above the finished floor.
In the absence of toilet stalls, the centerline of the toilet must still be 18 inches (455 mm) from a wall with
back and side grab bars. A clear space should be provided in front of and to the side of open water closets.
272 Chapter 11