Special Care

Document M of the Building Regulations outlines the requirements to provide universal access in public, domestic and commercial buildings. For the washroom this doesn't limit itself to wheelchair users but covers anyone who might have a permanent or even temporary impairment which makes it difficult for them to access or use toilet facilities.

Domestic New Build

New build constructions must have a WC on the entry floor, which is easily accessible without having to negotiate a stair.

The entrance to the toilet and house must provide access for wheelchair users.

Public and Commercial Properties - Facilities required to comply with part M

Where the building has only one toilet

Where the building has only one toilet this must be unisex and accessible by wheelchair users. It needs to include a standing height basin as well as a lower level hand basin. The WC has to be higher and project longer than standard to suit wheelchair transfer suit wheelchair transfer.

Where the building has a number of facilities for visitors

There must be a unisex wheelchair accessible toilet close to each washroom.

In every male and female washroom

There must be a cubicle provided for ambulant disabled users.

In a male or female washroom

With 4 or more cubicles there must be an Enlarged cubicle as well as an ambulant cubicle.

In Hotels

1 in every 20 rooms must provide for disabled use, ideally alternating between shower room and bathroom.

In Public Showers

There should be at least 1 wheelchair accessible facility installed.

As well as layout, consideration must be made to other aspects

Surface finish and luminance

The colours of wall and floor finishes must have at least a 20 point luminance difference between them to allow contrast for people with sight impairments.

Taps and mixers must be easy to turn

To aid those with poor dexterity all taps and mixers must be able to be operated using a closed fist.

Taps and Mixers must not exceed 43°C

Taps and mixers must be thermostatically controlled and not exceed 43ºC.

Cubicle Doors

There are requirements for the design of cubicle doors….that they ideally open outwards, can be easily opened with clenched fist, that if they do open inwards the door doesn’t encroach in the minimum activity space and doors must be able to be unlocked from the outside as well as the inside and lifted off their hinges.