Section 1127A Common Use Facilities

Note: For public use facilities, see Chapter 11B of this code.

When provided, common use areas and facilities in covered multifamily housing developments shall be accessible to persons with disabilities. Common use facilities include, but are not limited to, lobbies, toilet and bathing facilities, laundry facilities, community rooms, clubhouses, health and fitness facilities, game rooms and portions of common use tenant storage. All entrances, doors, fixtures and controls shall be on an accessible route. Facilities and fixtures required to be accessible shall comply with the following provisions:

1. Doors. Doors to accessible bathrooms shall comply with Section 1126A. Doors shall not swing into the floor space required for any fixture.
2. Clear floor space. All fixtures and controls shall be on an accessible route. Clear floor spaces at fixtures and controls, the accessible route and the turning space may overlap. This clear space shall comply with Sections 1138A.1.4 and 1138A.3.
3. Water closets. Where a toilet stall is provided, it shall comply with Section 1127A.2.1 or 1127A.2.2, and its water closet shall comply with Section 1127A.2.3.
4. Lavatory and mirrors. Where a lavatory and/or mirror is provided, it shall comply with Sections 1127A.3 and/or 1127A.8.3.
5. Controls and dispensers. Where controls, dispensers, receptacles or other types of equipment are provided, at least one of each shall be on an accessible route and shall comply with Sections 1127A.8 and 1138A.3.
6. Bathing and shower facilities. Where bathtubs or showers are provided, at least one fixture of each type provided shall be accessible per room. For bathtubs, see Section 1127A.5.2. For shower compartments, see Section 1127A.5.3.
7. Toilet facilities. Toilet facilities shall comply with Section 1127A.2.
8. Laundry facilities. Laundry facilities shall comply with Section 1127A.10.
9. Storage facilities. Storage facilities shall comply with Section 1127A.11.
10. Fixed or built-in seating, tables and counters. Fixed or built-in seating, tables and counters shall comply with Section 1127A.12.

When common use toilet facilities are provided for residents or guests, at least one percent of the total number of fixtures but not less than one of each type shall comply with this section.

Multiple-accommodation toilet facilities shall have the following:

Note: (See Figures 11A-9A and 11A-9B.)

1. Wheelchair turning space. Turning space of sufficient size to inscribe a circle with a diameter not less than 60 inches (1524 mm) or a T-shaped space shall be provided within the toilet facility. The wheelchair turning space shall comply with Section 1138A.1.3. Other than the door to the accessible water closet compartment, a door, in any position, may encroach into this space by not more than 12 inches (305 mm).
2. Clear space at fixtures. Doors shall not swing into the clear floor space required for any fixture. Required clear floor space, clearance at fixtures, and turning space shall be permitted to overlap.

3. Accessible water closet compartment. Accessible water closet compartments shall be 60 inches (1524 mm) wide minimum measured perpendicular to the side wall, 56 inches (1422 mm) deep minimum for wall hung water closets and 59 inches (1499 mm) deep minimum for floor mounted water closets measured perpendicular to the rear wall. (See Figure 11A-9A(c).)

   Water closet fixtures located in accessible water closet compartments shall be positioned with a wall or partition to the rear and to one side. The centerline of the water closet shall be 17 inches (432 mm) minimum to 18 inches (457 mm) maximum from the side wall or partition.

   In ambulatory accessible toilet compartments specified in Item 6 of this section, the water closet shall be 17 inches (432 mm) minimum and 19 inches (483 mm) maximum from the side wall or partition. (See Figure 11A-9A (d).)

   Clearance around a water closet shall be 60 inches (1524 mm) minimum measured perpendicular from the side wall and 56 inches (1422 mm) minimum measured perpendicular from the rear wall. The required clearance around the water closet shall be permitted to overlap the water closet, associated grab bars, dispensers, sanitary napkin disposal units, coat hooks, shelves, accessible routes, clear floor space and clearances required at other fixtures, and the turning space. No other fixtures or obstructions shall be located within the required water closet clearance.

   A minimum 48 inches (1219 mm) deep and 60 inches (1524 mm) wide clear maneuvering space shall be provided in front of the water closet if the compartment has an end-opening door (facing the water closet). A minimum 60 inches (1524 mm) deep and 60 inches (1524 mm) wide clear maneuvering space shall be provided in a compartment with the door located at the side. (See Figure 11A-9A.)

4. Grab bars. Grab bars shall be provided on the side wall closest to the water closet and on the rear wall. Grab bars shall comply with this section and Section 1127A.4.

   The side wall grab bar shall be 42 inches (1067 mm) long minimum, located 12 inches (305 mm) maximum from the rear wall and extend 54 inches (1372 mm) minimum from the rear wall. The front end of the side grab bar shall be positioned 24 inches (610 mm) minimum in front of the water closet.

   The rear wall grab bar shall be 36 inches (914 mm) long minimum and extend from the centerline of the water closet 12 inches (305 mm) minimum on one side and 24 inches (610 mm) minimum on the other side.

   Exceptions:

   1. The rear grab bar shall be permitted to be 24 inches (610 mm) long minimum, centered on the water closet, when wall space does not permit a length of 36 inches (914 mm) minimum due to the location of a recessed fixture adjacent to the water closet.
   2. When the enforcing agency requires flush controls for flush valves to be located in a position that conflicts with the location of the rear grab bar, then the rear grab bar shall be permitted to be split or shifted to the open side of the toilet area.

5. Compartment doors. Compartment doors shall comply with Section 1126A and the following:

   1. 5.1. The water closet compartment shall be equipped with a door that has an automatic-closing device, and shall have a clear, unobstructed opening width of 32 inches (813 mm) when located at the end and 34 inches (864 mm) when located at the side with the door positioned at an angle of 90 degrees from its closed position.
   2. 5.2. When standard compartment doors are used, with a minimum 9-inch (228.6 mm) clearance for footrests underneath and a self-closing device, clearance at the strike edge as specified in Section 1126A.3.2 is not required.
   3. 5.3. The inside and outside of the compartment door shall be equipped with a loop or U-shaped handle immediately below the latch. The latch shall be flip-over style, sliding or other hardware not requiring the user to grasp or twist.
   4. 5.4. Except for door-opening widths and door swings, a clear, unobstructed access of not less than 44 inches (1118 mm) shall be provided to water closet compartments designed for use by persons with disabilities, and the space immediately in front of a water closet compartment shall not be less than 48 inches (1219 mm) as measured at right angles to compartment door in its closed position.
   5. 5.5. Doors shall be located in the front or in the side wall or partition farthest from the water closet. Where located in the front partition, the door opening shall be 4 inches (102 mm) maximum from the side wall or partition. Where located in the side wall or partition, the door opening shall be 4 inches (102 mm) maximum from the front wall or partition.

6. Ambulatory accessible compartments. When six or more toilet compartments are provided within a multiple-accommodation toilet room, or when the combination of urinals and water closets totals six or more fixtures, at least one compartment shall comply with Section 1127A.2.1, Items 2 and 3. At least one additional ambulatory compartment shall have a depth of 60 inches (1524 mm) minimum, and a width of 35 inches (890 mm) minimum and 37 inches (940 mm) maximum.

   The ambulatory accessible compartment shall have a self-closing door, which shall not swing into the minimum required compartment area. Grab bars, complying with Sections 1127A.4.2, 1127A.4.3, 1127A.4.4 and 1127A.4.5, shall be installed on each compartment side wall. (See Figure 11A-9A(d).)

Single-accommodation toilet facilities shall comply with the following:

Note: See Figures 11A-9A and 11A-9B.

1. Wheelchair clearance. There shall be sufficient space in the toilet room for a wheelchair measuring 30 inches (762 mm) wide by 48 inches (1219 mm) long to enter the room and permit the door to close. There shall be in the room a clear turning space of at least 60 inches (1524 mm) in diameter or a T-shaped space complying with Section 1138A.1.3.

   Required clear floor space, clearance at fixtures, and turning space shall be permitted to overlap.

2. Encroachment of doors. Doors shall not encroach into the turning space specified in Item 1 of this section by more than 12 inches (305 mm).

3. Accessible water closet. A water closet fixture located in a single-accommodation toilet facility shall be positioned with a wall or partition to the rear and to one side. The centerline of the water closet shall be 17 inches (432 mm) minimum to 18 inches (457 mm) maximum from the side wall or partition.

   Clearance around a water closet shall be 60 inches (1524 mm) minimum measured perpendicular from the side wall and 56 inches (1422 mm) minimum measured perpendicular from the rear wall. The required clearance around the water closet shall be permitted to overlap the water closet, associated grab bars, dispensers, sanitary napkin disposal units, coat hooks, shelves, accessible routes, clear floor space and clearances required at other fixtures, and the turning space. No other fixtures or obstructions shall be located within the required water closet clearance.

   A minimum 48 inches (1219 mm) deep and 60 inches (1524 mm) wide clear maneuvering space shall be provided in front of the water closet.

4. Grab bars. Grab bars shall be provided on the side wall closest to the water closet and on the rear wall. Grab bars shall comply with this section and Section 1127A.4.

   The side wall grab bar shall be 42 inches (1067 mm) long minimum, located 12 inches (305 mm) maximum from the rear wall and extend 54 inches (1372 mm) minimum from the rear wall. The front end of the side grab bar shall be positioned 24 inches (610 mm) minimum in front of the water closet.

   The rear wall grab bar shall be 36 inches (914 mm) long minimum and extend from the centerline of the water closet 12 inches (305 mm) minimum on one side and 24 inches (610 mm) minimum on the other side.

   Exceptions:

   1. The rear grab bar shall be permitted to be 24 inches (610 mm) long minimum, centered on the water closet, when wall space does not permit a length of 36 inches (914 mm) minimum due to the location of a recessed fixture adjacent to the water closet.
   2. When the enforcing agency requires flush controls for flush valves to be located in a position that conflicts with the location of the rear grab bar, then the rear grab bar shall be permitted to be split or shifted to the open side of the toilet area.
5. Accessible route. All doors, fixtures and controls shall be on an accessible route. The minimum clear width of an accessible route shall be 36 inches (914 mm) except at doors (See Section 1126A). If a person in a wheelchair must make a turn around an obstruction, the minimum clear width of the accessible route shall be as specified in Section 1138A.1.5.

Water closets required to be accessible shall comply with the following:

Note: See Figure 11A-9B.

1. Height. The height of accessible water closets shall be a minimum of 17 inches (432 mm) to a maximum of 19 inches (483 mm) measured to the top of a maximum 2-inch-high (50.8 mm) toilet seat.
2. Controls. Flush controls shall be hand operated or automatic. Hand operated controls shall be operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching or twisting. Controls for the flush valves shall be mounted on the open side of the water closet no more than 44 inches (1118 mm) above the floor. The force required to activate controls shall be no greater than 5 pounds (22.2 N).
3. Toilet seats. Seats shall not be sprung to return to a lifted position.