The ambulant toilet cubicle requirements to provide ambulant accessible facilities were prescribed in the Building Code of Australia (BCA) in 2011 as part of the adoption of the Disability (Access to Premises-Buildings) Standards. Since the mandatory requirement for these facilities was introduced, there has been much confusion about when they are required and also the reason for providing them.
What is an ambulant toilet cubicle?
An ambulant toilet cubicle facility is specifically designated for people with ambulant disabilities (such as people with arthritis or those that use a walking frame) who may find it very difficult to lower themselves and rise from the pan but do not require the full circulation space and support that a fully accessible toilet provides.
When are ambulant toilet cubicles required?
The ambulant toilet cubicle requirements to provide an ambulant accessible facility are found in Part F2.4(c) of the BCA – specifically that where there is a ‘bank’ of toilets (i.e., one or more toilets in addition to the accessible unisex sanitary compartment), a sanitary compartment must be provided for use by males and females. The BCA and Premises Standard do not define a ‘bank’ but it is considered to exist where you have a set of sanitary compartments for use by males and females (i.e., sitting side by side).
So, what are the ambulant toilet cubicle requirements?
The facility is not unlike a normal cubicle but has some specific requirements including:
- Minimum clear circulation spaces of 900mm x 900mm circulation spaces at doorways on both sides of airlock and cubicle doorways – refer to diagrams below (think of these as spaces that someone with a walking frame can stand whether the door is opened or closed);
- 900-920 mm width inside the cubicle;
- Accessible signage on the cubicle door;
- Grabrails on each side of the cubicle. Each grabrail must be able to withstand a force of 1100N applied at any position;
- A 610-660mm toilet pan projection from the rear to the front of the toilet pan;
- A 460-480mm height range of the toilet pan seat above the finished floor level (the same requirement as an accessible toilet);
- A toilet roll holder in an accessible location (the same requirement as an accessible toilet);
- A minimum clear opening in the ambulant cubicle doorway of 700mm;
- Snib catches require a handle with a minimum length of 45mm from the centre of the spindle;
- A coat hook within the cubicle.
The diagrams showing ambulant facility requirements can be found in Section 16 of Australian Standard AS1428.1-2009.
Airlock circulation spaces: Design solutions for ambulant toilet cubicles
Most designers have been including an ambulant toilet cubicle accessible facility in both the female and male toilets where there is more than one pan in each.
Others have been providing a separate unisex ambulant accessible facility. However, providing a unisex facility does not mean you are able to count the pan as one pan for both sexes as this only applies to accessible sanitary compartments (BCA F2.2(c)).
The BCA also requires the ambulant facility to have signage indicating its location, which needs to be on the entry door to the toilets and also the door to the actual cubicle.
Note: Of the multiple circulation spaces shown outside of the cubicle, only one of these needs to be met to comply.
Some designers have been making the ambulant toilet cubicle door a different colour in addition to providing signage, which is a great idea and assists in identifying the ambulant cubicle, particularly when there are more than one in the facility.
Source: https://www.buildsurv.com.au/
