[Audio] Water closets and toilet compartments:
Chapter 604 in the ICC A117.1 accessible and usable buildings and facilities code book. Chapter 604.1 general:
Water closets and toilet compartment shall comply with chapter 604.2 through chapter 604.8. Exception: water closets and toilet compartments for children's use shall be permitted to comply with chapter 604.9
Chapter 604.2 location: The water closet shall be positioned with a wall or partition to the rear and to one side. The center line of the water closet shall be 16 inches minimum to 18 inches maximum from the side wall or partition, except that the water closet shall be 17 inches minimum and 19 inches maximum on the side wall or partition in the ambulatory accessible toilet compartment which is specified in chapter 604.8.2. Water closets shall be arranged for a left- hand or right-hand approach.. 

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2023 Advanced Accessible Water Closets &      Toilet Compartments.

§604 Water Closets and Toilet Compartments

Water closets and toilet compartments shall comply with 604.2  through 604.8. EXCEPTION: Water closets and toilet compartments for children’s  use shall be permitted to comply with 604.9.

The water closet shall be positioned with a wall or partition to  the rear and to one side. The centerline of the water closet shall be 16 inches minimum  to 18 inches maximum from the side wall or partition, except  that the water closet shall be 17 inches minimum and 19  inches maximum from the side wall or partition in the  ambulatory accessible toilet compartment specified in 604.8.2. Water closets shall be arranged for a left-hand or right-hand  approach.

2023 Advanced Accessible Water Closets & Toilet Compartments.. 

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2023 Advanced Accessible Water Closets &  Toilet Compartments.

Clearances around water  closets and in toilet  compartments shall comply  with 604.3.

Clearance around a water  closet shall be 60 inches  minimum measured  perpendicular from the side  wall and 56 inches minimum  measured perpendicular  from the rear wall.

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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. Exception for residential dwelling units.

The seat height of a water  closet above the finish floor  shall be 17 inches minimum  and 19 inches maximum  measured to the top of the  seat. Seats shall not be sprung to  return to a lifted position. Exceptions for private offices     and residential dwelling units

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Grab bars for water closets shall comply with 609. Grab bars shall be provided on the side wall closest to the  water closet and on the rear wall. 3 Exceptions for private offices, residential dwelling units and  correctional facilities.

The side wall grab bar shall be  42 inches long minimum,  located 12 inches maximum  from the rear wall and  extending 54 inches minimum  from the rear wall. Minimum 33”- 36” to the top of the gripping    surface.

The rear wall grab bar shall be 36  inches long minimum and extend  from the centerline of the water  closet 12 inches minimum on one  side and 24 inches minimum on the  other side. Minimum 33”- 36” to the top of the gripping    surface.

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EXCEPTIONS: The rear grab bar shall be permitted to be 24 inches long  minimum, centered on the water closet, where wall space does  not permit a length of 36 inches minimum due to the location of a  recessed fixture adjacent to the water closet. Where an administrative authority 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.

The space between the wall and the grab bar shall be 11/2 inches. The space between the grab bar and projecting  objects below and at the ends shall be 11/2 inches minimum.  The space between the grab bar and projecting objects above  shall be 12 inches minimum. EXCEPTION: The space between the grab bars and shower  controls, shower fittings, and other grab bars above shall be  permitted to be 11/2 inches minimum.

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Flush controls shall be hand operated or automatic. Hand  operated flush controls shall comply with 309. Flush controls shall be located on the open side of the water  closet except in ambulatory accessible compartments  complying with 604.8.2.

(a) Projecting Objects	(b) Recessed Objects

A diagram of a toilet

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Toilet paper dispensers shall comply with 309.4 and shall be 7  inches minimum and 9 inches maximum in front of the water  closet measured to the centerline of the dispenser. The outlet of the dispenser shall be 15 inches minimum and 48  inches maximum above the finish floor and shall not be located  behind grab bars. Dispensers shall not be of a type that controls delivery or that  does not allow continuous paper flow.


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A toilet with a handle

Description automatically generated

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Recessed toilet paper dispensers provide better access by keeping  space at the water closet clear. Large-roll dispensers can obstruct  space at water closets and can be  hard to reach due to their width and  the required placement from the  water closet measured to the  dispenser centerline. NOT addressed in the FBC,  Accessibility Code or the ADA  Standards.

Recessed Dispenser Outlet                 Location

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Addressed in ICC ANSI A117.1. Referenced in the FBC, Building, Ch, 35. ICC ANSI A117.1-1986 referenced in the Fair Housing Act Guidelines.

Wheelchair accessible toilet compartments shall meet the  requirements of 604.8.1 and 604.8.3. Compartments containing more than one plumbing fixture  shall comply with 603. Ambulatory accessible compartments shall comply with 604.8.2 and 604.8.3.

A close-up of a blue cover

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Wheelchair accessible  compartments shall  comply with 604.8.1.

Wheelchair accessible compartments shall be 60 inches wide  minimum measured perpendicular to the side wall, and 56 inches  deep minimum for wall hung water closets and 59 inches deep  minimum for floor mounted water closets measured perpendicular  to the rear wall. Wheelchair accessible compartments for children’s use shall be 60  inches wide minimum measured perpendicular to the side wall,  and 59 inches deep minimum for wall hung and floor mounted  water closets measured perpendicular to the rear wall.

604.8.1 Wheelchair Accessible Compartments

Size of Wheelchair Accessible Toilet Compartment

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Toilet compartment doors, including door hardware, shall comply  with 404 except that if the approach is to the latch side of the  compartment door, clearance between the door side of the  compartment and any obstruction shall be 42 inches minimum. Doors shall be located in the front partition 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 maximum from the side wall or partition farthest from the  water closet.

Where located in the side wall or partition, the door opening  shall be 4 inches maximum from the front partition. The door shall be self-closing. A door pull complying with 404.2.7 shall be placed on both  sides of the door near the latch. Toilet compartment doors shall not swing into the minimum  required compartment area.

Wheelchair Accessible Toilet Compartment Doors

The front partition and at least one side partition shall provide a toe clearance of 9 inches minimum above the finish floor and 6 inches deep minimum beyond the compartment-side face of the partition, exclusive of partition support members. Compartments for children’s use shall provide a toe clearance of 12 inches minimum above the finish floor. Exception provided for deeper/wider compartments.. 

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The front partition and at least one side partition shall provide  a toe clearance of 9 inches minimum above the finish floor and  6 inches deep minimum beyond the compartment-side face of  the partition, exclusive of partition support members. Compartments for children’s use shall provide a toe clearance  of 12 inches minimum above the finish floor. Exception provided for deeper/wider compartments.

Wheelchair Accessible Toilet Compartment Toe Clearance

Compartments shall be  arranged for left-hand or  right-hand approach to the  water closet.

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Grab bars shall comply with 609. A side-wall grab bar complying with 604.5.1 shall be provided  and shall be located on the wall closest to the water closet. In addition, a rear-wall grab bar complying with 604.5.2 shall  be provided.

In new construction, the wheelchair accessible toilet compartment  shall contain an accessible lavatory within it, which must be at least  19 inches wide by 17 inches deep, nominal size, and wall-mounted. The lavatory shall be mounted so as not to overlap the clear  floor space areas required by section 604 for the wheelchair  accessible toilet compartment and shall comply with section 606. Such lavatories shall be counted as part of the required fixture  count for the building. See also section 213.3.4.

In new construction, the  accessible water closet within  the wheelchair accessible  compartment shall be located in  the corner, diagonal to the door.

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Florida law, section 553.504(5), F.S., stipulates that “…required bathing  rooms and toilet rooms in new construction shall be designed and  constructed…” with an accessible lavatory in the wheelchair accessible  compartment and the water closet located in a corner diagonal to the  door. The ADA Standards for Accessible Design and therefore the code require  wheelchair accessible compartments in new construction and in  alterations of existing buildings to have self closing doors. While the Florida lavatory requirement and water closet placement apply  only to new construction, they are desirable for all wheelchair accessible  compartments and should be considered where feasible.

Where toilet compartments are provided, at least one toilet  compartment shall comply with 604.8.1. In addition to the  compartment required to comply with 604.8.1, at least one  compartment shall comply with 604.8.2 where six or more  toilet compartments are provided, or where the combination  of urinals and water closets totals six or more fixtures.

For Discussion: 604.8.1.6 Lavatory/604.8.1.7 Water Closet

When are ambulatory accessible  toilet compartments required to  be provided?

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Toilet compartment doors, including door hardware, shall comply  with 404, except that if the approach is to the latch side of the  compartment door, clearance between the door side of the  compartment and any obstruction shall be 42 inches minimum. The door shall be self-closing. A door pull complying with 404.2.7  shall be placed on both sides of the door near the latch. Toilet compartment doors shall not swing into the minimum  required compartment area.

604.8.2 Ambulatory Accessible  Compartments. Ambulatory accessible  compartments shall comply with  604.8.2. 604.8.2.1 Size. Ambulatory accessible  compartments shall have a depth of 60  inches minimum and a width of 35  inches minimum and 37 inches  maximum.

604.8.2.3 Grab Bars. Grab  bars shall comply with 609. A side-wall grab bar  complying with 604.5.1 shall  be provided on both sides of  the compartment.

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604.8.3 Coat Hooks and Shelves.  Coat hooks shall be located  within one of the reach ranges  specified in 308. Shelves shall be located 40 inches  minimum and 48 inches  maximum above the finish floor.

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604.9 Water Closets and Toilet Compartments for Children’s Use

Water closets and toilet compartments for children’s use shall  comply with 604.9.







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The water closet shall be located with a wall or partition to the  rear and to one side. The centerline of the water closet shall be 12 inches minimum  and 18 inches maximum from the side wall or partition, except  that the water closet shall be 17 inches minimum and 19  inches maximum from the side wall or partition in the  ambulatory accessible toilet compartment specified in 604.8.2. Compartments shall be arranged for left-hand or right-hand  approach to the water closet. 52

Water Closets and Toilet Compartments for Children’s Use

Water Closets and Toilet Compartments for Children’s Use – Additional Issues

604.9.2 Clearance. 604.9.3 Height. 604.9.4 Grab Bars. 604.9.5 Flush Controls. 604.9.6 Dispensers. 604.9.7 Toilet Compartments.

See §606.2, Lavatories For Children’s Use Are Included.

Microsoft PowerPoint - WEBINAR_2024_Adv_Accessible Water Closets_Toilet Compartments

Water closets and toilet compartments:
Chapter 604 in the ICC A117.1 accessible and usable buildings and facilities code book. Chapter 604.1 general:
Water closets and toilet compartment shall comply with chapter 604.2 through chapter 604.8.
 Exception: water closets and toilet compartments for children's use shall be permitted to comply with chapter 604.9
Chapter 604.2 location:
 The water closet shall be positioned with a wall or partition to the rear and to one side.
 The center line of the water closet shall be 16 inches minimum to 18 inches maximum from the side wall or partition, except that the water closet shall be 17 inches minimum and 19 inches maximum on the side wall or partition in the ambulatory accessible toilet compartment which is specified in chapter 604.8.2. 
Water closets shall be arranged for a left hand or right hand approach.