The 3 Types of Disabled Toilets You Need to Know About

Does My Premises Have to Have a Disabled Toilet?

The simple answer is yes. Under the 2010 Equality Act, every building open to the public (including employees) must "make any reasonable adjustment to any physical feature which might put a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person." Part M of the Building Regulations 2010 (often referred to as Doc M pack) sets out the guidelines designers should follow to meet the requirements of the Equality Act.

How Many Disabled Toilets Should My Premises Have?

Public and commercial properties vary according to purpose, design, and size. Therefore, there is no "one size fits all" solution for Doc M pack. Doc M pack guidelines should be used alongside other relevant guidelines to establish the specification, size, and quantity of accessible toilets appropriate for each building. These include BS 6465 (Scale of Provision) and BS 8300-2:2018 (Design of an Accessible and Inclusive Built Environment).

Guide to Disabled Toilet Provision

• Single Toilet Facility: Where there is only room for one toilet in a building, it must be a wheelchair accessible unisex type, of greater width to accommodate a standing height basin.
• Multiple Toilet Facilities: Multiple toilet separate sex washrooms must provide at least one WC ambulant cubicle. Where there are four or more standard cubicles in a single-sex washroom, one cubicle must be enlarged—minimum 1210mm wide with an outward opening door. A separate, wheelchair accessible unisex washroom must also be provided.
• Hotels: 1 in every 20 rooms must provide for disabled use. Bedrooms deemed wheelchair accessible should have a 50:50 ratio of baths and showers.
• Leisure Facilities: The rules for multiple toilet facilities apply. Where shower and changing facilities are available, at least one should be wheelchair accessible.
• Large Buildings (Capacity 350+): All new buildings with a capacity of 350 or more people (such as hospitals, shopping centres, stadiums) are now required by law to provide a Changing Places toilet.

What is an Ambulant Disabled Toilet?

An ambulant disabled toilet is a cubicle space designed for individuals with a disability that does not require the use of a wheelchair. They may have mobility, sensory, sight, cognitive, or functional impairments that can be temporary or permanent. An ambulant disabled toilet can be the same size as a standard cubicle (minimum 2200mm x 1500mm) or enlarged to a minimum of 1210mm wide.

It will have many of the same features as other types of accessible toilets, including grab rails around the toilet pan, a raised toilet pan, a lever cistern flush, and an outward opening door. It may also have extra features such as a hand basin with lever taps, a paper towel dispenser, and a shelf for colostomy bag users.

What is a Wheelchair Accessible Toilet?

As the name suggests, a wheelchair accessible toilet is designed for wheelchair users. It must be able to accommodate the turning circle of a wheelchair and is designed for independent use, allowing the user to transfer from their wheelchair to the toilet pan with the aid of grab rails. Wheelchair accessible toilets can be accommodated within multiple toilet facilities but are typically designed as standalone spaces that can cater for all genders. They can have different layouts for left-handed and right-handed users - a comprehensive guide to wheelchair accessible toilet layouts can be found here.

A wheelchair accessible toilet will have a raised toilet pan with grab rails adjacent, a hand basin next to the toilet pan, and a range of adapted accessories including additional grab rails, lever taps, toilet flush, and paper towel dispensers. You can buy complete Doc M packs for ambulant and wheelchair accessible toilets, which contain all the sanitaryware, fixtures, and grab rails you need to create a compliant space.

What is a Changing Places Toilet?

A Changing Places toilet is a specific type of disabled toilet designed for individuals with a severe physical or learning disability that means they require help from one or more carers when using the toilet or changing incontinence pads.

Changing Places toilets are much larger than other types of disabled toilet and are designed to comfortably accommodate the user as well as a powered wheelchair and up to two carers, with room for a turning circle. Changing Places toilets must include a peninsular toilet with backrest and space either side, an adult-sized, height-adjustable changing bench, and a ceiling track hoist system plus all the same grab rails you would find in a standard disabled toilet. They must also have a privacy screen, wide disposable paper roll for the changing bench, a washbasin, and a large waste disposal bin. Some Changing Places also have shower facilities.

Fitzroy of London can supply many of the fixtures and accessories for a Changing Places toilet, including sanitaryware, grab rails, dispensers, and shower accessories. We work in partnership with Innova Care Concepts to assist customers with additional elements such as hoists and changing benches.

Doc M and other guidelines related to accessibility are designed to make it easy for architects and designers to specify compliant, functional spaces - but there is room for significant variation and adaptation of the guidelines to suit the individual project.

For guidance or to discuss a specific project, get in touch with our technical team.