ADA Compliant

I've becoming more and more confused. We have two things going on:

We've just bought a house and need to replace two toilets with ADA height units. I can find nothing with a seat taller than 16.5"

We just had a unit replaced here at this house. the new unit seat is 17.5" tall and is shorter than the broken one.

What is going on? What is ADA height? Who has units with seats taller than 17.5"?

Clarification: "Seat height" that is with seat on, not bowl height.

I am convinced the Toto is the best buy and want a watersense unit (my daughter is with the EPA)

I just measured a TOTO Drake ADA C744EL bowl, a little over 16-3/4" high
Terry

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I'm not sure what the minimum height to qualify for ADA is, but I think it is around 16.25", anything over that minimum qualifies.

Here are the ADA requirements. The min. height to top of seat is 17 inches.

4.16 Water Closets.

4.16.1 General. Accessible water closets shall comply with 4.16.2 through 4.16.6.
EXCEPTION: Water closets used primarily by children ages 12 and younger shall be permitted to comply with 4.16.7.

4.16.2 Clear Floor Space. Clear floor space for water closets not in stalls shall comply with Fig. 28. Clear floor space may be arranged to allow either a left-handed or right-handed approach.

4.16.3* Height. The height of water closets shall be 17 in to 19 in (430 mm to 485 mm), measured to the top of the toilet seat (see Fig. 29(b)). Seats shall not be sprung to return to a lifted position. Appendix Note

4.16.4* Grab Bars. Grab bars for water closets not located in stalls shall comply with 4.26 and Fig. 29. The grab bar behind the water closet shall be 36 in (915 mm) minimum. Appendix Note

4.16.5* Flush Controls. Flush controls shall be hand operated or automatic and shall comply with 4.27.4. Controls for flush valves shall be mounted on the wide side of toilet areas no more than 44 in (1120 mm) above the floor. Appendix Note

4.16.6 Dispensers. Toilet paper dispensers shall be installed within reach, as shown in Fig. 29(b). Dispensers that control delivery, or that do not permit continuous paper flow, shall not be used.

4.16.7* Water Closets for Children. Water closets used primarily by children ages 12 and younger shall comply with 4.16.7 as permitted by 4.16.1. Appendix Note

(1) Clear Floor Space. Clear floor space for water closets not in stalls shall comply with Fig. 28 except that the centerline of water closets shall be 12 in minimum to 18 in maximum (305 mm to 455 mm) from the side wall or partition. Clear floor space may be arranged to allow either a left- or right-hand approach.

(2) Height. The height of water closets shall be 11 in minimum to 17 in maximum (280 mm to 430 mm), measured to the top of the toilet seat. Seats shall not be sprung to return to a lifted position.

(3) Grab Bars. Grab bars for water closets not located in stalls shall comply with 4.26 and Fig. 29 except that grab bars shall be mounted 18 in minimum to 27 in maximum (455 mm to 685 mm) above the finish floor measured to the grab bar centerline. The grab bar behind the water closet shall be 36 in (915 mm) minimum.

EXCEPTION: If administrative authorities require flush controls for flush valves to be located in a position that conflicts with the location of the rear grab bar, then that grab bar may be split or, at water closets with a centerline placement below 15 in (380 mm), a rear grab bar 24 in (610 mm) minimum on the open side of the toilet area shall be permitted.
(4) Flush Controls. Flush controls shall be hand operated or automatic and shall comply with 4.27.4. Controls for flush valves shall be mounted on the wide side of the toilet area no more than 36 in (915 mm) above the floor.

(5) Dispensers. Toilet paper dispensers shall be installed 14 in minimum to 19 in maximum (355 mm to 485 mm) above the finish floor measured to the dispenser centerline. Dispensers that control delivery, or that do not permit continuous paper flow, shall not be used.



Fig. 28



Fig. 29



Fig 29b

Appendix

A4.0 Accessible Elements and Spaces: Scope and Technical Requirements.

A4.16 Water Closets.

A4.16.3 Height. Height preferences for toilet seats vary considerably among disabled people. Higher seat heights may be an advantage to some ambulatory disabled people, but are often a disadvantage for wheelchair users and others. Toilet seats 18 in (455 mm) high seem to be a reasonable compromise. Thick seats and filler rings are available to adapt standard fixtures to these requirements.

A4.16.4 Grab Bars. Figs. A6 and A6(b) show the diagonal and side approaches most commonly used to transfer from a wheelchair to a water closet. Some wheelchair users can transfer from the front of the toilet while others use a 90-degree approach. Most people who use the two additional approaches can also use either the diagonal approach or the side approach.

A4.16.5 Flush Controls. Flush valves and related plumbing can be located behind walls or to the side of the toilet, or a toilet seat lid can be provided if plumbing fittings are directly behind the toilet seat. Such designs reduce the chance of injury and imbalance caused by leaning back against the fittings. Flush controls for tank-type toilets have a standardized mounting location on the left side of the tank (facing the tank). Tanks can be obtained by special order with controls mounted on the right side. If administrative authorities require flush controls for flush valves to be located in a position that conflicts with the location of the rear grab bar, then that bar may be split or shifted toward the wide side of the toilet area.

A4.16.7 Water Closets for Children. The requirements in 4.16.7 are to be followed where the exception for children's water closets in 4.16.1 is utilized. Use of this exception is optional since these guidelines do not require water closets or other building elements to be designed according to children's dimensions. The following table provides additional guidance in applying the specifications for water closets for children according to the age group served and reflects the differences in the size, stature, and reach ranges of children 3 through 12. The specifications chosen should correspond to the age of the primary user group. The specifications of one age group should be applied consistently in the installation of a water closet and related elements.




Fig A6 and A6b

Great! Thanks for the info. I have seen the grab bar and TP mounting standards but could not find the water closet numbers.
That does say that most I have looked at do meet the specs once the seat is added to the typical 16.5 bowl height.
Now which manufacturer, if any, approches the 19" number? Any suggestions on how search for same?

Most toilets use standard mouting holes for toilet seats, so it may just end up being a thicker seat rather than higher bowl.

I've thought the same thing but have been unable to do anything online to find out the truth.
I did mention I want a watersense unit so I've been starting with that option and trying to work my way through. I may have to go over to Lowes or Home Depot and just do some looking to get acquainted with the options.

Do a little searching on this web site to see what the pros think of the toilets available at the big box stores.

Toto's web site gives specs on all their toilets, including bowl height.

There must be toilet seats (sold separately) that are thicker to give the added seat height...you may not find a really thick one as part of the OEM package.

Another option for finding "thick" toilet seats is to visit a home medical supplier in your town. This is a really standard item, readily available. Some pharmacies carry them as well.

The previous device in our present house had nothing showing any apparent extra seat height but was still taller than 17.5" (curent unit height w/o any extra seat thickness)
I just want a TALL bowl height.

I just install a Kohler Welsworth handicapped bowl. Never have gotten complaints about it. I put one in the mother-in-laws house, she was an amputee of both legs ( passed away now) Her old water closet was a standard height unit with the thicker seat attachment which she hated due to it being unstable and unsafe for her. When I put in the Handicapped water closet she was ever so thankful. She liked me better than her own sons.

Found my 17.125 seat height at Kohler - THANKS! and 1.1 gpf as well.

http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/pdf/1054185_4.pdf





Kohler K-3519 with 1.1 gallon Flushmate

You might want to check out this other thread with some opinions from the pros on Kohler products:

https://terrylove.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18791

That Kohler water closet is just fine. It works well, I never had any complaints about it. Now the Kohler Persuade I would not recommend.

I'm ignorant of the Kohler line - just concerned based on that other thread. I take it that the Welsworth uses standard internal parts, unlike some of the other models discussed in that thread?

SteveW said:

I'm ignorant of the Kohler line - just concerned based on that other thread. I take it that the Welsworth uses standard internal parts, unlike some of the other models discussed in that thread?

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The more oddball parts where used in their one piece water closets their two piece tanks are pretty standard. I have not come across the Persuade yet. I seem to have an easer time getting Kohler parts from my supply houses than I do Toto. But Toto is not a huge seller here yet.