Is There a Location Requirement for Toilet Seat Cover Dispensers in the Wheelchair Accessible Toilet Compartment?

The answer is yes and no.  ADAAG; Final Rule Section 604 deals with water closets and toilet compartments.  Section 604.7 deals with dispensers, but specifically mentions only toilet paper dispensers.  So the answer is no if one is looking for a specific section for toilet seat cover dispensers.

One has to look at other applicable sections for the answer.  Section 308 Reach Ranges is applicable, plus section 609 Grab Bars / 609.3 Spacing Requirements above and below the grab bar.  Section 308 states that the maximum unobstructed reach range is 48 inches above finish floor, so ACCESS says the designed unobstructed reach range should be 45 inches above finish floor to the center of the opening of the toilet seat cover dispenser.  When the toilet seat cover dispenser is surface mounted, Section 609.3 Spacing comes into play:

609 Grab Bars.

609.3 Spacing.

“The space between the grab bar and projecting objects below and at the ends shall be 1 ½ inches minimum.  The space between the grab bar and projecting objects above shall be 12 inches minimum.”

If the seat cover dispenser is recessed into the wall, the dispenser would not be considered a “projecting object” and Section 609.3 would not apply.

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The above are opinions of Hank Falstad, AIA, Managing Senior Associate of Access Technologies Services, Inc. (ACCESS).  See our web site for additional information:  www.accessts.net.