PART TWO: CHAPTER 7
floor space requirements are explained in the first
part of this chapter, followed by a presentation of a
variety of bathroom floor plans that comply with
the requirements of the Guidelines.
TWO BATHROOM SPECIFICATIONS
To satisfy the maneuvering and clear floor space
requirements for usable bathrooms, Requirement 7
of the Guidelines gives two sets of specifications to
design bathrooms, referred to in this manual as
Specification A and Specification B. Although not
the only difference between the two specifications,
a bathroom designed to meet Specification B has
greater access to the bathtub than a bathroom
designed to meet Specification A. The two specifi-
cations and their differences will be described in
the following discussions of maneuvering and clear
floor space requirements.
HOW MANY BATHROOMS
AND
FIXTURES MUST COMPLY
WITH THE
GUIDELINES?
In dwelling units containing more than one
bathroom, if Specification A is selected as the basis
for designing a bathroom, all bathrooms in the
dwelling unit also must comply with the A Specifi-
cations. If Specification B is selected, only one
bathroom in the dwelling unit must meet those
requirements; all other bathrooms in the dwelling
unit must be on an accessible route (Requirement
4), have doors with a nominal 32-inch clear
opening (Requirement 3), have switches, outlets,
and controls in accessible locations (Requirement
5), and have reinforced walls around toilets, tubs,
and shower stalls (Requirement 6). However,
maneuvering space as specified in the Guidelines’
Requirement 7 is not required in other bathrooms
FAIR HOUSING ACT DESIGN MANUAL
within the dwelling unit when one bathroom is
designed to meet the B Specifications.
However, any powder room provided in a
dwelling unit, regardless of which set of specifica-
tions the bathroom(s) meets, is still subject to
Requirements 3 (Usable Doors), 4 (Accessible
Route), and 5 (Controls in Accessible Locations).
The exception that requires certain powder rooms
also to meet Requirements 6 (Reinforcing) and 7
(Maneuvering and Clear Floor Space) is discussed
on page 7.33.
In bathrooms where several of each type of
fixture are provided, e.g., a separate shower and tub
or two lavatories,
all fixtures must be usable in
Specification A bathrooms while only
one of each
type of fixture must be usable by a person with a
disability in a Specification B bathroom.
WHICH BATHROOM SHOULD MEET THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE GUIDELINES?
When a builder or developer is deciding whether to
use the A or B Specifications when designing bath-
rooms, it is important to consider the number of
bathrooms in the dwelling unit. If there is only one
bathroom, the builder may follow the Specifications
for either A or B. However, while not required by the
Guidelines, it is recommended that Specification B,
which provides the higher level of accessibility, be used.
In multiple bathroom dwelling units the issue
is somewhat more complex. If the B Specification is
selected for use in a two-bathroom dwelling, which
bathroom should comply? The master or the hall
bathroom? If the hall bathroom is selected to be the
usable bathroom and the family member who has a
disability would normally occupy the master bedroom,
then he or she would have to go down the hall to that
bathroom. If, on the other hand, the master bath is
7.34