We came across this handy guide on designing a home that is accessible for people of all abilities. Published by the South East Metro Seniors Agenda for Independent Living in St. Paul, MN, it provides excellent recommendations on site planning, step-free entries, flooring and window choices, and features and specifications for the bathroom, kitchen and other rooms of the house.
For the bathroom, they recommend the following specs:
- Door 36 inches wide to allow for a 34-inch clear opening when the door is open at a right angle
- Ample floor space for maneuvering between bathroom fixtures. Allow at least 30 inches by 48 inches of clear floor space among the fixtures; 60 inches by 60 inches is ideal. (If your shower entrance has no raised threshold, the shower floor can provide part of the clear maneuvering space.)
- Walk-in shower with little or no threshold or lip to step over – ideally no more than 1/2 inch,and beveled to provide a tiny “ramp”rather than a tripping obstacle. Slope the shower floor maximum of 1/8 inch per foot.
- Shower size: Minimum 36 by 36 inches; for a roll-in shower, allow 36 inches by 60 inches.
The guide provides plenty of other tips on how to make bathrooms safe with the right accessories, including grab bars. They recommend reinforcing the walls around the bath and toilet with ¾” plywood panels. Coincidentally, all Best Bath shower surrounds have these plywood panels already built in, saving you that critical step for proper grab bar installations.
Here is a link to the report.
Practical Guide to Universal Home Design
