Kitchen & Bath: Accessible Showers

Sooner or later, you’re likely to be asked to outfit a bathroom in an accessible manner, to accommodate a physically challenged user. In our aging society, it probably isn’t a matter of if, but when. The ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act), UFAS (Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards), and ANSI (American National Standard Institute) all spell out the requirements for public access compliance. You won’t encounter official enforcement of these guidelines in a residential installation, yet they provide a good model for any barrier-free design. Consider them carefully with your client before you deviate from the pattern. Although there are sure to be custom considerations pertaining to individual needs, many of the questions you’ll have, such as fixture placement and area requirements, are already addressed