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Child height plumbing fixtures and toilet accessories

T

Tim Mailloux

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Joined
Feb 12, 2018
Messages
769
Location
Hartford CT
Working on a new Pre K thru 5th grade elementary school and the client would like to use the ANSI child heights for plumbing fixtures, grab bars and toilet accessories only in the toilet rooms dedicated for the Pre K students (5 years old). For the rest of the students they want the toilet rooms designed using standard ADA heights. Is this kosher? I was always under the impression (possibly incorrectly) that that once you choose to implement child height fixtures for one age group you need to consistently apply the child height requirements across the other age groups within the school.
 
I know there are exceptions but I'm not sure how they fit into the code. Take for example some religious schools which have kindergarten or even preschool through high school. Ivy said a case like that requirements are very different. Hopefully someone else will chime in with the applicable codes.
 
From projects that I have done with schools, this is a common approach. The gang restrooms are all conventional height with a standard accessible stall. The pre-K and K have a single occupant stall that is installed per the child-height accessible provisions.
 
In 2010 ADAS 604.1 (exception), children's dimensions for water closets and toilet compartments are optional ("shall be permitted"), not mandatory.
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Therefore, IMO you can mix them, using children's dimensions for some age groups, and default "adult" dimensions for other age groups.

The only stated requirement for consistency is within the compartment itself - - the water closet and its related elements. For example, if you choose the age 5-8 category of 12-15" toilet seat height, then you must also choose the corresponding grab bar height of 20-25 inches.

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2021 IBC 1110.2 Toilet and Bathing Facilities​

Each toilet room and bathing room shall be accessible. Where a floor level is not required to be connected by an accessible route, the only toilet rooms or bathing rooms provided within the facility shall not be located on the inaccessible floor. Except as provided for in Sections 1110.2.4 and 1110.2.5, at least one of each type of fixture, element, control or dispenser in each accessible toilet room and bathing room shall be accessible.
Exceptions:
  1. Toilet rooms or bathing rooms accessed only through a private office, not for common or public use and intended for use by a single occupant, shall be permitted to comply with the specific exceptions in ICC A117.1.
  2. This section is not applicable to toilet and bathing rooms that serve dwelling units or sleeping units that are not required to be accessible by Section 1108.
  3. Where multiple single-user toilet rooms or bathing rooms are clustered at a single location, at least 50 percent but not less than one room for each use at each cluster shall be accessible.
  4. Where no more than one urinal is provided in a toilet room or bathing room, the urinal is not required to be accessible.
  5. Toilet rooms or bathing rooms that are part of critical care or intensive care patient sleeping rooms serving Accessible units are not required to be accessible.
  6. Toilet rooms or bathing rooms designed for bariatrics patients are not required to comply with the toilet room and bathing room requirement in ICC A117.1. The sleeping units served by bariatrics toilet or bathing rooms shall not count toward the required number of Accessible sleeping units.
  7. Where permitted in Section 1108, in toilet rooms or bathrooms serving Accessible units, water closets designed for assisted toileting shall comply with Section 1110.2.2.
  8. Where permitted in Section 1108, in bathrooms serving Accessible units, showers designed for assisted bathing shall comply with Section 1110.2.3.
  9. Where toilet facilities are primarily for children's use, required accessible water closets, toilet compartments and lavatories shall be permitted to comply with children's provision of ICC A117.1.
 
There's a big difference between "shall be permitted to comply" and "shall comply".

Compare "shall be permitted to drive 5 mph" vs. "shall drive 5 mph".
 
Yikes said:
There's a big difference between "shall be permitted to comply" and "shall comply".

Compare "shall be permitted to drive 5 mph" vs. "shall drive 5 mph".
Click to expand...
Just to be clear, that was my view as well. Children's provisions are optional.
 
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