What is an Ambulant toilet?
An ambulant toilet is a type of toilet designed to be used by people who are ambulant or able to walk or move around. Since 2011, the National Construction Code (NCC) Building Code of Australia Volume One (BCA) has stated that where there are standard toilets (and a required unisex accessible toilet), a toilet suitable for someone with an ambulant disability for female and male use must also be provided.
Ambulant toilets are now found in hotels, schools and universities, hospitals, and public buildings, as well as in other public spaces, such as parks and transportation centres.
Ambulant toilets have several features that make them easier to use for people. The requirements are detailed in AS 1428.1 (2009) Clause 16 and Figure 53(A).
The following is a summary of these requirements:
- The width of each ambulant cubicle must be between 900mm to 920mm.
- A 900 x 900mm circulation space is required in front of the pan and on each side of the doors on the path to the toilet. These circulation spaces must be clear of the door swing and any washbasin on the cubicle.
- A 900 x 900mm circulation space is also required between each successive door swing on the path to an ambulant toilet cubicle.
- The door opening must be a minimum of 700mm.
- Braille and tactile signage is required on the face of the door (approach side).
- The locking privacy snib must be at least 45mm long (measured from the centre of the spindle).
- The toilet roll holder must be correctly located.
- “L” shaped grabrails are required on each side of the ambulant cubicle with the top of the horizontal section 800mm to 810mm AFFL.
- The grabrail horizontal and vertical sections must be between 40mm and 450mm long.
- The diameter of each grabrail must be between 30mm and 40mm, with a clearance to the wall or partition of between 50mm and 60mm.
- There must also be at least 50mm clearance between the underside of the grabrail and the toilet roll holder.
- All exposed edges of a grabrail must be rounded with a minimum 5mm radius.
- Each grabrail must be able to withstand 1100 Newtons of force applied in any direction.
- The toilet pan must be an ambulant type, centrally located, with a seat height of 460mm to 480mm and a depth of between 610mm and 660mm.
- A coat hook must be located between 1350mm and 1500mm AFFL.
A washbasin is not required inside the ambulant toilet compartment, but if provided, it must remain outside the critical circulation spaces outlined above.
Please note that an ambulant toilet design does not require a coloured toilet seat or an accessible type of washbasin to meet the minimum BCA requirements.
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