Accessible design makes wet areas safer, and allows them to be used by a wider range of people. Australian research shows that a new home has a 60% probability that someone with a permanent disability will live in it during its expected 80-year service time.

On this page:

• Barriers to access in wet areas
• Designing for bathroom accessibility

If wet area facilities are designed to be fully accessible for people with disabilities, they will also:

• meet the needs of most people throughout their lives
• be suitable for able-bodied people with short-term injuries or disabilities
• be safer for use
• suit a wide range of potential home buyers.

Section 10 of NZS 4121:2001 Design for access and mobility: Buildings and associated facilities, sets out design requirements for accessible toilets and bathrooms. A free downloadable copy of the standard is available here.

Barriers to access in wet areas

Wet areas can present a number of barriers to access for elderly and people with disabilities such as:

• bath edge height too high
• WC pan height too high or too low
• a shower hob
• awkward or narrow access
• insufficient manoeuvring space
• insufficient number or placement of grab rails
• poorly located fixtures and fittings
• poorly selected fittings (such as taps that are difficult for people with arthritis to use).

Designing for bathroom accessibility

Include features that facilitate shower accessibility:

• Allow sufficient space for manoeuvrability and assistance.
  
• Provide a level access (i.e. no hob) to provide easier access.
  
• Install a hand-held shower head.
  
• Install a vertical grab rail on a side wall.
  
• If installing a seat, locate on the wall adjacent to the shower head and ensure that controls are within reach.
• Select a textured or slip-resistant finish.

Include features that facilitate toilet accessibility:

• Install the toilet at a height to suit the predominant use, i.e. people in wheelchairs prefer to transfer at the same height as the seat of their wheelchair; older people prefer a higher seat.
  
• Allow a clear space on one side to transfer to the toilet.
  
• Locate the toilet at the correct distance to enable grab rail use
  
• Not having a slope on the area of floor that is used to allow the occupant to transfer from the wheelchair to the toilet.
  
• Locate the toilet paper dispenser below the grab rail so it does not interfere with grab rail use.
  
• Ensure the grab rail is securely fixed to the structure.

Include features that facilitate basin or vanity accessibility:

• Set the vanity or basin height at 750 mm or to suit.
  
• Allow leg space underneath to suit.
  
• Install a single, lever-action tap.
  
• Avoid using pop-up plugs as they can be difficult to operate.
  
• Ensure that water supply pipes and waste outlets do not encroach on the required leg space underneath.
  

More information

BarrierFree

BRANZ publication Homes without barriers

 

^{Updated: 23 May 2023}