Information reproduced from the USDA Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails.

Toilet buildings are provided for visitor convenience and comfort in US Forest Service (USFS) recreation sites that meet the criteria for level 3 or higher on the recreation site development scale. Toilet buildings at USFS facilities must meet the requirements in the 2015 Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), also referred to as the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standard (ABAAS), regardless of the waste disposal system or design of the building. The photo on the right is representative of a toilet building at a USFS site.

2015 ABA Standard F213.1, General, states, “Where toilet facilities and bathing facilities are provided, they shall comply with [Standard] F213.”

2015 ABA Standard F213.2, [Toilet Facilities and Bathing Facilities] Toilet Rooms and Bathing Rooms, states, “Where toilet rooms are provided, each toilet room shall comply with [Standard] 603. Where bathing rooms are provided, each bathing room shall comply with [Standard] 603.”

Specifically, toilet buildings at developed recreation sites with only one riser must comply with the requirements for toilet room size and clearances in 2015 ABA Standard 603 and with the requirements for toilet seats, grab bars, controls, and dispensers in 2015 ABA Standards 604.4, 604.5, 604.6, and 604.7.

2015 ABA Standard 603.1, [Toilet and Bathing Rooms] General, states, “Toilet and bathing rooms shall comply with [Standard] 603.” Standard 603 covers requirements for turning space, overlap, door swing, mirrors, coat hooks, and shelves.

Toilet buildings with multiple risers must comply with Standard 603 and all of 2015 ABA Standard 604.

2015 ABA Standard F213.3.1, Toilet Compartments, states, “Where toilet compartments are provided, at least one toilet compartment shall comply with [Standard] 604.8.1. In addition to the compartment required to comply with [Standard] 604.8.1, at least one compartment shall comply with [Standard] 604.8.2 where six or more toilet compartments are provided, or where the combination of urinals and water closets totals six or more fixtures.” Standard 604.8.2 covers ambulatory [standing] accessible compartments [stalls].

A toilet compartment [stall] is a partitioned space that is located within a toilet room, and that normally contains no more than one water closet (toilet). A toilet compartment may also contain a lavatory. A lavatory is a sink provided for hand washing. Full-height partitions and door assemblies can comprise toilet compartments where the minimum required spaces are provided within the compartment.

2015 ABA Standard 604.1, [Water Closets and Toilet Compartments] General, states, “Water closets [toilets] and toilet compartments [stalls] shall comply with [Standards] 604.2 through 604.8.” Standards 604.2 - 604.7 cover location of a toilet, clearance around a toilet, overlap of a clearance around a toilet, toilet seats, grab bars, flush controls, and dispensers. Standard 604.8 covers toilet compartments [stalls].

If washing sinks, showers, or other amenities are provided in toilet buildings, or separate changing or shower buildings, they must also comply with the appropriate sections of ABA. These other Standards that could apply to toilet buildings include the following:

• 605 - Urinals

• 606 - Lavatories and Sinks

• 607 - Bathtubs

• 608 - Shower Compartments

• 609 - Grab Bars

• 610 - Seats

Do not confuse pit toilets with toilet buildings. Pit toilets are only provided in low development areas where it has been determined that they are necessary for resource or environmental protection. Pit toilets are never appropriate in a Forest Service recreation site with a development scale level of 3 or higher. An example of a pit toilet is shown on the right. Click on the link for Pit Toilets for additional information. Pit toilets must comply with the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Guidelines (FSORAG). Pit toilets provided on trails and in camping facilities shall not be required to comply with ABA or ABAAS.

SUMMARY: Toilet buildings at USFS facilities must comply with the 2015 Architectural Barriers Act. Differences will apply if there is one toilet riser versus multiple toilet risers. Do not confuse a pit toilet with a toilet building.

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ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, offers ADA/ABA/FHA accessibility compliance inspections for buildings and facilities, as applicable to the different laws, and expert witness services with respect to ADA/ABA/FHA laws for building owners, tenants and managers. Also, ADAIN offers consulting for home modifications as a CAPS consultant for people wishing to age in place in their homes. For a complete list of services please see ADAIN Services.

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