Common Questions About Portable Restrooms and Disability Access

What Are ADA-Compliant Portable Toilets?

For portable restrooms, ADA-compliant units must meet several strict guidelines. In general, these guidelines specify the design of the doors, the amount of interior space, and the presence of grab handles and other mobility aiding features. Designs can vary between units, but they must meet all minimums given by the ADA.

From a planning perspective, ADA-compliant units tend to have a larger overall footprint and a higher rental cost. Note that these units are not limited to only basic portable stalls. Higher-end luxury restroom trailers can also be ADA compliant so long as they have proper accessibility features for entry and meet all other restrictions.

Do You Need to Rent ADA-Compliant Units?

In general, the answer to this question will always be "yes" for any qualifying public event. The ADA makes a special exception for construction sites, which are not required to offer accessible facilities. Note that this requirement only applies if you are already offering restroom facilities. If you don't have any other portable restrooms on-site, then you are not required to have an ADA-compliant unit at your event.

Some organizations may be exempt from ADA compliance, but only if they are small (fewer than 15 employees) and have no direct interaction with the public. Private individuals hosting events for friends and family with no open public access are also not bound by these requirements. In all other cases, you will need to provide adequate facilities.

How Many ADA-Compliant Units Does Your Event Require?

The ADA's guidance on this topic is straightforward: at least 5 percent of your portable toilets must be accessible, but you must always provide at least one ADA compliant unit. In other words, if your event has only a single portable restroom, then that restroom must meet ADA guidelines. This requirement holds for events of all sizes, so long as your organization meets the criteria from the previous question.

Note that some rental companies recommend including a higher proportion of disability accessible units. The 5 percent rule means that many events will have only a single compliant unit, which may not be enough to provide good disability access. Discuss your likely event attendance with your rental company to determine if you should rent more units than strictly required by ADA guidelines.

Also, be aware that if your event has multiple, separate groups of portable restrooms, then each group must have at least a single ADA-compliant unit present.

What Special Accommodations Should You Make for ADA-Compliant Restrooms?

In addition to dealing with their slightly larger footprint, there are a few other rules that you must follow when planning for disability access. Any ADA-compliant restrooms must be accessible by individuals in wheelchairs. You should locate these units along wheelchair-accessible paths and ensure that there is sufficient room in front of each unit to operate the door while in a wheelchair.

Remember that getting this right isn't just about complying with federal regulations; it's about creating an event that is open and inclusive. AAA Pumping Service Inc. can help you to choose the right portable restrooms and answer any questions you may have about ensuring ADA restroom compliance for your event.