This is the first of two parts dealing with the design of Sanitary Facilities.
WC Pan Clearances
The WC pan clearances within the new standard are very similar to the old standard. Figure 38 in the new standard replaces Figure 18 in the old standard. The notable changes are:
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Figure 38(a) includes an additional dimension has been added for the top of pan, which needs to be between 440 and 460mm;
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The notes to Figure 38 emphasizes that the WC pan projection dimension of 800±10mm from the front of the WC pan to the wall is a critical dimension.
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The range of the seat lifting arch has been changed to 90° to 100° in the new standard (Figure 39(b)) in lieu of 100° to 105° (Figure 18(a) in the old standard);
Seat
The new standard has similar provisions to the old standard, except that it now requires toilet seats to have minimal contours to the top surface, be load rated to 150kg and have a minimum luminance contrast of 30% with the background (e.g. WC pan, wall or floor against which it is viewed).
Washbasins
There are several fundamental changes between the new and old versions of AS1248.1.
The new standard now requires a washbasin to be within (and form part of) the toilet cubicle (Clause 15.2.10), whereas the old standard stated that a washbasin could be located inside or outside the toilet cubicle (Clause 10.2.1(b)).
The new standard has revised the washbasin circulation spaces, projection and height of washbasins, as well as the knee/toe clearance. These changes are outlined in several revised figures represented in plan, elevation and section views. The new figures also include various washbasin configurations.
The new code introduces the term “sole-occupancy unit” (SOU). This term is new to the disability standards, but has been used within the Building Code of Australia (BCA) for a number of years. It is defined as follows:
A room or other part of a building for occupation by one or joint owner, lessee, tenant, or other occupier to the exclusion of any other owner, lessee, tenant or other occupier and includes—
(a) a dwelling;
(b) a room or suite of rooms in a Class 3 building, as defined in the BCA, which includes sleeping facilities;
(c) a room or suite of associated rooms in a Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 building, as defined in the BCA; or
(d) a room or suite of associated rooms in a Class 9c aged care building, as defined in the BCA, which includes sleeping facilities and any area for the exclusive use of a resident.
Figures 44(A) and Figure 44(B) outline the requirements for washbasins that are not within a SOU and Figure 45 indicates the configuration of washbasins within a SOU. Figure 46 outlines the new circulation space requirements. These new figures replace Figure 23 (section view) and Figure 24 (circulation space plan) within the old standard. The notable changes are:
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The circulation spaces (floor plan) arrangements within Figures 44(A), 44(B) and 45 have increased marginally in terms of length and width. This circulation space requirement is also repeated in isolation within Figure 46. The new washbasin circulation space arrangements are very similar to the old standard, except that it has increased marginally in terms of length and width:
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Width at the basin is now 225mm from the centreline of the basin in lieu of 200mm;
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Width at the furthest point of the basin circulation space is now 850mm in lieu of 800mm; and
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The use of the dimension “Cmin” in old standard is no longer used. The new code now gives definitive dimensions.
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The new standard allows a semi-recessed washbasin, where the old standard only referred to wall mounted washbasins and did not have any guidance upon other possible options. The three washbasin options in the new standard are:
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Figure 44(A) - a semi-recessed washbasin (integrated with a small vanity top) that is not within a SOU;
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Figure 44(B) – a wall mounted washbasin that is not within a SOU; and
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Figure 45 – a vanity washbasin within a SOU.
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The front of washbasins to the operable parts of the washbasin within a SOU (Figure 45) can be a maximum of 475mm; in all other cases (Figures 44(A) and 44 (B)), this dimension must not exceed 300mm maximum.
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Where a vanity top is used:
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The vanity top needs to be between 800 and 830mm above the finished floor level;
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The minimum width besides the vanity top needs to be at least 120mm;
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The depth of the vanity top within a SOU needs to be at 300mm minimum; in all other cases, it is restricted between 300mm and 400mm.
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The washbasin height within a SOU (Figure 45) needs to be between 820mm and 840mm; in all other cases (Figures 44(A) and 44 (B)) the washbasin height can be between 800 and 840mm.
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The new standard now requires shelf space to be provided adjacent to the washbasin. The old standard did not mandate a shelf within a sanitary compartment; it just stated that “where provided”, a shelf needs to be between 900mm and 1100mm high. However, the Building Code of Australia does currently require a shelf within a sanitary compartment, but had no guidance on its size or location. The new code now provides such guidance for circumstances were a shelf is within the circulation space of any required element or external to any circulation space. These provisions are as follows:
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If within any circulation space, the shelf needs to be between 900mm and 1000mm high, 120mm and 150mm wide and 300mm and 400mm long;
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If not within any circulation space, the shelf needs to be between 800mm and 1000mm high within a SOU; in all other cases, between 790mm and 1000mm;
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If not within any circulation space, the shelf needs to have a minimum width of 120mm and minimum length of 400mm.
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The revised knee/toe clearance in all three new diagrams is consistent, but varies from the old standard. The standard code gives definitive dimensions for the required knee/toe clearance rather than the use of varied dimensions in the old standard (i.e. such as the use of “Cmin”).
Water Taps
The water tap provisions within the new standard are generally similar to the old version, except that:
Backrest
A backrest is now required on accessible WC pans. The backrest arrangements (i.e. size, angle, and height above the WC pan) are depicted within Figure 39 (two parts – front elevation and side elevation). The backrest also needs to be capable of withstanding a force of 1100N in any direction.
Flushing Control
The new standard refers to the use of automatic or hand operated flushing controls (the old standard only referred to hand operated controls). The location of hand operated flushing controls is shown within Figure 40 in the new standard. This is generally similar to the old standard (Figure 19(b)), except where flushing controls are located on the side wall of a WC pan, the zone within the new standard is 300mm maximum either side of the edge of the WC pan (note that Figure 19(b) in the old standard indicated this 300mm dimension either side of the edge of the WC pan as a minimum dimension).
Another notable change in the new standard is the requirement for the flushing controls to be proud of the surface and activates the flush before the button becomes level with the surrounding surface.
Toilet Paper Dispenser
The location zone of the toilet holder remains the same as the old standard, except that the toilet paper dispenser cannot encroach upon the required clearance space around a grabrail.
Grabrails
The grabrail provisions remain generally the same. However, the grabrail figures in the new standard (Figure 42) include several modifications when compared to the old standard (Figure 18):
- The range of the seat lifting arch has been removed; now included on Figure 39(b) in the new standard, which has been changed to 90° to 100° (note that Figure 18(a) in the old standard is 100° to 105°);
- The width of the cistern is shown in Figure 42(b) – 600mm maximum; and
- An additional dimension has been added to Figure 42(b) which indicates that the outer edge of the rear grabrail needs to be 450mm minimum from the outer edge of the WC pan.
Circulation Space
The new standard has revised WC pan circulation spaces and outlines fixtures that are permitted within the WC pan circulation space. Some of these listed elements can be partly or completely within the circulation space (e.g. toilet paper dispenser, grabrails, portion of washbasins, hand dryers/towel dispensers, soap dispensers, shelves, portion of wall cabinets, etc.).
Figure 43 depicts the revised arrangements, which combines several figures in the old standard (i.e. Figures 22 & 28 in the old version). The principal purpose of this figure is to highlight the new exclusions zones for WC pans and the clear internal floor dimensions, which overall are a significant increase when compared to the old standard. Some key issues include:
- The minimum clear dimensions for a WC pan has been increased to 1900mm x 2300mm minimum, whereby the overall internal floor dimensions of a WC enclosure will need to be further increased in size to cater for the washbasin (i.e. either direction, depending upon the location of the washbasin);Radial clearances between a WC pan and washbasin have increased to 1400mm (old standard was 1100mm); and
- The 100mm permitted encroachment of the basin within the exclusion zone of the WC is shown in Figure 43. However, this encroachment is only permitted when the basin is in front of the basin and is not permitted when the basin is at the side of the WC.
Figure 43 also indicates many of other dimensions from other figures within the code (but in a floor plan context).
The location of a portable sanitary disposal unit is shown in Figure 43, which is required to be within the internal corner where the WC pan is located.
The new code also states that the circulation space of WC pans needs to be maintained to a height of 2000m.
Please look out for our future blogs that will outline the changes to WC doors, other fixtures within WC enclosures, showers and WC signage. By following us on Facebook you will be the first to know when we post.
