Disabled bathroom necessary in house extension?

houseyhouse

We’re extending our 1970s semi-d. The plans include a downstairs bathroom. Does the toilet need to be wheelchair accessible? The only way to manage this would require the bathroom to be a wet room instead of having a proper shower enclosure. I hate wet rooms so not too pleased with this solution.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058304967/disabled-bathroom-necessary-in-house-extension

You need an accessible WC/toilet not an accessible Shower.

3.4.1 Objective

The objective is to provide a WC that is accessible to visitors.

3.4.2 Accessible WC

A WC should be provided at entry level or, where there is no habitable room at this level, in the storey containing the main living room. At entry level, the WC should be so located that it can be accessed from the accessible entrance and from at least one habitable room without the need to negotiate steps. The approach route to the WC should be in accordance with Section 3.3.

The WC should be located in a bathroom or separate WC compartment, the layout of which should be designed to facilitate access to, and use of, the WC by persons with a range of abilities. A clear space of 750 mm by 1200 mm, accessible by people using wheelchairs, should be available adjacent to the WC so as to facilitate sideways transfer from the wheelchair to the WC.

A shower is entirely option at entry level. If you want to provide one, it can be an enclosed shower. A wetroom is only require in a fully accessible bathroom or bathroom conversion.

houseyhouse

Thank you. I think the issue is that in order to have enough open space beside the toilet, we can’t fit a shower enclosure. But we’d really like to have the extra shower so the only option is a wet room.

The house has no downstairs loo at the moment and the front door isn’t and won’t be wheelchair accessible. Do we still need to comply with the regulations regarding the accessible wc in this situation?

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120849869#Comment_120849869

Yes. The front door should be accessible and could be in future. The only mitigation is small houses (>45sqm on the entry story). But I assume you wil be above that with the extension.

A shower is optional, but if you are planning on fitting a shower, you would want to have at least the clearance required. It's really not that much room and any less would feel rather cramped when trying to have a shower. A wet room allows for the most clearance. If space is an issue, that would be the most functional bathroom/shower.

spurious

Not necessary, but excellent future proofing if you intend to have it as your forever home.

Time waits for none of us.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120849869#Comment_120849869

Accessible bathrooms are not only for wheelchair users.

Reduced mobility etc

The query here is whether a domestic house extension needs a visitable WC, I don’t think it does.

sydthebeat

....

houseyhouse

Oh that’s great. Thank you!

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120861636#Comment_120861636

That's not the question though. There nothing that says you need to add a accessible WC when building an extension, no argument there. Most domestic extensions are kitchen/living only and never consider a WC.

The question is, once you have decided to add a WC to the entry level, does that need to be accessible.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120862514#Comment_120862514

You could definitely make the argument that if there is no WC there now, that adding a non accessible one is not less compliant.

But I'd also make the argument that the work you do should be compliant insofar as possible. Part M side, a WC And shower, without the require clearance is a pretty terrible bathroom design imo. It's only 750mm, any less and you could shower while your on the toilet.

sydthebeat

Wholly agreed. If you're adding a shower room it is not at all difficult to make it part m compliant.

Use a low profile shower tray if you don't like "wet rooms"

houseyhouse

Thanks for all the advice, folks. The bathroom is a decent size (3.4 sqm) and even with a large shower enclosure there will be plenty of open space. The issue was the door swinging into the 75x120cm space by the loo. We can make it part M compliant by having the door swing out into the hallway. I’m not sure why the designer didn’t suggest this in the first place. However, I’m glad we can still have the door swing inwards if we choose.