Ada Shower Bench Height
The architect is given a 10 inch leeway to place the controls.
Ada shower bench height. A person in a wheelchair should be able to roll up next to the shower adjust the single lever handle controls from the outside and then use the grab bars to move to the seat inside the shower unit. These regulations adopted revised enforceable accessibility standards called the 2010 ada standards for accessible design 2010 standards or standards. For information about the ada including the revised 2010 ada regulations please visit the department s website www ada gov. The depth of a removable in tub seat shall be 15 inches 380 mm minimum and 16 inches 405 mm maximum.
Specific questions call the toll free ada information line at 800 514 0301 voice or 800 514 0383. In addition to floor space the national kitchen bath association reveals that a shower seat height of 17 to 19 and a depth of 15 is the standard size. The top of the bench seat surface shall be 17 inches 430 mm minimum and 19 inches 485 mm maximum above the finish floor or ground. The minimum height for the shower controls area is 38 inches above the floor.
The department of justice published revised regulations for titles ii and iii of the americans with disabilities act of 1990 ada in the federal register on september 15 2010. Your custom shower seat or bench should not infringe upon the shower floor space allotted to your shower. Ada standards for accessible design can be downloaded from www ada. I think it s much more comfortable for the shower bench to be on the high side of seating heights.
In the absence of specific code requirements the national kitchen and bath association echoes the ada s recommendation of a seat height between 17 and 19 inches. Although many tiled showers include a built in seat to meet ada regulations these seats must be between 17 and 19 inches from the shower floor and extend the full depth of the stall. As long as the controls are within 38 to 48 inches off the floor the stall is in compliance. Seats in bathtubs and shower compartments shall comply with 610.
The maximum height above the floor is 48 inches. The top of bathtub seats shall be 17 inches 430 mm minimum and 19 inches 485 mm maximum above the bathroom finish floor. This recommendation applies to all types of shower seats including folding seats removable seats and permanently installed bench seats. Ada compliant showers are one piece units that have grab bars and a built in or fold up seat.