Question: Our facilities manager and subcontractor are arguing about where to put the new, larger toilet paper dispensers. I say they go above the grab bar; they say below. Who’s correct? William, Conn.
Answer: You are.
But before I get into that, I want to warn you away from stacked dispensers. They’re allowed under ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) but a nightmare for anyone, with or without a disability, to use.
The top roll either falls directly onto the bottom roll, making it difficult to unroll tissue from either roll. Or it stays put but can’t be reached by someone with dexterity problems such as arthritis or other hand/finger limitations.
Given that the top roll isn’t open and often obstructs the bottom roll, and that reaching the toilet paper takes extra effort, it could be argued that the design doesn’t meet the ADAAG directive of “dispensers that control delivery, or that do not permit continuous paper flow, shall not be used.”
Now, back to dispenser location.
The Old Way
1990/1994 ADAGG 4.16.6 Dispensers. Toilet paper dispensers shall be installed within reach. Dispensers that control delivery, or that do not permit continuous paper flow, shall not be used.
Keep in mind that, as one of my earlier blogs shows, “within reach” can vary widely.
The New Way
2010 ADAAG 604.7 Dispensers. Toilet paper dispensers shall comply with 309.4 (Operation) and shall be 7 inches (180 mm) minimum and 9 inches (230 mm) maximum in front of the water closet measured to the centerline of the dispenser. The outlet of the dispenser shall be 15 inches (380 mm) minimum and 48 inches (1,220 mm) maximum above the finish floor and shall not be located behind grab bars. Dispensers shall not be of a type that controls delivery or that does not allow continuous paper flow.
604.7 Dispensers, Advisory. If toilet paper dispensers are installed above the side wall grab bar, the outlet of the toilet paper dispenser must be 48 inches (1,220 mm) maximum above the finish floor and the top of the gripping surface and of the grab bar must be 33 inches (840 mm) minimum and 36 inches (915 mm) maximum above the finish floor.
A Couple Money-Saving Tips
One more thing that will help if you’re also specifying restroom equipment and supplies: Beware of appearances.
A larger roll isn’t necessarily a better value. Look how much valuable real estate this roll’s center eats up within the dispenser.
Neither is thin and/or narrow toilet paper. People will just use two or three times as much to get the job done.
Some toilet paper manufacturers have removed the cardboard tube at the center. In addition to increasing tissue count, this is an environmental improvement savings on both waste/trash buildup and on paper usage.
The regular small rolls that have increased tissue count and rolls without the center cardboard tube allow for more tissues. This is worth checking out with your distributors. An example for residential users are the maximum rolls that you can now buy with increased tissue count while the size difference is minimal.
As far as I know there is no increase in cost for these considerations. Hopefully you will come to the same conclusion.
