Restaurant restroom requirements

BlackCatIslander · 08-10-2011, 01:10 PM

My wife recently had surgery that affected her mobility and she was disturbed to find that restroom handicapped stall of a local restaurant did not have a grab bar. Does NH or Moultonborough have any code requirements regarding public restrooms?

Argie's Wife · 08-10-2011, 01:24 PM

The federal guidelines, as set by the Americans With Disabilities Act, would be the basic standards. States and towns can set higher standards, of course.

http://www.ada.gov/

This link, above, should give you a starting-point.

They also have a free information line: http://www.ada.gov/infoline.htm

Heaven · 08-10-2011, 03:50 PM

Seems like if it were a handicap stall, it would supposed to have a grab bar. If it is just an over sized stall put in years ago they might not have thought about a grab bar.

LIforrelaxin · 08-11-2011, 09:12 AM

I think with many venues the issue becomes when do they have to up date the facilities to comply with the standards.... which change all the time. Most likely not unless they updated the bathrooms themselves....

ChocolateGypsy · 08-26-2011, 07:22 AM

Restaurants and many public places are only required to upgrade their handicapped facilities when the establishment changes ownership or to code when they are newly constructed.

Many old New England buildings are unable to install handicapped facilities due to the age or design of the building and may be deemed exempt.

That being said, there may be a good reason there's no support bar in the stall but it's more likely something that's been overlooked and you should make a suggestion to the management -- the next person in there may appreciate it.

sign me,
the possible next person!

08-10-2011, 01:10 PM	#1
BlackCatIslander Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 201 Thanks: 52 Thanked 17 Times in 11 Posts	Restaurant restroom requirements My wife recently had surgery that affected her mobility and she was disturbed to find that restroom handicapped stall of a local restaurant did not have a grab bar. Does NH or Moultonborough have any code requirements regarding public restrooms?

08-11-2011, 09:12 AM	#4
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,855 Thanks: 1,033 Thanked 891 Times in 523 Posts	I think with many venues the issue becomes when do they have to up date the facilities to comply with the standards.... which change all the time. Most likely not unless they updated the bathrooms themselves.... __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

08-10-2011, 01:24 PM	#2
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	The federal guidelines, as set by the Americans With Disabilities Act, would be the basic standards. States and towns can set higher standards, of course. http://www.ada.gov/ This link, above, should give you a starting-point. They also have a free information line: http://www.ada.gov/infoline.htm

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Argie's Wife For This Useful Post:
BlackCatIslander (08-10-2011), LIforrelaxin (08-11-2011)

08-10-2011, 03:50 PM	#3
Heaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 523 Thanks: 128 Thanked 95 Times in 67 Posts	Seems like if it were a handicap stall, it would supposed to have a grab bar. If it is just an over sized stall put in years ago they might not have thought about a grab bar.

08-26-2011, 07:22 AM	#5
ChocolateGypsy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: on the road again...! Posts: 74 Thanks: 32 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Restaurants and many public places are only required to upgrade their handicapped facilities when the establishment changes ownership or to code when they are newly constructed. Many old New England buildings are unable to install handicapped facilities due to the age or design of the building and may be deemed exempt. That being said, there may be a good reason there's no support bar in the stall but it's more likely something that's been overlooked and you should make a suggestion to the management -- the next person in there may appreciate it. sign me, the possible next person!