NBS Source PartnerWhat is Approved Document T?
The approved document supports Part T of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010.
The new Approved Document T, effective from 1st October 2024 for use in England.
The new requirement and associated guidance will not apply in relation to building work on a particular building where a building notice, an initial notice or an application for building control approval with full plans, has been given to the relevant authority in respect of that building before the day the new regulations come into force, 1 October 2024, and either the building work to which it relates:
a. has started and is sufficiently progressed before that day; or
b. is started and is sufficiently progressed within the period of six months beginning on that day.
Please note that ‘building notice’, ‘initial notice’ and ‘building control approval application with full plans’ have the meanings given in the Building Regulations 2010. For the purpose of these transitional arrangements, building work is to be regarded as ‘sufficiently progressed’:
a. where the building work consists of the construction of a building, when the pouring of concrete for the permanent placement of the trench, pad or raft foundations has started, or the permanent placement of piling has started;
b. where the building work consists of work to an existing building, when that work has started; or
c. where the building work consists of a material change of use of a building, when work to effect that change of use has stated.
Requirement T1: Toilet accommodation
| Requirement
Toilet accommodation T1. (1) Toilet accommodation in buildings other than dwellings— (a) must consist of— (i) reasonable provision for male and female single-sex toilets, or (ii) where space precludes provision of single-sex toilets, universal toilets, and (b) may consist of universal toilets in addition to single-sex toilets.
(2) In this requirement— “Single-sex toilet” means toilet facilities which— (a) are intended for the exclusive use of persons of the same sex, and (b) provide washbasins and hand-drying facilities in— (i) either the toilet room or cubicle, or (ii) a separate area intended for use only by persons of that sex. “Universal toilet” means toilet facilities which— (a) are provided in a fully enclosed room which contains a water closet and washbasin and hand-drying facilities, and (b) is intended for individual use by persons of either sex. |
Limits on application
Requirement T1 does not apply to—
(a) en-suite facilities in individual rooms for residential purposes; (b) residential rooms in care homes as defined at section 3 of the Care Standards Act 2000; (c) schools as defined in section 4 of the Education Act 1996; (d) premises, or part of any premises, used wholly or mainly for early years provision within the meaning of section 20 of the Childcare Act 2006 by an early years provider to whom section 40 of the Childcare Act 2006 (Duty to implement Early Years Foundation Stage) applies; (e) cellular accommodation in custodial facilities. |
Table 1 above is the law: extract from the Building Regulations 2010
Intention
| This approved document supports compliance with Part T of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010 by providing guidance on the design and layout of universal toilets, ambulant toilets and toilet cubicles.
The objective of this requirement is to require toilet accommodation in non-residential buildings to be separate single-sex toilets, with single-sex shared or individual hand-washing facilities. Universal toilets can be provided in addition to single-sex provision and where space allows. Where there is not sufficient space to provide single-sex toilets, fully enclosed universal toilets should be provided. In the Secretary of State’s view, requirement T1 is met by ensuring all of the following. a. Separate single-sex toilet facilities are provided. Universal toilets can be provided in addition to single-sex provision and where space allows. All toilet accommodation should have clear and appropriate signage. b. Where space precludes single-sex toilet facilities from being provided, fully enclosed universal toilets should be provided. Available space for toilet accommodation will vary from building to building; once reasonable provision is made for single-sex toilet facilities, any remaining space for toilet accommodation can be considered for universal toilet provision.
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Table 2 above is the Statutory Guidance
For further information about the use of technical guidance, see Chapter 7 in Volume 1 and Chapter F in Volume 2 of the Manual to the Building Regulations.
1.0 Application
1.1 The guidance in this approved document applies to buildings other than dwellings.
1.2 Requirement T1 does not apply to schools, to premises used for early years provision, to cellular accommodation in custodial facilities or to en-suite toilets provided in individual rooms for residential purposes, such as in hotels and care homes.
1.3 Requirement T1 sets a requirement for the provision of specific facilities that should be provided in addition to requirements for general sanitary provision (WCs and urinals) required under regulation 20 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (Workplace Regulations). In establishing provision, reference should be made to guidance on the calculation of sanitary provision contained in the Approved Code of Practice for those regulations (HSE publication L24.
1.4 The approved document describes the size, layout, fittings and equipment of universal toilets and single-sex toilets. Guidance on the design of a wheelchair-accessible unisex toilet and a WC cubicle for ambulant disabled people is provided in Section 5 of Approved Document M, Volume 2. The layout with dimensions and fittings for two options of WC for ambulant disabled people is additional guidance detailed within the approved document, giving ambulant versions of single-sex toilets and universal toilets.
1.5 Other sanitary provision for baby changing and Changing Places toilets should be provided as described in Section 5 of Approved Document M, Volume 2, and in BS 6465-4, Section 10.2 covering children and babies and Section 10.3 covering disabled people.
1.6 Part T does not cover the number of toilets or the access to and use of toilets. A method to calculate the number of sanitary appliances for public toilets is provided in Chapter 11 of BS 6465-4. Guidance on the number of toilets required for a building type is provided in paragraphs 4.12 to 4.14 of Approved Document G.
1.7 Approved Document G also covers the provision of handwashing facilities and the separation of toilets from kitchens and areas where food is prepared. Other best practice guidance on the provision and design of toilets is given in BS 6465-1.
1.8 For those toilets where the Workplace Regulations apply, reference should be made to the current Approved Code of Practice for levels of provision of WCs, washbasins and urinals. The provision specified in requirement T1 deals with the arrangement of such appliances within toilet accommodation.
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NOTE: For guidance on the provision of toilet accommodation in sports buildings refer to Sport England’s guidance on ‘Accessible facilities’.
NOTE: For educational buildings the current standards relating to toilets are contained in:
- the School Premises (England) Regulations 2012 (for maintained (local authority) schools)
- the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (for Academies and independent schools).
NOTE: For healthcare settings refer to NHS England’s Health Building Note 00-02: Sanitary spaces (available at https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/designing-sanitary-spaces-like-bathroomshbn-00-02/). The greater dimension standard for ambulant toilets in this approved document should be achieved where there is a conflict.
Guidance and Performance
1.9 The approved document identifies four types of toilet accommodation that are suitable for meeting requirement T1.
Type A – Fully enclosed self-contained ambulant universal toilet.
Type B – Fully enclosed self-contained universal toilet.
Type C – Ambulant single-sex toilet cubicle (not self-contained).
Type D – Single-sex toilet cubicle (not self-contained).
1.10 A universal toilet is available for everyone to use and is not considered a single-sex toilet which is for single-sex use only, though similarly designed fully enclosed self-contained toilets can feature as part of single-sex provision. A universal toilet is not designed to be wheelchair-accessible; it is a toilet for universal use for all who choose to use it.
1.11 Where compliance with Part M does not impose a requirement, toilet provision can be either Type A / Type B for universal toilets or Type C / Type D for single-sex toilet cubicles. Type A and Type B are primarily intended for universal use; however, Type A and Type B layouts may also be used in single-sex accommodation if self-contained toilets are desired instead of cubicles.
1.12 Type C and Type D can be either a male single-sex toilet or a female single-sex toilet.
1.13 For good access and the safety of users, single-sex toilet cubicles, with outward opening doors, should open onto an adequately sized shared toilet space for washbasins and hand drying, used within a single-sex environment.
1.14 The layout when entering, exiting and using a toilet room or cubicle should cater for the safety, privacy and dignity of users. Cubicle doors should only open into single-sex toilet accommodation.
1.15The approved document details the minimum dimensions to provide for space, heights, widths, depths, equipment and appliances. If exceeding these minimum dimensions, a space in toilet accommodation might need to be increased in order to preserve the sizes shown for each activity space, column of clearance, disposal bin space, fitting and door swing.
2.0 Common Design Provisions
2.1 The following provisions should be followed for all types of toilet accommodation. These provisions are in addition to type-specific design provisions
2.2 Urinals should only be provided in male single-sex toilets. Trough urinals may be appropriate in male single-sex toilet accommodation with a high turnover of users, such as a sports stadium. All single user urinals should be separated by modesty screens and where multiple single-user urinals are provided a minimum of one urinal should be positioned at a lower height.
2.3 Each toilet cubicle or room containing a WC should have all of the following.
a. A toilet paper dispenser.
b. Space for a disposal bin appropriate to the toilet type.
c. A high hook at approximately 1685mm above finished floor level and a low hook at approximately 1050mm above finished floor level.
2.4 The door to a toilet cubicle, a toilet room or a universal toilet should meet the following.
a. Not obstruct emergency escape routes when opened.
b. Be fitted with light action privacy bolts operable with a closed fist and operable by people with a variety of dexterity or strength combinations.
c. Be capable of being opened from the outside if a person has collapsed against it while inside the toilet room or cubicle.
d. If the door is inward opening, have an emergency release mechanism so that the door is capable of being opened outward, from the outside, in case of emergency, such as when a person has collapsed while inside the toilet room or cubicle.
e. Be as light in weight as possible and, if required to self-close, be opened using a force at the
leading edge of not more than 30N from 0 degrees (the door in the closed position) to 30
degrees open, and not more than 22.5N from 30 degrees to 60 degrees of the opening cycle.
f. Open with one hand using a closed fist.
g. Adequately resist the passage of sound in toilet rooms.
2.5 If a door needs to open inward, the door swing should not encroach into: any appliance, the column of clearance or the activity space set out for the type of accommodation.
2.6 Preferably, all doors to toilets should open outward. Where outward opening doors to cubicles and toilet rooms are included, a horizontal closing bar is needed.
2.7 Any door that opens onto a frequently used corridor should be located in a recess at least as deep as the width of the door leaf. There should be at least 1200mm clear space in front of the door’s leading edge when the door is open at 90 degrees.
2.8 Universal toilets and single-sex toilet accommodation should open onto a well-lit corridor or circulation space. Direct sight lines from a corridor to the WC and washbasin should be avoided, while reducing the number of lobbies where possible (as this restricts access).
2.9 Clear wayfinding to toilet accommodation should be provided for users.
2.10 Toilet accommodation should meet the following.
a. Have clear and appropriate signage at the entrance door to the toilet type and wayfinding
signage to help users locate toilet facilities on each floor of a building.
b. Have wayfinding signage to help users locate toilet facilities on each floor of a building.
c. Display clearly an internationally standardised signage symbol for a universal toilet which should be PI PF 003 from BS ISO 7001
3.0 Type A – Fully enclosed self-contained ambulant universal toilet
3.1 Reasonable provision will be made for Type A (fully enclosed self-contained ambulant universal toilet) if facilities meet all of the following.
- The minimum dimensions and other provisions as below
- The layout as set out with dimensions as below
- The common design provisions set out in Section 2.
3.2 The design for an ambulant universal toilet can also be applied to single-sex ambulant self-contained toilets that are to be provided in single-sex toilet facilities. Section 5 of Approved Document M, Volume 2, on requirements for sanitary accommodation, generally applies to universal toilets.
Key Dimensions for Type A Universal Toilet
Minimum overall dimensions: 985mm x 2125mm
Minimum effective clear opening width: 750mm
Door Opening: outward opening
Minimum turning circle: 465mm
Minimum activity space in front of WC: 600mm deep x 800mm wide
Type A - Ambulant Universal Toilet Cubicle Dimensions
4.0 Type B – Fully enclosed self-contained universal toilet
4.1 Reasonable provision will be made for Type B (fully enclosed self-contained universal toilet) if facilities meet all of the following.
- The minimum dimensions and other provisions set out below
- The layout as set out with dimensions in Diagram below
- The common design provisions set out in Section 2.
4.2 The design for a universal toilet can also be applied to individual self-contained toilets that are to be provided as single-sex toilet facilities.
Key Dimensions for Type B Universal Toilet
Minimum overall dimensions: 1050mm x 1685mm
Minimum effective clear opening width: 650mm
Door Opening: Self-closing, inward or outward (outward preferable)
Minimum turning circle: 465mm
Minimum activity space in front of WC: 600mm wide x 800mm deep
Type B - Universal Toilet Cubicle Dimensions
5.0 Type C – Ambulant single-sex toilet cubicle (not self-contained)
5.1 Reasonable provision will be made for Type C (ambulant single-sex toilet cubicle (not self-contained)) if facilities meet all of the following.
- The minimum dimensions and other provisions set out as below
- The layout as set out with dimensions in Diagram below
- The common design provisions set out in Section 2.
Key Dimensions for Type C Ambulant single-sex toilet cubicle
Minimum overall dimensions: 920mm x 1465mm
Minimum effective clear opening width: 750mm
Door Opening: outward opening
Minimum turning circle: 465mm
Minimum activity space in front of WC: 600mm deep x 800mm wide
Type C – Ambulant single-sex Toilet Cubicle Dimensions
6.0 Type D – Single-sex toilet cubicle (not self-contained)
6.1 Reasonable provision will be made for Type D (single-sex toilet cubicle (not self-contained)) if facilities meet all of the following.
- The minimum dimensions and other provisions set out as below
- The layout as set out with dimensions as diagram 6.2 below
- The common design provisions set out in Section 2.
6.2 In addition to the provisions in paragraph 6.1, in male-only facilities, urinals may be provided in accordance with paragraph 2.2.
Key Dimensions for Type D single-sex toilet cubicle
Minimum overall dimensions: 910mm x 1740mm
Minimum effective clear opening width: 650mm
Door Opening: inward or outward opening (outward opening preferable as long as opening onto adequately sized shared hand wash facilities)
Minimum turning circle: 465mm
Minimum activity space in front of WC: 600mm wide x 800mm deep
Type D – Single-sex Toilet Cubicle Dimensions 6.1
Where to get further help
If you are unsure whether you have the knowledge and skills to apply the guidance correctly, or if you do not understand the technical guidance or other information in the approved document or the additional detailed technical references to which it directs you, you should seek further help. Some sources of help are listed below.
a. Your building control body may be able to help in many cases.
b. If you are registered with a competent person scheme, the scheme operator should be in a position to help.
c. Suitably qualified and experienced construction professionals should also be engaged where necessary.
The Guidance Note does not constitute professional advice and Excelsior offers no reliance and accepts no liability (in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise) on the Guidance Note.
The Guidance Note is provided as generic guidance only and any opinion, views or advice expressed are made without any representations or provide any assurances or warranties as to the content.
