Commercial Restroom Mirror Requirements

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights division that holds businesses like yours accountable for the way your public restrooms are designed and how they are accessible to individuals with limitations. While local codes and ordinances can often supersede state or federal regulations, it is important that your customers can easily access the available amenities or fixtures in your facilities. Commercial restroom mirror requirements are commonly overlooked, and we will review some of the most important guidelines that could affect the way you design or furnish your restroom facility. Read on to learn more about Section 603.3 of the ADA requirements.

Commercial restroom mirror requirements are key to ensuring your business is compliant. Section 603.3 of the published and mandated ADA standards offers the following guideline: mirrors located above lavatories or countertops shall be installed with the bottom edge of the reflecting surface no higher than 40 inches (1,015 mm) above the finish floor or ground. Mirrors not located above lavatories or countertops shall be installed with the bottom edge of the reflecting surface 35 inches (890 mm), maximum, above the finished floor or ground.

ADA’s commercial restroom mirror requirements also advise that single full-length mirrors can accommodate a greater number of people, including children. Ensure your restroom’s mirrors are installed to be usable by people who are ambulatory or use wheelchairs. The top edge of any full-length mirror should be 74 inches (1,880 mm), minimum, from the floor or ground. Tilted mirrors are no longer required nor recommended by most accessibility organizations, although they may provide better visibility for wheelchair users or patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities.

Should you choose to install tilted mirrors in your establishment’s bathrooms, you must adhere to manufacturer guidelines and comply with local building codes. When installing in plaster or dry wall construction, provide concealed backing and secure the unit with furnished screws. For most other wall surfaces, utilize fiber plugs or expansion shields with furnished screws. Alternatively, you can utilize 1/8-inch (3mm) toggle bolts or expansion bolts. If you have any questions about commercial restroom mirror requirements or how to gather additional information, please contact a member of the PandaProducts.com team today for further assistance.