The ADA Standards set an accessible-unit share of 5 percent at each cluster of portable toilets, and the Access Board's guide reads it as at least 5 percent with at least one accessible unit per cluster. Placement on a firm, level pad with an accessible route matters as much as the unit.
Key takeaways
- The 2010 ADA Standards set a 5 percent figure for accessible units at each cluster.
- The Access Board's toilet-rooms guide reads the rule as at least 5 percent at each cluster.
- A conservative reading is at least one accessible unit per cluster, rounded up to the 5 percent figure.
- Construction units used only by construction personnel are exempt, according to the Access Board's guide.
- Placement is as important as the unit: a firm, level pad and an accessible route are required in practice.
What does the ADA say about portable toilets at events?
The 2010 ADA Standards, section 213.2, Exception 3, set a 5 percent figure for accessible units at each cluster of portable toilets.
The wording of the exception reads as 'no more than 5 percent' at each cluster. The Access Board's guide to toilet rooms reads the rule as requiring at least 5 percent at each cluster, and that reading is the one to plan around.
A conservative plan puts at least one accessible unit in each cluster and rounds the share up to the 5 percent figure, so the layout never falls short of the rule as the Access Board describes it.
Does the construction exemption apply to an event?
No. The Access Board's guide says units on construction sites that are used only by construction personnel are exempt, and an event's crowd is not construction personnel.
The exemption is for units used only by the people on the site. An event open to the public is not covered by it, so the accessible share applies in full.
Where a construction site also hosts a public event, the units used by the public are planned to the accessible rule.
Where should an accessible unit stand?
On a firm, level pad with an accessible route from the event to the unit, shown on the site plan.
A unit set on soft ground or a slope fails the route even when the unit itself is compliant. Ask for the pad and the route to be checked before delivery, and mark them on the plan.
The route should be clear of the crowd's main flow, and the approach should not require a step or a steep ramp. Confirm these with the organiser before the layout is fixed.
Frequently asked questions
Is Austin's 5 to 10 percent figure the Texas rule?
No. That figure is Austin's guidance, not a Texas or Fort Worth rule. This page uses the ADA Standards figure as the Access Board describes it.
Does Fort Worth Porta Potty Rental provide accessible units?
Yes. Accessible units are placed on a firm, level pad with a route, and Fort Worth Porta Potty Rental confirms the number and the placement for your event before delivery.
Sources
This guide is general information for Tarrant County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.