Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails

Buildings in Recreation Sites

Permanent buildings with walls, roof, and a door at recreation areas must meet all the applicable provisions of ABAAS, as well as those of other applicable building codes.

However, some buildings are only found in the outdoor recreation environment, such as camp shelters and pit toilets. Accessibility requirements for those buildings are explained below.

Camp Shelters

Camp shelters are small structures typically enclosed on three sides with a roof or overhang. They are often located on trails. Figure 107 shows a typical camp shelter that provides some protection from the weather. Camp shelters aren't cabins. Cabins are typically fully enclosed and must comply with ABAAS, section 806 for transient lodging.

Figure 107—The entrance to the Three Lakes camp shelter at the Tongass National Forest is level with the ground.

Ensure that each camp shelter meets the following requirements, except in two circumstances. If a condition for an exception prohibits full compliance with a specific technical requirement in FSORAG, section 5.1, the camp shelter only has to comply with the specific requirement to the extent practicable. When more than two camp shelters are grouped together in a camping unit, only 20 percent of them (but never less than two) are required to meet the requirements. For example, if five camp shelters are grouped, 20 percent is one shelter. Because of the minimum number required, however, this group must include at least two shelters that meet the requirements. However, in a group of 15 shelters, 20 percent is 3 shelters. At the least, three shelters must meet the requirements. Remember that the requirements are minimums, and the Forest Service commitment to universal design dictates that as many shelters as is practicable should meet the requirements.

Connect camp shelters located on trails to the other constructed features at the site by a trail that meets the technical requirements in FSTAG. Connect camp shelters that are located in a campground and are not on a trail to other constructed features in the camping unit and to the common use features that are provided at the campground, such as toilets, showers, water hydrants, garbage receptacles, parking spaces, and beach access by an outdoor recreation access route.

Provide a clear floor or ground space at least 36 inches (915 millimeters) by 48 inches (1,220 millimeters) at the entrance to the camp shelter. The long side of the clear floor or ground space must be parallel to the camp shelter entrance. One full, unobstructed side of the clear ground space must adjoin or overlap the trail or outdoor recreation access route (as applicable) or another clear ground space. When a condition for an exception prohibits full compliance with the clear ground requirement, the clear ground space only has to comply to the extent practicable.

Ensure that the surface of the clear floor or ground space at the open entrance side of the shelter and the floor of the shelter is firm, stable, and does not slope more than 2 percent (1:48) in any direction. However, when the surface is unpaved or not built with boards, slopes 5 percent (1:20) or less are allowed if necessary for drainage.

When the floor at the entrance to the camp shelter is raised above the ground, ensure that the floor is 17 inches (430 millimeters) minimum to 19 inches (485 millimeters) maximum, higher than the adjoining clear space at the open entrance side (figure 108). This height must be maintained for a length of at least 48 inches (1,220 millimeters) beside the clear space so that someone using a wheelchair or other assistive device can transfer to the floor of the shelter.

Figure 108—The entrance to the Hunter Station camp shelter at the Allegheny National Forest is raised above the ground.

If the camp shelter has a level entry, provide a turning space that is 60 inches (1,525 millimeters) minimum in diameter (see figure 62) or is T-shaped with a minimum 60- by 36-inch (1,525- by 915-millimeter) arm and a minimum 36-inch (915-millimeter) -wide by 24-inch (610-millimeter) -long base (see figure 63) inside the camp shelter. This requirement is the same as ABAAS, section 304.3. The clear space and turning space allows someone using a wheelchair or other assistive device to approach and move about the camp shelter.

The floor surface within the camp shelter must be firm and stable and must not slope more than 2 percent (1:48) in any direction. If amenities such as tables or wood stoves are provided in camp shelters, they must meet the requirements of FSORAG, section 5.

Toilet Buildings and Pit Toilets

Toilet buildings are provided for visitor convenience and comfort in recreation sites that meet the criteria for level 3 or higher on the recreation site development scale. Vault toilets, flush toilets, or composting toilets are typical at these sites. Regardless of the waste disposal system or design of the building, make sure they meet the requirements of ABAAS. Specifically, toilet buildings at developed recreation sites with only one riser must comply with the requirements for toilet room size and clearances in section 603 of ABAAS and with the requirements for toilet seats, grab bars, controls, and dispensers in sections 604.4, 604.5, 604.6, and 604.7 of ABAAS. Toilet buildings with multiple risers must comply with all of section 604 of ABAAS. If washing sinks, showers, or other amenities are provided in toilet buildings, or separate changing or shower buildings, they must also comply with the appropriate sections of ABAAS. When designing toilet buildings, be careful not to confuse the requirements for toilet stalls with those for single riser toilet rooms.

Pit toilets are located in remote areas. They are provided primarily for resource protection, rather than for visitor convenience and comfort. Pit toilets are primitive outhouses that may consist simply of a hole dug in the ground covered by a toilet riser (figure 109). The pit toilet riser may or may not be surrounded by walls and may or may not have a roof. Pit toilets may be permanent installations or they may be moved from one location to another as the hole is filled or the area has become overused. Waste disposal in pit toilets may be directly into the ground (pit) or may include moldering or composting processes.

Figure 109—A fiberglass riser for a pit toilet in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

Do not confuse pit toilets with toilet buildings. Pit toilets are only provided in low development areas where it has been determined that they are necessary for resource or environmental protection. Pit toilets are never appropriate in a Forest Service recreation site with a development scale level of 3 or higher.

Ensure each pit toilet meets the following requirements and is connected to the area's other major constructed features by an outdoor recreation access route. Connect pit toilets that are provided on trails to the area's other major constructed features by a route that complies with the trail specifications rather than an outdoor recreation access route.

The design of pit toilets varies widely depending on the setting, the amount of expected use, and the system used to manage the waste. If an accessible pit toilet has walls, a floor, a door, or a roof, these components must comply with the appropriate provisions of ABAAS as follows.

If the pit toilet has a riser and toilet seat, ensure that the total height of that seat and the riser it rests on is 17 to 19 inches (430 to 485 millimeters) above the ground or floor.

If the pit toilet has lightweight privacy screens or has no walls, ensure that the riser has vertical or nearly vertical sides and a flat area on each side of the seat that is about 3 inches (75 millimeters) wide.

For pit toilets with lightweight privacy screens or no walls, provide a clear floor or ground space that is at least 60 inches (1,525 millimeters) wide and 56 inches (1,420 millimeters) deep. Of the required width of clear floor space, ensure that only 16 to 18 inches (405 to 455 millimeters) is on one side of the centerline of the riser; the rest must be on the other side. The depth of the clear space is measured from the back of the riser and extends in front of the riser (figure 110). If these clear space requirements can't be met due to a condition for an exemption, then the clear space must meet the technical requirements to the extent practicable.

Figure 110—The requirements for clear space at an unenclosed toilet.

If there are sturdy walls around the pit toilet riser, standard riser dimensions, placement, and grab bars are required as shown in ABAAS, sections 603, 604, and 609. Grab bar size, strength, finish, and position requirements are explained in "Grab Bars" of this guidebook.

Grab bars must comply with the reach ranges required in ABAAS, section 308, and explained in "Reach Ranges and Operability Requirements" of this guidebook. As required in ABAAS, section 604.5, grab bars for toilets must be installed in a horizontal position, 33 to 36 inches (840 to 915 millimeters) above the finished floor, measured to the top of the gripping surface.

Ensure the grab bar beside the riser is at least 42 inches (1,065 millimeters) long, is located no more than 12 inches (305 millimeters) from the wall behind the toilet, and extends at least 54 inches (1,370 millimeters) from the rear wall. The grab bar behind the riser must be at least 36 inches (915 millimeters) long and extend from the centerline of the water closet at least 12 inches (305 millimeters) on the side closest to the side wall grab bar and at least 24 inches (610 millimeters) on the other side (figure 111).

Figure 111—The grab bar placement requirements for pit toilets enclosed by walls.

For pit toilets enclosed by walls, make sure the back of the riser is against the wall behind the riser. Provide a clear floor space that is at least 60 inches (1,525 millimeters) wide and 56 inches (1,420 millimeters) deep around the toilet.

Of the required width of clear floor space, ensure that only 16 to 18 inches (405 to 455 millimeters) on one side of the centerline of the riser, and the rest is on the other side. Provide turning space of at least 60 inches (1,525 millimeters) in diameter or T-shaped with a minimum 60- by 36-inch (1,525- by 915-millimeter) arm and a minimum 36-inch (915-millimeter) -wide by 24-inch (610-millimeter) -long base. This requirement is the same as ABAAS, section 304.3. Portions of the turning space may overlap the toilet clear floor space (figure 112).

Figure 112—The requirements for a T-shaped turning space for a pit toilet enclosed by walls.

When there are walls, ensure doorways or wall openings that provide entrance to the toilet have a minimum clear width of 32 inches (815 millimeters), in compliance with ABAAS, section 404.2.3. Door swings must not obstruct the clear floor space inside the pit toilet. Doors that open out or slide use space efficiently to provide the required interior clear space, but they are not allowed to block the access route to the building. Ensure door hardware, such as handles, pulls, latches, and locks, complies with the technical requirements for reach ranges and operability specified in ABAAS sections, 308 and 309 and explained in "Reach Ranges and Operability Requirements."

Whether the pit toilet has walls or not, make sure the slope of the turning space and the clear floor or ground space does not exceed 1:48 (2 percent) in any direction. When the surface is unpaved or not built with boards, grades 1:33 (3 percent) or less in any direction are allowed if required for proper drainage. Provide a surface that is firm, stable, and made from material appropriate to the setting and level of development. When there is a condition for an exception that prohibits full compliance with the slope or surface requirements, they only have to be met to the extent practicable.

Locate the entrance to each pit toilet at ground level wherever possible. For instance, composting and moldering toilets have a "basement" area where waste is processed. The need to service the area under the riser may make it difficult to provide a ground level entrance to the toilet. In other areas, surface bedrock, permafrost, or other ground conditions make it difficult to dig a pit. In situations where the pit toilet is elevated above the ground surface, make sure any inclined access from the connecting outdoor recreation access route or trail to the entrance of the toilet structure is firm and stable, at least 36 inches (915 millimeters) wide, and not more than a 1:12 (8.33 percent) slope to the extent practicable. If an inclined connection meeting these requirements isn't practicable because of a condition for exception, steps are permitted—but only as a last resort. Provide a landing at least 60 inches by 60 inches (1,220 millimeters by 1,220 millimeters) outside the entrance door to the toilet structure. Because it is an outdoor recreation environment, make sure the inclined surface is firm and stable. It doesn't have to be slip-resistant, and handrails aren't required.