Bathroom planning aids

Standards and Dimensions

It is necessary to observe the following standards when planning barrier-free bathrooms and
lavatories.

DIN 18040-1 Publicly accessible buildings

This part of the standard refers to publicly accessible buildings, especially those parts of the
building and associated outdoor facilities, intended for use by the public. Publicly accessible
buildings include particularly cultural and educational facilities, sport and recreation facilities,
public health facilities, office, administrative and court buildings, sales facilities and restaurants,
parking lots, garages and toilet facilities. The primary new feature is the attempt to consider the
highly varying requirements of the handicapped and disabled to the greatest extent possible.
The purpose of this standard is to create barrier-free facilities, so that they can be accessed and
used by the handicapped in the generally accepted manner, without particular difficulty and, as
a matter of principle, without the help of a second person.

This standard considers particularly the requirements of those

• who have visual impairments, are blind or suffer from a hearing impairment (deaf or hard of
hearing)
• with limited motor skills
• requiring mobility aids and/or wheelchairs

Some requirements in this standard also facilitate use for

• extraordinarily large or small people
• people with cognitive deficiencies
• older people
• children
• people with perambulators/strollers or baggage

Specifically new are the sensory requirements (visual, acoustic, tactile) as well as specification of
protection targets.

The standard applies for new buildings. It should also be applied analogously in the planning for
remodeling or renovation.

Please note that specific requirements for workplaces are no longer included in this standard;
they have been incorporated into the new German Ordinance on Workplaces. The application
range for lodging facilities is also excluded.

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Bathroom planning aids

DIN 18040-2 Domestic buildings

This part of the standard applies for barrier-free planning, construction and furnishing of
domestic and tenement buildings and their outdoor facilities.

Special requirements for dwellings for wheelchair users are emphasized in this standard and
indicated in the present document with the symbol .

This standard considers particularly the requirements of those

• who have visual impairments, are blind or suffer from a hearing impairment (deaf or hard of
hearing)
• with limited motor skills
• requiring mobility aids and/or wheelchairs

Some requirements in this standard also facilitate use for

• extraordinarily large or small people
• people with cognitive deficiencies
• older people
• children
• people with perambulators/strollers or baggage

Specifically new are the sensory requirements (visual, acoustic, tactile) as well as specification of
protection targets.

The standard applies for new buildings. It should also be applied analogously in the planning for
remodeling or renovation.

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Bathroom planning aids
General planning aid for wash basins
Installation
DIN 18040-
18040 -1 Public
Public
recommendations
Installation height of Max. Height of front edge 80 cm
upper edge of wash basin
Area for movement in 150 x 150 cm
front of wash basin
Free area beneath sink Minimum free area beneath sink:
55 cm
Knee room: 67 cm measured up to
30 cm behind front edge of wash basin
Free area beneath sink over width of
90 cm
Free area beneath hand Minimum free area beneath sink:
wash basin 45 cm
Faucet Single lever faucet or with proximity
sensor, Faucets with proximity sensor
only in combination with temperature
limitation to max. 45°C at spigot
Max. distance between faucet and
front edge of wash basin: 40 cm.
Accessories The following must be located in the
area of the wash basin: one-hand soap
dispenser, paper towel dispenser,
waste paper basket, hand drier.
Mirror Located immediately above the wash
basin at minimum height of 100 cm.
Image visible from standing or sitting
position
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DIN 18040-
18040 -2 Private DIN 18040-
18040 -2 Private
Max. Height of front edge 80 cm As required
150 x 150 cm 120 x 120 cm
Minimum free area beneath sink: Leg room required
55 cm
Knee room: 67 cm measured up to
30 cm behind front edge of wash basin
Free area beneath sink over width of
90 cm
Single lever faucet or with proximity Single lever faucet or with
sensor, Faucets with proximity sensor proximity sensor. Faucets
only in combination with temperature with proximity sensor only in
limitation to max. 45°C at spigot combination with
Max. distance between faucet and temperature limitation to
front edge of wash basin: 40 cm. max. 45°C at spigot
Located immediately above the wash As required
basin Located immediately above the
wash basin at minimum height of
100 cm.
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 Bathroom planning aids

General planning aid for showers

Installation
DIN 18040-
18040 -1 Public DIN 18040-
18040 -2 Private
Private DIN 18040-
18040 -2 Private
recommendations
Shower area At same level as adjacent sanitary At same level as adjacent sanitary At same level as adjacent sanitary
room and not lower than 2 cm. room and not lower than 2 cm. room and not lower than 2 cm.

Motion area 150 x 150 cm 150 x 150 cm 120 x 120 cm

Handrails Horizontal handrail at height of 85 cm As required As required

above finished floor, vertical handrails
are to be installed in addition.

Hinged handles 1 hinged handle must be installed on
each side of the folding seat, top of
hinged handle 28 cm above seat
height, extending 15 cm beyond seat,
distance between handles 65-70 cm
Retrofit possibility for hinged handles. As required
Top of hinged handle 28 cm above
seat height.

Shower seat Seat height 46-48 cm Retrofit possibility for seat As required
Min. folding seat extension: 45 cm Seat height 46-48 cm
Alternative: Stable, mobile shower
seat
Faucets Single lever shower faucet with hand Single lever shower faucet with hand
nozzle accessible from seat, to side at nozzle accessible from seat, to side at
height of 85 cm height of 85 cm

Bathtubs in domestic It must be possible to install a bathtub It should be possible to install a

buildings in the area of the shower at a later bathtub in the area of the shower at a
time. Use of a lifter must be possible later time.
and it must be possible to adapt the
height to the specific lifter system.

Floor covering Non-slip in compliance with GUV-I Non-slip in compliance with GUV-I Non-slip in compliance with GUV-I
8527 Assessment group B 8527 Assessment group B 8527 Assessment group B

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 Bathroom planning aids

General planning aid for toilets

Installation
DIN 18040-
18040 -1 Public DIN 18040-
18040 -2 Private DIN 18040-
18040 -2 Private
recommendations
Installation height of 46 - 48 cm 46 - 48 cm As required
top of toilet seat

Toilet depth Minimum extension 70 cm Minimum extension 70 cm As required

Backrest 55 cm behind front edge of toilet bowl 55 cm behind front edge of toilet bowl As required

Area for movement in 150 x 150 cm 150 x 150 cm 120 x 120 cm

front of toilet
Lateral area for movement On left and right 90 cm At least 90 cm on one side and 30 cm As required
next to toilet on opposite side

Lateral distance between At least 90 cm At least 30 cm At least 20 cm

toilet bowl and wall

Hinged handles On left and right On left and right As required

Top of hinged handle 28 cm above Top of hinged handle 28 cm above
seat height, hinged handle extension seat height, hinged handle extension
beyond toilet seat: 15 cm beyond toilet seat: 15 cm
Distance between handles: 65 – 70 cm Distance between handles: 65 – 70 cm

Hinged handle supporting Minimum test load 1 kN at front end Minimum test load 1 kN at front end
capacity of handle of handle

Toilet flushing control Accessible from sitting position with Accessible from sitting position with As required
hand or arm hand or arm

Toilet paper holder Accessible without changing seating Accessible without changing seating As required
position position

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