Rail Vehicules 

Access Advisory 

Committee

Toilet Module 

Footprint

PREPARED BY

André Gagné

Senior Expert – Interiors

2013/12/31
CONTENTS

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS

NORTH AMERICAN TOILET MODULES

BENCHMARKING

FLOOR AREA

CONCLUSIONS

1

2

3

4

5

2
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS

Toilet Module Requirements

• Minimum clear floor area of 35’’ by 60’’

• Doorway minimum clear opening width

- Opposite water closet : 32’’

- Side wall : 39’’

• Fixtures may overlap clear floor area under certain 

conditions

• Grab bars

- Behind water closet

- On one side wall

• Wheelchairs are 30’’ wide by 48’’ long maximum

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No relationship between 

position of water closet and 

minimum clear floor area.

Square corners do not enhance 

accessibility.

No relationship between 

position of water closet and 

minimum clear floor area.

Square corners do not enhance 

accessibility.

Side and back walls may not 

always be within reach
NORTH AMERICAN TOILET MODULES

Long Island Rail Road – M7 Commuter

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Minimum Clear Floor Area

35’’ x 60’’

Module Contour @ Floor Level

Overlapping Fixtures

Toilet Door
NORTH AMERICAN TOILET MODULES 

New Jersey Transit – Multilevel Commuter

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Minimum Clear Floor Area

35’’ x 60’’

Module Contour @ Floor Level

Overlapping Fixtures

Toilet Door
NORTH AMERICAN TOILET MODULES 

Amtrak – Acela Express

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Minimum Clear Floor Area

35’’ x 60’’

Module Contour @ Floor Level

Overlapping Fixtures

Toilet Door
BENCHMARKING

European Railway Agency

Drafted by the European Railway Agency, technical 

specifications for interoperability (TSI) are the specifications 

by which each subsystem or part of subsystem is covered in 

order to meet the essential requirements and to ensure the 

interoperability of the trans-European high speed and 

conventional rail systems.

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BENCHMARKING

International Union of Railways (UIC)

Operating Rule 565-3 from the UIC provides indications for 

the layout of coaches suitable for conveying disabled 

passengers in their wheelchairs.

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BENCHMARKING

European Committee for Standardization (CEN)

EN 16585-1 is a european standard under development that 

will address the needs of people with reduced mobility in 

relation to toilets in railway vehicles.

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BENCHMARKING

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

ISO 7193 provides the maximum overall dimensions of 

manual and electric wheelchairs.

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BENCHMARKING

Regional – Germany

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BENCHMARKING

HSR – Germany, Sweden

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BENCHMARKING

AGC – France

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BENCHMARKING

Footprint Definition Process

Wheelchair & Occupant

Transfer

Accessibility 

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WHEELCHAIR & OCCUPANT

Dimensions

WHEELCHAIR (ISO 7193)

Length = 1,200 mm (47.2’’)

Width = 700 mm (27.6’’)

WHEELCHAIR W/OCCUPANT (ISO 7193)

Length = 1,250 mm (49.2’’); added 2’’ for the feet

Width = 800 mm (31.5’’); added 2’’ on each side for the hands

TURNING CIRCLE1(UIC 565-3, TSI – PRM, ISO 7176)

Diameter = 1,500 mm (59.1’’)

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1. The diameter of the smallest cylindrical envelope in which the wheelchair can be turned for 360° in 

one constant forward drive with maximum steering effect.

The CFR defines 

wheelchairs as being 30’’ x 

48’’
WHEELCHAIR & OCCUPANT

Dimensions

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Turning Circle Ø59.1’’

Wheelchair (ISO)

Wheelchair w/occupant (ISO)

Minimum Clear Floor Area 

35’’ x 60’’ (CFR)

Wheelchair (CFR)
TRANSFER

Method A - Diagonal

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The transfer position shall be 

set between 0° (in line with the 

centerline of the toilet seat) 

and 125° on one side of the 

water closet to allow a 

diagonal transfer.

125°
TRANSFER

Method B – Lateral

The transfer position shall be 

set between 0° (parallel to the 

centerline of the toilet seat) 

and 40° on one side of the 

water closet to allow a lateral 

transfer. 

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31.5’ 40°’

27.6’’
TRANSFER

Handrails

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A horizontal handrail shall be 

provided at each side of the 

toilet seat. The handrail on the 

wheelchair accessible side 

shall extend to the leading 

edge of the toilet seat and 

shall be hinged in such a way 

so as to enable an 

unobstructed transfer for the 

wheelchair user to and from 

the toilet seat. 6’’

13.8’’

29.5’’

18.7’’
ACCESSIBILITY

Clear Space

There shall be a minimum 

clear space of 27.6’’ from the 

front edge of the toilet seat 

and over its entire width. 

The clear space can be used 

as maneuvering space 

and/or as part of a transfer 

position.

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2

7.6’’
ACCESSIBILITY

Maneuvering Space

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The toilet compartment shall allow the unobstructed 

movement of a wheelchair with occupant through the door to 

a maneuvering space and then to a transfer position 

adjacent to the water closet. All toilet amenities shall be 

readily accessible to a person in a wheelchair.

Maneuvering Space

Clear Space

Transfer Position
ACCESSIBILITY

Curvature Between Walls and Floor

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A two (2) inch maximum curvature of the surface between 

the walls and floor is allowed inside the toilet compartment 

without compromising clear space, maneuvering space or 

transfer position.

≤ R2’’
FLOOR AREA

Comparison Table

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DESCRIPTION AREA (ft2)

- Minimum clear floor area (CFR) 14.6

LIRR toilet 18.9

NJT toilet 21.3

Amtrak Acela Express toilet 24.1

- Turning circle 19.1

Toilet w/ lateral transfer & turning circle 25.2
CONCLUSIONS

• The CFR does not 

establish a relationship 

between the minimum 

clear floor area and other 

toilet fixtures.

• The minimum clear floor 

area is rectangular; square 

corners may lead to 

unused/unusable space.

• ISO 7193 requirements 

cover wheelchairs usable 

by 85% of disabled people.

• The wheelchair size 

defined in the CFR is 

almost identical to the 

occupied wheelchair 

defined under ISO 7193.

• The CFR requires grab 

bars to be installed on 

walls; they should be 

located using the water 

closet as the point of 

reference.

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CONCLUSIONS

• A lateral transfer from the 

wheelchair to the water 

closet seems to be the 

preferred transfer method.

• A turning circle inside the 

toilet module makes it 

easier for the wheelchair 

occupant to access all 

toilet amenities (sink, hand 

dryer, soap, door latch, 

intercom, etc.).

• Toilet modules large 

enough to accommodate a 

turning circle and transfer 

position are slightly larger 

than the Amtrak Acela 

Express accessible toilet 

module.

• A diagonal transfer position 

can lead to a smaller toilet 

module footprint.

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? Q&A

26