What's inside a wheelchair-accessible porta potty?
A wheelchair-accessible porta potty has a ground-level entry with no step and a door opening about 32 inches wide. Inside are handrails and more than 16 square feet of floor. The seat sits about 19 inches high. Toilet paper and hand sanitizer come stocked, but there is no sink inside.
- Ground-level entry: the floor sits low enough to roll in without a ramp.
- Wide door: the door frame opening is about 32 inches wide and 74 inches tall.
- Handrails: rails on the walls help with transfers to and from the seat.
- Floor space: more than 16 square feet, about 2,318 square inches, leaves room for a chair and a helper.
- Stocked: toilet paper and hand sanitizer, like every event unit.
The accessible unit is not only for wheelchair users. Guests with walkers or canes, parents with strollers and caregivers helping someone all use the extra room.
There is no sink inside. Place a hand-wash station nearby on the same firm, level path.
What does the ADA require for portable toilets?
Section 213.2 of the 2010 ADA Standards covers portable toilets clustered at one location. At least 5 percent of the units in each cluster must be accessible. Round up, so most clusters need at least 1. Units used only by construction crews are exempt under section 203.2.
Here is the plain reading of the rules. The full text is on the U.S. Access Board ADA 213.2 page.
- 213.2, clustered units: where several single-user portable toilets stand together, at least 5 percent of each cluster must meet the accessible toilet rules in section 603.
- 203.2, construction sites: portable toilets provided only for construction workers do not have to be accessible.
- 304, turning space: the accessible toilet rules call for a turning space. One option is a circle 60 inches in diameter.
| Units in one cluster | Legal minimum accessible (5%, rounded up) | Our recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 2–20 | 1 | 1 |
| 21–40 | 2 | 2 |
| 41–60 | 3 | 3, plus 1 near seating or the stage |
| Construction crew only | 0 (exempt) | 1 if any worker or visitor needs one |
Wheelchair-accessible unit specs and turning space
The wheelchair-accessible unit is about 91 inches tall, 62 inches wide and 62 inches deep. The empty unit weighs about 240 pounds and holds 33 gallons. These are manufacturer specs for the PolyJohn Comfort XL (PH03) reference model, and your unit may differ by an inch or two.
| Spec | Wheelchair-accessible unit (reference model: PolyJohn Comfort XL, PH03) |
|---|---|
| Height | 91 in |
| Width | 62 in |
| Depth | 62 in |
| Weight, empty | 240 lb |
| Holding tank | 33 gal |
| Door frame opening | 32 x 74 in |
| Seat height | 19 in |
| Floor space | More than 16 sq ft (2,318 sq in) |
| Entry | Ground level, no step |
| Hookups | None |
Source: PolyJohn Comfort XL product page.
The ADA turning space in section 304 is a circle 60 inches in diameter, or a T-shaped space. The manufacturer does not publish a turning diameter for this unit. If your permit or inspector needs a documented 60-inch circle, tell us before you book so the unit can be measured.
Will an accessible porta potty fit through my gate?
An accessible porta potty is about 62 inches wide, so most single garden gates are too narrow. Plan on an opening of about 66 inches, such as a double gate, a driveway or an open lawn. The route from the party to the door also needs to be firm and level.
Placement matters more for this unit than for any other. A wheelchair user has to reach the door without help.
- Firm, level path: pavement, packed gravel or short, dry grass. Skip deep gravel, mulch and soggy lawns.
- No curbs or steps: the path from the event to the door should have no lip.
- Door facing the path: leave clear space in front so a chair can line up with the door.
- Close by: put it at the near end of the row, not behind the other units.
Keep the unit off septic covers and away from steep slopes. Mark the spot, and the driver will set the unit facing the way you choose.
Need it delivered today?
Call before noon, Monday to Saturday, for same-day delivery.
Who is ADA porta potty rental in CT best for?
ADA porta potty rental in CT fits public events, parks, fairs, races and any party with a guest who uses a wheelchair or walker. Most event setups need just 1 accessible unit beside the standard units. The table compares the accessible unit with standard, deluxe and trailer options.
Best for
- Festivals, fairs and community event porta potty rentals open to the public
- Weddings with older guests, paired with a restroom trailer that has steps
- Parks and ballfields on a long-term rental
- Job sites where a worker or visitor needs extra room
Not right for
- Tight backyards: a 48-inch gate will not pass a 62-inch unit.
- Steep or soft ground: a slope defeats the level entry.
| Wheelchair-accessible unit | Standard unit | Deluxe flushing unit | Restroom trailer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best use | Guests using wheelchairs, walkers or strollers | Job sites, backyard parties, short events | Showers, receptions, office staff | Weddings, formal parties, VIP areas |
| Flushing | No, holding tank | No, waste drops into a 60-gal holding tank | Foot-pump fresh-water flush | Flushing toilets |
| Handwashing | Hand sanitizer inside; station sits outside | Hand sanitizer inside; add a hand-wash station | Foot-pump sink with soap and towels inside | Sinks with running water |
| Accessibility | Ground-level entry, 32 in door opening, handrails | Step-up entry, standard door | Step-up entry, standard door | Entry steps; pair with an accessible unit |
| Water / power | None | None | None | 110V outlet plus garden hose or onboard tank |
| Space needed | About 62 x 62 in; driveway or double gate | About 43.5 x 47 in; 48 in gate | About 47 x 48 in; 52 in gate | Level spot the tow vehicle can reach |
| Main limitation | Needs a wide, level spot and a firm path | No sink and no flush | Flush and sink water need refills on busy days | Needs power, water and truck access |
For full counts by guest list, see how many porta potties you need.