ADA Shower Room Requirements Explained

Will you be happy with a shower room door that is hard to open or has a limited opening angle? No. This is an accessibility issue that is important to address, especially if your shower room needs to accommodate people with disabilities.

What is the main cause of the problem of accessibility in your shower room? The answer is the functionality of your hinges.

Choosing the right door hinges for the shower room depends largely on quality and utility. So, it’s about meeting accessibility standards and designing inclusive spaces that are compliant for all users.

According to ADA Standards, shower room doors must meet specific accessibility criteria, which traditional hinges may struggle to fulfill. In many cases, they also compromise the aesthetic desired in well-designed spaces.

So what are the ADA requirements for shower room doors and hinges? And what is the solution for struggling traditional hinges?

ADA Shower Room Requirements

The ADA required the shower room to be accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities. Here are some key requirements for shower room doors and hinges:

ADA Door Opening Angle

• Minimum angle: Doors must open to at least 90 degrees to provide the required minimum 32″ clear opening. Offset or swing‑clear hinges can help achieve this width.
• Certain butt hinges or surface-mounted closers the clear opening may fail to provide the effective opening width. Offset or swing-clear hinges may be required to meet this.

Transfer‑type Shower Entries

• Special ADA shower compartments (with built-in seats) require a 36″ clear inside dimension and 36″ wide entry.

Clear Width Requirement

• Doors must provide at least 32 inches of clear opening when measured between the face of the door and the opposite stop
• This is especially relevant for in-swinging doors or doors with thick hinges or closers that may reduce usable space.

Opening Force

• Interior hinged doors must require no more than 5 pounds of force to open (except for fire doors).
• Some hinge types or poorly adjusted closers can cause excessive resistance and violate this rule.

Door Closing Speed

• It must take at least 5 seconds to move from a 90° open position to 12° before closing completely. This allows time for people with mobility limitations to pass through safely.

From the ADA key requirements stated, choosing the shower room door hardware turns out to be more complicated. But, Waterson spring loaded hinges are the solution for ADA shower room doors with many advanced features.

Check this article for more detailed understanding about the ADA door requirements.

No More Worries! Waterson Hinges are Retrofit Friendly!

Waterson hinges are built to meet the ANSI Standard A156.7 making them compatible with existing hinge templates. With at least two Waterson self closing hinges, you can ensure your shower room door functions optimally.

Installing Waterson hinges for the shower room door doesn’t require experts. We provided a complete installation guide and tips to make the process easier. With that being said, you can have ADA shower room door hinges that also provide a clean aesthetic.

Advance Features of Waterson Spring Hinges: More than just ADA Friendly

What sets Waterson heavy duty gate closers apart from other gate closers is that they offer reliable functionality, weather resistance, durable strength, and code compliance. They are designed to perform with advanced features:

• Self Closing Mechanism: With built-in spring mechanism, closes the door after every use to preserve the privacy of the shower room.
• ANSI/BHMA A156.17 Grade 1: Proven durability with over 1,000,000 cycles—guaranteed to function in high-use and high-stress conditions.
• ADA Compliant: Low force opening (<5lb), >= 5 sec close time, allows smooth and effortless door operation, enhancing user experience.
• Durable material: Made with 304 and 316 stainless steel, guaranteed by the warranty, ensures long term application, withstand humidity of shower room
• Adjustability: Allows precise control over door-closing speed with 3 adjustable settings, meeting the specific closing speed needed.
• Modern design: available in a range of finishes, including Satin Brushed, Satin Brass, Dark Bronze, and Matte Black.
• Easy Installation: Built to ANSI Standard A156.7, ensuring effortless installation.

Waterson Heavy Duty Industrial Gate Closer

Waterson exterior spring loaded gate closers combine the function of an overhead closer and a hinge into a single, sleek component—complete with optional hold-open and door-stop features. Designed for commercial openings, gates, and glass doors, these hinges are easy to install and adjust to meet ADA and ICC A117.1 standards for opening force, while ensuring quiet and secure closure. Crafted from durable stainless steel, they are NFPA 80 compliant, UL 3-hour fire-rated, and built to perform reliably in both interior and all-weather exterior environments. See all our features.

In addition to these performance advantages, Waterson offers flexible customization services. As a direct manufacturer, we can tailor hinge sizes, finishes, and especially hinge leaf designs to meet the specific structural needs of your doors. This makes our hinges an ideal solution for door manufacturers seeking custom options that integrate seamlessly with their existing frames.

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Please note that Waterson closer hinges start from a size of 4″x4″. If you’re in need of smaller self-closing hinges, we’d recommend checking out some other resources! Also, we only provide single acting closer hinges. Thank you.

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