Publications:
Accessibility Specification for Toilets on Aircraft

Introduction
Section 1: Locating and Getting to the Toilet
Section 2: Entering the Toilet
Section 3: Accessibility Features in All Toilets
Section 4: Additional Requirements in Wheelchair Accessible Toilets
Appendix 1: Guidance on Achieving Visual Contrast
Appendix 2: Guidance on Embossed and Braille Information

Introduction

This Specification was developed by the Aviation Working Group of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) to help the industry address the situation whereby many disabled people find it difficult or impossible to use toilet facilities on aircraft. It draws on existing guidance from around the world and was developed in consultation with disabled people, airlines and aircraft manufacturers.

DPTAC is the Statutory Advisor to the UK Government on the transport needs of disabled people. Our aim is to ensure that all disabled people can go wherever everyone else goes and that they can do so easily and without extra cost.

For some time DPTAC has been concerned about the standard of toilet facilities provided for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility in many aircraft. This is particularly apparent when wheelchair users are carried in aircraft, as insufficient space is provided for their safety and comfort. However, the features for ambulant disabled people, those with sensory impairments and passengers with assistance dogs also fall short of the ideal.

The specification aims to ensure all disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility are able to gain access to toilet facilities, move within the toilet and fully use toilet facilities on aircraft.

It is recognised that it will take some time to achieve compliance with the requirements of this specification in all aircraft. The specification is intended to stimulate the development of good practice and assist those involved in planning and designing new facilities, and for consideration in the refurbishment of existing facilities.

DPTAC cannot make or enforce legal requirements.

The guidance contained in this specification relates only to the particular requirements of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility. The facilities will also need to comply with the requirements of other relevant legislation and guidance.

Involving people with recognised expertise and knowledge of access issues in the design, manufacturing and purchasing teams will help ensure that the objectives are met by the most suitable means. This is particularly important where alternative ways of achieving the objectives are proposed.

It is recognised that the design of the aircraft itself is part of a larger picture. There are several other factors apart from design that can affect accessibility such as operating procedures, staff training and passenger assistance policies. Assistance to passengers is covered by the European Regulation concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air (Regulation EC No. 1107/2006). DPTAC supports this regulation and encourages carriers to exceed its requirements where possible.

DPTAC believes it is vital that the technical requirements of this specification are sustained by airlines through robust operational policies and procedures, such as:

  • Disability Equality Training - this should form a mandatory part of staff induction training at all levels within the company. It should be delivered by a reputable trainer and include input from disabled people in both development and delivery. The initial training should be built upon by refresher courses at regular intervals.
  • Maintenance - airlines should develop robust procedures to check and test accessibility equipment and features on aircraft at regular intervals. They should be incorporated into maintenance routines to ensure that they are easy to use and well maintained, with particular attention paid to locks. Disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility need to be confident that facilities will remain accessible and in good working order. It is in the airlines' interest to ensure that all aircraft accessibility features are maintained in good working order to avoid any incidents during a flight.
  • Equipment Failure - in the event that equipment or facilities should become unavailable, airlines should develop procedures to minimise the inoperable period and to notify any passengers requiring these facilities that they will not be available and set out alternative travel options.
  • Booking - disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility should be able to pre-book seats which best meet their needs at no extra cost. This may aid ease of movement between seating and accessible toilet. Apart from benefiting the disabled person and/or companion, reducing the distance would also avoid unnecessarily blocking an aisle. However it should be remembered that a disabled person may not necessarily wish to spend the whole journey next to a toilet. It is recommended that aircraft layouts could be shown on the website or made available to passengers at the point of booking so that they can make informed decisions. In accordance with European safety guidance, disabled people should not be allocated nor occupy seats where their presence could impede the crew in their duties, obstruct access to emergency equipment, or impede the emergency evacuation of the aircraft.
  • Information Sharing - airlines should put procedures in place to ensure that information on specific seats is passed between staff at all points of the journey, this is especially important if the journey involves travelling on more than one airline.

Users of this specification should also read the UK Access to Air Travel for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility - Code of Practice 2008 (Adobe Acrobat).

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