11. Barrier Free Regulations

The National Building Code of Canada covers Barrier Free in Section 3.8.2 to3.8.3.21. Nova Scotia has its own regulations which may be slightly different from the National Code. These regulations may be found at Schedule “C” of the Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations.[1]

Nova Scotia Regulations

3.8.3.10. Drinking Fountains

(1) Drinking fountains required by Sentence 3.8.2.8.(9) shall

    1. be located along a barrier-free path of travel,
    2. have a minimum clear floor space of 800 mm by 1350 mm in front of it,
    3. (where it has frontal access, provide a knee clearance in accordance with Clause 3.8.3.15.(1)(d),
    4. have a spout that
      1. is located near the front of the unit, at a height between 750 mm and 915mm above the floor, and
      2. directs water flow in a trajectory that is nearly parallel to the front of the unit, at a height not less than 100 mm, and
    5. be equipped with controls that
      1. active automatically, or
      2. are located either on the front or on both sides of it and comply with Clause 3.8.3.8.(1)(b).

3.8.3.11. Water Closet Stalls

(1) Water closet stalls and enclosures required by Sentence 3.8.2.8.(5) shall

    1. be not less than 1500 mm wide by 1500 mm deep,
    2. have a clear floor space of 1500 mm by 1500 mm in front of the accessible stall,
    3. be equipped with a door that
      1. can be latched from the inside with a mechanism conforming to Clause 3.8.3.8.(1)(b),
      2. is aligned with either the transfer space adjacent to the water closet or with a clear floor space not less than 1500 mm by 1500 mm within the stall,
      3.  provides a clear opening not less than 850 mm wide when it is open,
      4.  is self-closing so that, when at rest, the door is ajar by not more than 50 mm beyond the jamb,
      5. swings outward, unless there is sufficient floor space within the stall for the door to swing inward in addition to a clear floor space of at least 800 mm by 1350 mm, (See Note A-3.8.3.11.(1)(c)(v), NBC)
      6. where the door swings outward, is provided with a horizontal, D-shaped, visually contrasting door pull not less than 140 mm long located on the inside such that is [its] midpoint is 200 mm to 300 mm from the hinged side of the door and 800 to 1000 mm above the floor, and (See Note A- 3.8.3.11.(1)(c)(vi), NBC)
      7. is provided with a horizontal, D-shaped, visually contrasting door pull not less than 140 mm long located on the outside such that its midpoint is 120 mm to 220 mm from the latch side and 800 mm to 1000 mm above the floor,
    4. have a water closet located so that the distance between the centre line of the fixture and the wall on one side is 460 mm to 480 mm,
    5. be equipped with an L-shaped grab bar that
      1.  is mounted on the side wall closest to the water closet,
      2.  has horizontal and vertical components not less than 760 mm long mounted with the horizontal component 750 mm to 850 mm above the floor and the vertical component 150 mm in front of the water closet , and (See Note A- 3.8.3.11.(1)(e)(ii), NBC)
      3.  complies with Article 3.7.2.8. (NBC Part 3, Division B),
    6. be equipped with either one grab bar at least 600 mm long centred over the water closet, or two grab bars at least 300 mm long and located either side of the flush valve that,
      1. conform to Article 3.7.2.8., (NBC Part 3, Division B)
      2. are mounted on the rear wall, or
      3. (are mounted at the same height as the grab bar on the side wall or 100 mm above the top of the attached water tank, if applicable,
    7. be equipped with a coat hook mounted not more than 1 200 mm above the floor on a side wall and projecting not more than 50 mm from the wall, and
    8. be equipped with a toilet paper dispenser mounted on the side wall closest to the water closet such that,
      1. the bottom of the dispenser is 600 mm to 800 mm above the floor, and
      2.  the closest edge of the dispenser is 300 mm from the front of the water closet.

3.8.3.12. Universal Washrooms (See Note A-3.8.3.12., NBC)

(1) A universal washroom shall

    1.  be served by a barrier-free path of travel,
    2. have a door complying with Article 3.8.3.6. that
      1. has a latch-operating mechanism located 900 mm to 1000 mm above the floor that is capable of being locked from the inside and released from the outside in case of emergency, and,
      2. if it is an outward swinging door that is not self-closing, has a door pull not less than 140 mm long located on the inside so that its midpoint is not less than 200 mm and not more than 300 mm from the hinged side of the door and not less than 900 mm and not more than 1000 mm above the floor, and (See Note A-3.8.3.11.(1)(c)(vi), NBC)
      3.  on an outward-swinging door, a door closer, spring hinges or gravity hinges, so that the door closes automatically,
    3. have one lavatory conforming to Article 3.8.3.15.,
    4. have one water closet conforming to Article 3.8.3.13. and Clause 3.8.3.11.(1)(d), with a clear floor space at least 900 mm wide that is parallel and adjacent to the open side of the water closet,
    5. have grab bars conforming to Clauses 3.8.3.11.(1)(e) and (f),
    6. have a coat hook conforming to Clause 3.8.3.11.(1)(g),
    7. have a toilet paper dispenser conforming to Clause 3.8.3.11.(1)(h),
    8. unless a counter is provided, have a shelf located not more than 1200 mm above the floor, and
    9.  be designed to permit a wheelchair to turn in an open space that has a diameter not less than 1500 mm.

3.8.3.13. Water Closets (See Appendix A-3.8.3.13., NSBCR)

(1) A water closet for a person with physical disabilities shall

    1. be equipped with a seat located at not less than 430 mm and not more than 460 mm above the floor,
    2. flush automatically or be equipped with a flushing control that
      1.  is located 500 mm to 900 mm above the floor,
      2.  is located no more than 350 mm from the transfer side, and
      3.  complies with Clause 3.8.3.8.(1)(b),
    3. be equipped with a seat lid or other back support, and
    4. where it has a tank, have a securely attached tank top. (See Note A-3.8.3.13.(1), NBC)

3.8.3.14. Urinals

(1) Urinals described in Sentence 3.8.2.8.(8) shall

    1. be wall-mounted, with the opening of the basin located not more than 430 mm above the floor,
    2. be adjacent to an accessible route,
    3. have a clear width of approach of 800 mm centred on the urinal and unobstructed by privacy screens,
    4. have no step in front of it,
    5. have a flush control that
      1.  is autom
      2.  complies with Clause 3.8.3.8.(1)(b) and is located 900 mm to 1100 mm above the floor, and
    6.  have a vertically mounted grab bar installed on each side that
      1. complies with Article 3.7.2.8.,
      2. is not less than 600 mm long, with its centre line 1000 mm above the floor, and
      3. is located not more than 380 mm from the centre line of the urinal. (See Appendix A-3.8.3.14., NSBCR)

3.8.3.15. Lavatories and Mirrors

(1) Lavatories required by Sentence 3.8.2.8.(7) shall

    1. be equipped with faucets complying with Sentence 3.7.2.3.(4), (NBC Part 3, Division B)
    2. be located so that the distance between the centre line of the lavatory and any side wall is not less than 460 mm,
    3. have a rim height not more than 865 mm above the floor,
    4. have a clearance beneath the lavatory not less than
      1. 760 mm wide,
      2. 735 mm high at the front edge,
      3. 685 mm high at a point 200 mm back from the front edge, and
      4. 230 mm high over the distance from a point 280 mm to a point 430 mm back from the front edge, (See Note A-3.8.3.15.(1)(d), NBC)
    5. have insulated water supply and drain pipes where these pipes are exposed, (See Note A-3.8.3.15.(1)(e), NBC)
    6. have a soap dispensers that
      1. is automatic, or
      2. complies with Clause 3.8.3.8.(1)(b) and is located not more than 1100 mm above the floor within 500 mm from the front of the lavatory, and (See Note A-3.8.3.15.(1)(f), NBC)
    7. have a towel dispenser or other hand-drying equipment located close to the lavatory, not more than 1200 mm above the floor in an area that is accessible to persons in wheelchairs.

(2) Mirrors required by Sentence 3.8.2.8.(10) shall be

    1. mounted with its bottom edge not more than 1000 mm above the floor, or
    2. fixed in an inclined position so as to be usable by a person in a wheelchair.

3.8.3.16. Showers

(1) Showers required by Sentence 3.8.2.8.(13) shall

    1. be not less than 1500 mm wide and 900 mm
    2. have a clear floor space at the entrance to the shower not less than 900 mm deep and the same width as the shower, except that fixtures are permitted to project into that space provided they do not restrict access to the shower, (See Note A- 3.8.3.16.(1)(b), NBC)
    3. have no doors or curtains that obstruct the controls or clear floor space at the entrance to the shower,
    4. have a slip-resistant floor surface,
    5. have a threshold not more than 13 mm higher than the finished floor, and where it is higher than 6 mm, beveled to a slope no steeper than 1 in 2 (50%),
    6. have 2 grab bars that
      1. conform to Sentence 3.7.2.8.(1),
      2. one of which is not less than 1000 mm long and located vertically on the side wall 50 mm to 80 mm from the adjacent clear floor space, with its lower end 600 mm to 650 mm above the floor, and
      3. (one of which is L-shaped and located on the wall opposite the entrance to the shower, with a horizontal member not less than 1000 mm long mounted 750 mm to 870 mm above the floor and a vertical member not less than 750 mm long mounted 400 mm to 500 mm from the side wall on which the other vertical grab bar is mounted, (See Note A-3.8.3.16.(1)(f), NBC)
    7. have a hinged seat that is not spring loaded, or a fixed seat with a smooth slip- resistant surface and no rough edges, the seat being
      1. not less than 450 mm wide and 400 mm deep,
      2. mounted on the same side wall as the vertical grab bar, at 460 mm to 480 mm above the floor, and
      3. designed to carry a minimum load of 1.3 kN,
    8. have a pressure-equalizing or thermostatic-mixing valve that
      1. (i) comply with Clause 3.8.3.8.(1)(b),
      2. (ii) are mounted on the wall opposite the entrance to the shower at not more than 1200 mm above the floor and within reach of the seat,
    9. have a hand-held shower head with not less than 1800 mm of flexible hose located so that it
      1. can be reached from the seated position,
      2. can be used in a fixed position at a height of 1200 mm and 2030 mm, and
      3. does not obstruct the grab bars., and
    10. have recessed soap holders that can be reached from the seated position.

(2) If individual shower stalls are provided for use by residents and patients in buildings of Group B, Division 2 institutional occupancy, they shall conform to the requirements of Clauses (1)(a) to (j) except where

(a) common showers are provided in conformance with Clauses (1)(a) to (j), or

(b) common bath tubs equipped with hoist mechanisms to accommodate residents and patients are available.

3.8.3.17. Bathtubs

(1) Bathtubs required by Sentence 3.8.2.8.(13) shall

    1. be located in a room with a clear floor space not less than 1500 mm in diameter,
    2. be not less than 1500 mm long,
    3. have a clear floor space not less than 750 mm wide adjacent to its entire length,
    4. be capable of being accessed along its full length with no tracks mounted on its rim,
    5. have faucets and other controls that
      1. conform to Clause 3.8.3.8.(1)(b), and
      2. (are located on the centre line or between the centre line of the bathtub and the exterior edge of the bathtub rim, at a maximum height of 450 mm above the rim,
    6. have three grab bars
      1. that conform to Sentence 3.7.2.8.(1), (NBC Part 3, Division B)
      2. that are not less than 1200 mm long,
      3. two of which are located vertically at each end of the bathtub, set 80 mm to 120 mm in from the outside edge of the bathtub, with their lower end 180 mm to 280 mm above the bathtub rim, and
      4. one of which is located horizontally along the length of the bathtub at 180 mm to 280 mm above the bathtub rim,
    7. have a slip-resistant bottom surface, and
    8. be equipped with a hand-held shower head with not less than 1800 mm of flexible hose that can be used in a fixed position at a height of 1200 mm and 2030 mm.

3.8.3.19. Counters

(1) Counters required by Sentence 3.8.2.11.(1) shall have

    1. at least one barrier-free section not less than 760 mm long centred over a knee space conforming to Clause (c),
    2. a surface not more than 865 mm above the floor, and
    3. except as provided in Sentence (2) and where the counter is intended to be used as a work surface, a knee space underneath it that is
      1. not less than 760 mm wide,
      2. not less than 685 mm high, and
      3. not less than 485 mm deep.

(2) A counter that is used in a cafeteria or one that performs a similar function whereat movement takes place parallel to the counter need not have knee space underneath the counter.

  1. Province of Nova Scotia. (2022).Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations. https://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/bcregs.htm#TOC4_125 ↵

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