The 2024 Amended Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, also known as the Accessibility Law, updates and strengthens the standards for accessible design in the Philippines to ensure that buildings, facilities, streets, and public utilities are truly barrier-free and inclusive for persons with disabilities (PWDs). It introduces clearer technical specifications for ramps, handrails, parking spaces, signage, tactile and visual cues, and other accessibility features in both public and private developments. The amended IRR emphasizes universal design principles, improved wayfinding, and safer circulation, requiring compliance as a prerequisite for building permits and occupancy. Overall, it aligns accessibility requirements with modern design practices and international standards to promote equal access and participation for all.
TOILETS AND BATHS
6. Toilets and Baths
6.1 Accessible toilet facilities shall permit effortless and obstruction-free movement for a wheelchair, enabling the occupant to enter a toilet cubicle or stand-alone toilet, close the door, and transfer to the water closet from either a frontal or lateral transfer.
6.2 On each floor level or area accessible to Persons with Disabilities, there shall be at least one (1) accessible female toilet cubicle and one (1) accessible male toilet cubicle for every 20 or fewer gendered toilet cubicles installed. (NOTE: this does not refer to stand alone accessible toilets)
6.3 Accessible toilet cubicles shall have the following:
a. A minimum area of 1800 mm x 1800 mm
b. One fixed L-type grab bar shall be installed on the side wall. The horizontal leg of the L-type grab bar shall begin from the back wall and extend 300 mm from the front of the water closet where the vertical leg will begin and extend to a length of 750 mm above the horizontal grab bar. L-type grab bars shall be anchored at the back wall, at mid span, at the elbow, and at the top of the vertical leg. There shall be a maximum space of 150 mm between the grab bar and the edge of the toilet seat. One flip-up grab bar on the other side of the water closet anchored on the back wall and shall be securely anchored with robust screws, capable of fully supporting a minimum weight of 200 kg. The flip-up bar shall only allow upward and downward movement. The flip-up grab bar shall extend 100 mm from the front of the water closet. Both grab bars shall be installed 300 mm high from the top of the toilet seat to the top of the grab bars.
c. The distance from the outer-face of fixed L-type grab bars to the finished face of walls shall be 100 mm. The clear distance from the face of fixed L-type grab bars to the centerline of water closets shall be 350 mm. The clear distance from the face of flip-up grab bars to the centerline of water closets shall be 350 mm.
d. Water closets shall be installed 450 mm from the finished face of the sidewall to the centerline of the water closet.
e. Water closets shall be tank type with lever type flush valves.
f. Faucets, shower valves, diverter valves, flush valves of water closets and urinals shall be easily operable without the need for fine finger manipulation and shall be accessible to a person in a seated position.
g. All water closet shall have bidet or a flexible hose with spray head for washing and shall observe hygiene protocol for maintenance.
h. Water closet seats with a horseshoe-shaped design are prohibited
i. A turning space with a minimum dimension of 1800 x 1800 mm for wheelchair users shall be provided outside water closet cubicles.
j. The following accessories and fixtures shall be provided in all accessible toilet cubicles: mirrors, paper dispensers, towel racks, handrails, grab bars, bidets, diaper changing tables, faucets mounted at heights reachable by wheelchair users, water closet backrest, emergency call button, baby seat for persons with disabilities with babies. Toilet accessories such as mirrors, towel and soap dispensers, hand dryer, waste bin shall have minimum
luminance contrast of 30%. Accessories shall be strategically placed to ensure ease of access for Persons with Disabilities.
k. Accessories and fixtures shall be installed at a height of 1000mm above the finished floor to ensure easy reach.
l. Where mirrors are provided, at least one shall be mounted with its bottom edge not more than 1000 mm above the finished floor or shall be tilted to be usable by persons in wheelchairs.
m. For lighting/illumination levels, please refer to the latest edition of the Philippine Electrical Code.
6.4 If toilet facility cannot be directly accessed, a turning space of 1800mm x 1800mm and clear transfer space of at least 750mm adjacent to the water closet shall be provided.
6.5 All accessible stand-alone toilets shall have the following: mirrors, toilet paper dispensers, towel racks, handrails, grab bars, bidets, diaper changing tables, accessible toilets, accessible urinal, faucets mounted at heights reachable by wheelchair users, accessible lavatory, and ostomate sink, water closet backrest, emergency call button, strobe light alarm, baby seat for persons with disabilities with babies. Toilet accessories such as mirrors, towel and soap dispensers, silent hand dryer, waste bin shall have a minimum luminance contrast of 30%. Accessories shall be placed near the accessible lavatory.
6.6 All floor surfaces of accessible toilet facilities shall have a minimum luminance contrast of 30% from fixtures to aid people with low vision and other visual disabilities.
6.7 The height of toilet seat shall be 450 mm.
6.8 Lavatories, if provided inside an accessible toilet, shall be installed outside of the 1800 mm X 1800 mm minimum inner to inner clear dimensions of an accessible toilet compartment.
6.9 A lavatory shall be installed at 450 mm distance from center line to adjacent wall. Lavatories shall be mounted at a height of 800 mm from the finished floor with a vertical clear leg room space not lower than 650 mm. A separate lavatory with a height of 550m and a depth of 450mm shall be provided, allowing the spout to be within easy reach for Children and Individuals with shorter stature.
6.10 An accessible standalone toilet shall have an “occupied” or “vacant” indicator located as close as possible to the door-locking device.
6.11 A call button shall be installed inside and outside the accessible standalone toilet. The locking device of the door shall be used to call the attention of housekeeping personnel. Housekeeping personnel shall be able to respond in less than five minutes.
6.12 Urinals shall be of the wall-hung type and shall have an elongated lip; the maximum height of the lip shall be 350-400 mm from the toilet floor. There shall be a clear, level space of at least 900 mm x 900 mm in front of the urinal. If privacy shields are provided, it shall have a minimum clear width of 750 mm. Urinals shall be equipped with grab bars to provide support while standing. The grab bars shall have a length of 600 mm and be installed on both sides with a clear space of 650 mm between the outer edges of the grab bars. The top edge of these grab bars shall be positioned at a height of 1500 mm above the finished floor level.
6.13 For every multi-user toilet room installation, there shall be a corresponding accessible stand-alone toilet. This accessible stand-alone toilet shall be separate from the multi-user toilet room, providing specific facilities for persons with disabilities. Accessible stand-alone toilets shall be prioritized to be provided in cases where there are no other types of toilets except single-user toilets. All single-use toilets shall be accessible and gender-neutral to allow for assistance when needed.
6.14 Toilet doors shall be designed to open outwards so that it would be easier for a rescuer to enter a toilet cubicle if the occupant falls and is lying behind the door. To allow for assistance in case of emergency, locks, and latches shall allow the door to be opened from the outside.
6.15 Accessible standalone toilet shall have electromotive or easily operable manual sliding doors that require only light force for operation and are equipped with external emergency unlocking mechanisms.
6.16 An automatic push button door shall be considered wherever possible, since it is easier to operate and maneuver around the doorway.
6.17 Doors of individual accessible toilet cubicles and stand-alone accessible toilets with lavatory shall be provided with a horizontal pull bar fixed at a height of 900 mm.
6.18 An emergency call button that is waterproof, and of a color that contrasts with the background shall be provided and be located at a height between 400 mm to 600 mm from the finished floor. The emergency call bell, when activated, shall emit an audible or visible alarm signal which shall be readily noticeable for summoning assistance for the person in the accessible toilet. The alarm shall be installed outside the toilet, or a buzzer shall be fitted in the caretaker’s office.
6.19 Strobe light alarms shall only be installed in stand-alone accessible toilet compartments or multi-passenger toilets with accessible toilet compartments to alert persons with hearing disabilities of emergencies requiring evacuation. Specifications and workmanship of strobe light alarms shall be in accordance with the latest edition of the Fire Code of the Philippines. Visible alarms or strobes shall flash not more than 2 flashes per second and in accordance with the latest provisions of NFPA 72.
6.20 Any toilet facility that is equipped with specialized equipment shall prominently display a sign indicating its availability. This ensures that individuals who require the use of such facilities can easily identify and access them.
6.21 The hot water pipes and drainpipes located within the knee space or toe space shall be properly insulated.
6.22 A roll-in shower compartment for wheelchair user shall have a dimension of 1800 mm by 1800 mm and shall have L-shaped bars. Rising butt hinge shall be spiral hinge to close independently. Curbs for roll-in shower shall not be more than 12 mm high and shall be beveled.
6.23 A shower spray unit & hose with a minimum length of 1500 mm that can be used both as a fixed-position shower head and as a handheld shower head shall be provided.
6.24 Accessible Bathtubs shall have:
a. A minimum clear transfer space of 900 mm wide by 1500 mm long.
b. two (2) slip resistant grab bars:
i. L-Type grab bar with the following minimum dimensions: 1200 mm long horizontal bar installed 250 mm above the rim of the bathtub; 1200 mm long vertical bar installed at the shower side of the bathtub.
ii. 1200 mm long vertical grab bar shall be installed 250 mm above the rim of the bathtub at the shower side of the bathtub, on the opposite side of the L-type grab bar.
c. Shower spray unit & hose with a minimum length of 1500 mm that can be used both as a fixed-position shower head and as a handheld shower head.
CHANGING PLACES
7. Changing Places
7.1 At least one (1) accessible changing place shall be provided in areas with extended stays (e.g., airports, healthcare facilities, universities, sports and recreation centers, galleries and museums). Extended stay is defined as any facility where individuals are likely to stay for a duration of 3 hours or longer. This shall be easily located and readily accessible to all individuals.
7.2 Changing Places shall be gender-neutral to allow users to be accompanied and assisted when needed.
7.3 The facility shall be at least 3000 mm x 4000 mm with a ceiling height of at least 2400 mm to ensure that the ceiling hoist system can be used safely for lifting.
7.4 A clear maneuvering space of 2000 mm x 1800 mm shall be provided within the facility to allow adequate maneuvering of wheelchair users. The water closet shall have a clear space of 1800 mm x 1800 mm to facilitate frontal and lateral wheelchair transfers.
7.5 All changing places shall have the following: privacy screen, changing table, ceiling track hoist system that can support at least 200kg, tilted mirrors, paper dispensers, towel racks, handrails, grab bars, bidets, diaper changing tables, accessible toilets, accessible urinal, faucets mounted at heights reachable by wheelchair users, accessible lavatory, and ostomate sink, water closet backrest, emergency call button, strobe light alarm, baby seat for persons with disabilities with babies.
7.6 Toilet accessories such as mirrors, towel and soap dispensers, silent hand dryer, waste bin shall have a minimum luminance contrast of 30%. Accessories shall be placed near the accessible lavatory.7.6 Toilet accessories such as mirrors, towel and soap dispensers, silent hand dryer, waste bin shall have a minimum luminance contrast of 30%. Accessories shall be placed near the accessible lavatory.
ELEVATORS, PLATFORM LIFTS, STAIR LIFTS & ESCALATORS
8. Elevators
8.1 Elevators or other means of conveyance to move a user from one-storey to another such as (but not limited to) ramps, platform lifts, or a wheelchair stair lift, shall be provided in buildings for public use.
8.2 All elevators provided in a building shall include suitable provisions for persons with sensory disabilities and ambulant persons with disabilities as a means of access from one level to another.
8.3 All elevators shall be made accessible to persons with disabilities. The location shall be easily identifiable from the main pathway and have a separate area in front to avoid congestion. Where different elevators are programmed to serve certain floors during ordinary or peak periods, the elevator that is designated for persons with disabilities shall be programmed to serve all floors. Highly populated or high occupancy buildings shall accommodate at least two (2) wheelchair users
8.4 Accessible elevators shall be located not more than thirty (30) meters from the entrance and shall be easy to locate with the aid of directional signs. In the case of large public transport facilities (e.g., train stations, airports).
8.6 Accessible elevators shall be provided with handrails with the following design specifications:
a. Handrails shall be placed at a height of 900 mm from the top of the handrail to the finished floor level;
b. Handrails shall be fixed on both sides and at the rear of the elevator;
c. Handrails shall have a gap of 150 mm or less if it is not continuous.
8.7 Accessible elevators shall be provided with elevator controls with the following specifications:
a. An Accessible Elevator Car Operating Panel (COP) shall be provided and shall be installed at the height of 900 mm on center from the floor.
b. All elevator control buttons, including call buttons, emergency and other buttons, shall be provided with Braille installed at the left of the buttons and shall also have tactile buttons.
c. Floor level indicators in Braille shall be installed at a height of 1200 mm from the finished floor on both side jambs of the elevator door. This is so that persons with visual disabilities can discern what floor the elevator car has stopped at and what level they will disembark.
d. Button sizes at elevator control panels shall have a minimum diameter of 20 mm and shall have a maximum depression depth of 1 mm.
e. The accessible elevators shall have a homing/emergency rescue device.
8.8 Accessible elevators shall be provided with audio, visual, and tactile guide and warning with the following specifications:
a. All elevators provided in a building shall include suitable provisions for persons with sensory disabilities and persons with mobility disabilities, as a means of access from one level to another. Provisions for audio, visual and tactile guide and warning shall be provided.
b. Accessible elevators shall be provided with voice synthesizers that are clear and easy to understand, for persons with visual disabilities.
c. Accessible elevators shall have audio-visual indicators for emergencies for persons with visual and hearing disabilities.
8.9 Accessible elevators shall be provided with an emergency two-way visual communication system through an audio-visual and text based interactive system or video-based interactive system. The emergency two-way communication system shall have audio, visual and tactile control options.
8.10 Accessible elevators shall be operable until any occupants are able to be evacuated in case of power outage.
8.11 Elevators lobbies shall have a minimum clear space of at least 1800 x 1800mm.
8.12 Through-type elevators shall be used when possible. Elevators with entrances/exits in two directions at a right angle shall be a last resort. Exceptions apply only when other types are not feasible, or when the cage is spacious enough to accommodate wheelchair users.
9. Platform Lifts and Wheelchair Stair lifts
9.1 General.
For all buildings, a passenger elevator is the most suitable form of access for people moving from one-storey to another. If it is impracticable to provide a passenger elevator or ramp, a platform lift, or a wheelchair stair lift is recommended.
9.2 Platform Lifts
a. A platform lift shall have a minimum clear door opening of 900 mm and clear maneuvering space of minimum 1500 mm wide by 1500 mm deep, measured from the face of the door.
b. The minimum internal size of a platform lift shall be 1000 to 1200 mm wide by 1400 mm deep.
c. If full height enclosure is not required, the minimum height of the partition shall be 1000 mm
d. The platform lift shall be provided with the barrier or flip-up ramp, if a door is not provided, to act as a safety barrier for the wheelchair and serves as an access ramp.
e. Lift control buttons shall comply with clauses 7.9.
f. At least one grab bar shall be placed on a least one side of the lift.
9.3 Wheelchair Stair Lifts
a. A wheelchair lift shall have a minimum clear door opening of 900 mm and clear maneuvering space of minimum 1500 mm wide by 1500 mm deep measured from the face of the door.
b. The minimum internal size of a wheelchair lift shall be 1000 to 1200 mm wide by 1400 mm deep.
c. If full height enclosure is not required, the minimum height of the partition shall be 1000 mm
d. The platform lift shall be provided with the barrier or flip-up ramp, if a door is not provided, to act as a safety barrier for the wheelchair and serves as an access ramp.
e. At least one grab bar shall be placed on one side of the lift.
10. Escalators and Passenger Conveyances
10.1 A dedicated downward escalator shall be installed together with an upward escalator, except if users do not simultaneously move in opposite directions.
10.2 The tread width of an escalator shall be at least S800-type (804mm).
10.3 The angle of inclination of an escalator shall not exceed 30°.
10.4 To facilitate the safe transition of individuals with limited mobility onto the moving steps, there shall be a minimum of three steps in the horizontal sections at both ends of an escalator.
10.5 Escalators and passenger conveyors shall be provided with tactile warning strips with a depth of 600 mm installed 300 mm before the floor plates shall be provided at both ends of an escalator or a passenger conveyor.
10.6 Tactile directional shall only be installed for escalators or passenger conveyors with fixed directions. If installed, they shall be placed along with a voice guide, oriented towards the point of entry.
10.7 A voice guidance device shall be installed to notify users of the destination and direction of the escalator or passenger conveyor. The sound source of which shall be installed near the entry point, facing the passenger pathway, ensuring clear audibility amidst ambient noise.
10.8 Escalators for Persons with Disabilities shall have a maximum speed of 30 meters per minute.
10.9 The following parts of the escalator shall have a minimum luminance contrast of 30%:
a. Steps
b. Comb Plates
c. Approach to the Escalator
d. Escalator Belt
e. Escalator Handrails
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