2022 California Standards for Accessible Design Guide (effective January 1, 2023)

ETA Editor's Note

The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), which has jurisdiction over hospitals and long-term care facilities in California, issued Code Application Notice CAN 2-11B, dated 9/9/14, which includes the following interpretation of Subsection 11B-604.5.2:

CBC Section 1224.14.2.7 requires the provision of a flushing-rim clinical sink in the soiled utility room of a nursing unit. There is an allowance to eliminate the clinical sink if facilities for cleaning bedpans are provided elsewhere. CPC Table 4-2 Footnote 14 allows the clinical sink to be deleted if all bedrooms in the nursing unit are provided with adjoining toilets with bedpan flushing devices.

Patient toilet rooms with bedpan flushing devices are an allowance, not a requirement. If this approach is pursued, the bedpan flushing device shall not be a unit that results in the need to split or offset the rear grab bar. Section 11B-604.5.2 is not available to accommodate bedpan flushing devices. The gripping surface of the grab bar must be available for the entire 36-inch length without interruption.

Bedpan washing devices that are manufactured as part of a flush valve assembly project above the rear grab bar, obstructing it. OSHPD's interpretation disallows those at the water closets in accessible Patient Toilets. There are wall-mounted bedpan washing devices that could be used instead, taking care not to obstruct either the side or the rear grab bars, or the required clear floor space.

As of the initial publication of this Guide, OSHPD has not updated CAN 2-11B for applicability to 2022 CBC. Since there is no change to the wording of Subsection 11B-604.5.2, there is no reason to expect that OSHPD will change its interpretation.