Are your washroom designs Part T ready?
Taking into account Part T and Approved Document T in the design of accessible WC facilities
What does Part T of the Building Regulations change for accessible washroom design?
In short, it doesn’t replace Approved Document M. However, it does change how its principles are delivered. Designers must now balance accessibility with a clearer requirement for separate single-sex provision, while still meeting the needs of wheelchair and ambulant users.
Since its introduction in October 2024, Part T (Approved Document T: Toilet Accommodation) has added a new layer of complexity for architects, specifi ers and designers. Compliance is no longer just about getting layouts and dimensions right as outlined in Doc M. It now requires a more considered approach to privacy, dignity and inclusion, particularly when designing multi-user washrooms.
Understanding the relationship between Doc M and Part T Firstly, a little bit about how Building Regulations and the related Approved Documents work. The UK Building Regulations are split up into legally binding “parts”. The regulatory requirements stipulated in the various parts of the Building Regulations are correspondingly published by the government in “Approved
Documents”. So, the requirements of Part M appear in Approved Document M and those of Part T appear in Approved Document T. Approved Document M remains the primary guidance for accessible and inclusive design within buildings. It defi nes the spatial requirements, layouts and fi ttings needed to ensure that washrooms can be used safely and independently by people with a wide range of needs.
Part T, however, focuses specifi cally on
how toilet accommodation is provided, particularly in non-residential buildings. Its introduction reinforces the need to: • Provide separate male and female toilet facilities
• Integrate accessibility within those layouts • Ensure that ambulant users are properly accommodated, not treated as an afterthought
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