An accessible portable toilet is built with more room, a wider door and grab rails, and it only works on a level route from the parking, the drop-off or the gate. No Milwaukee or Wisconsin accessible-unit share for events was sourced, so the count is set for each event or site with the organizer, and this guide explains how.
Key takeaways
- An accessible unit has more floor space, a wider door, grab rails and a usable seat height.
- The route to the unit matters as much as the unit: it must be level, firm and clear.
- No Milwaukee or Wisconsin accessible-unit share for events was sourced, so none is quoted.
- The count is set on its own line, by area, and agreed with the organizer or site manager.
- Check accessible units daily, because a loose rail or a blocked door is found first by the people who need them.
- Record the placement and the checks so the organizer can show the accessible need was planned for.
What the unit is built to do
An accessible unit gives a person who uses a wheelchair or a mobility aid enough room to enter, turn and leave, with fittings they can reach from a seated position.
The interior is larger than a standard unit, so a wheelchair can turn. The door is wider, and its latch is at a height a seated person can reach.
The grab rails are fixed at a height that gives support on the way down to the seat and back up. The seat is higher and firmer than a standard seat.
The floor is kept dry and clear, because a wet floor is a hazard to every user and a serious one to a person using a mobility aid.
The route is part of the unit
A unit is accessible only if the route to it is level, firm and wide enough. A route across grass, gravel, a step or a slope defeats the design.
Walk the route from the parking, the drop-off or the gate to the unit. Note any slope, step, curb, gravel patch or soft ground, and plan the placement around them.
Where a step cannot be avoided, a ramp is agreed with the organizer. Where the route crosses grass, a firm surface is laid on it or the unit is moved to a route that is already firm.
Keep the route clear of the queue. On a busy event the line is the most common reason an accessible unit is hard to reach, so the route is marked and kept open.
How the count is set
The count is set per event or site, by area, from the expected need and the layout. No Milwaukee share was found to use, so the number comes from the organizer's plan and the walk.
Start with the organizer's own accessibility plan if it has one. Where it does not, start with the layout: each main area, gate and stage needs an accessible unit within reach.
Count the accessible units on their own line, so they are not used up by general demand. An accessible unit that is used for general use is not available to the people who need it.
Agree the count with the organizer in writing, and put it on the site plan and the servicing schedule so the crew knows how many to check.
Placing the units across the grounds
Accessible units are spread across more than one area so that the nearest one is within reach of each main entry. A single unit at the far end of the grounds is not an accessible plan.
Place one accessible unit near each main gate and one near each main stage or activity. The distance from each entry to the nearest unit is checked on the walk.
The route from the accessible parking or drop-off comes first in the plan. The unit is placed on that route, not across the lawn from it.
The placement is drawn on the site plan with a line marking the route, so the staff at the gate can point a guest to the nearest unit without a search.
Daily checks
Accessible units are checked more often than standard ones. A loose rail, a blocked door or a missing seat cover is repaired before the next user.
Each servicing visit checks the rails, the seat, the latch, the floor and the route. A fault is reported and fixed on the spot where possible.
A unit that cannot be made safe is taken out of use and replaced. The organizer is told at once, because the accessible count drops when a unit is removed.
The record of each check is kept so the organizer can show the accessible units were maintained through the run.
What to ask a vendor
A short list of questions confirms whether a vendor can plan accessible units properly. The answers belong on the order.
Ask how many accessible units the vendor would place, where, and on what route. Ask who checks them each day and how a fault is handled.
Ask whether the accessible units are kept separate from the general count in the quote, and whether a replacement is available on the same day.
Ask for the placement drawing and the check record. A vendor that can show both has planned the accessible need, not added it as an afterthought.
Writing the plan down
The accessible plan is written as part of the event or site plan: the count, the placement, the route, the checks and the contact. It is shared with the organizer and kept with the order.
The plan lists each accessible unit with its spot, its route and its check schedule. The organizer can read it on one sheet.
The plan names the contact for an accessible fault on the day, so the fix is not waiting on a general line.
A copy of the plan is kept with the order, so the record shows the accessible need was planned for before the event.
Why accessible planning fails on the day
Accessible planning usually fails at the route, not the unit. The unit is correct and the route is not, and the failure appears when the crowd arrives.
The route is planned on a map, and a map does not show a gravel path, a step at a gate or a slope that is only a problem after rain. The fix is a walk on the day before the event, with the route tested by a wheelchair or a push cart if possible.
A queue that spills across the route closes the accessible path. The fix is a barrier or a moved line, agreed with the organizer, so the route stays clear for the whole event.
A unit that is taken out of use after a fault, and not replaced, leaves the count short without anyone noticing. The fix is a written rule that a replacement is arranged the same day, and the organizer is told.
Working with the organizer's own access plan
Many organizers have their own access plan, covering routes, seating, parking and ticketing. The restroom plan should fit inside it rather than run alongside it.
Ask for the access plan before the restroom plan is drawn. Where it shows an accessible drop-off, a route or a viewing area, the accessible units are placed to match.
Where the organizer's plan and the restroom plan disagree, the organizer decides, and the vendor adjusts. The change is recorded on both documents.
The restroom plan can be shared with the access team so that staff at the gates know where the accessible units are and can direct guests without delay.
After the event: a short accessibility review
A short review after the event shows whether the accessible count and placement worked, and what to change for the next event. It is written in the same record as the servicing.
Review the checks: how many were made, how many faults were found and how quickly each fault was fixed. A fault that was found late is a sign the check was too far apart.
Review the placement: did guests find the accessible units quickly, and did any route fail? A route that failed is moved before the next event.
Review the count: was it enough for the crowd, or did a line form at the accessible unit? The answer decides the next year's count.
Frequently asked questions
How many accessible units does an event need?
The count is set with the organizer by area and by need. No Milwaukee share was sourced, so none is given here.
Is an accessible unit just a standard unit with a sign?
No. It has a wider door, grab rails, more floor space and a higher seat, and it needs a level route to be usable.
Where should it be placed?
On the shortest level route from the accessible parking or drop-off, near the main entry, never at the far end across grass.
How often are accessible units checked?
At each servicing visit, with any fault fixed before the next use.
Can a job site have an accessible unit?
Yes. It is placed at the gate or near the work on a route cleared of mud and loose material.
Sources
This guide is general information for Milwaukee County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.