Approved Document T

1 Introduction
2 Background and development
3 Scope and requirements
4 Design guidance
5 Relationship with other requirements
6 Current practice
7 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] Introduction

Approved Document T is statutory guidance supporting Part T of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010 in England. It concerns the provision and design of toilet accommodation in buildings other than dwellings, with particular emphasis on the relationship between single-sex toilet facilities and fully enclosed universal toilets. It also provides guidance on the design of ambulant toilets and toilet cubicles.

Approved Document T does not set the number of toilets that a building should contain, nor does it deal generally with access to and use of toilets. Those matters are addressed through other legislation and guidance, including Approved Document G, Approved Document M and relevant workplace requirements.

The document was first published in May 2024 and took effect on 1 October 2024. It applies only in England. A revised edition came into force on 3 November 2025 to correct minor errors in the tables for Type B and Type D toilets; the stated policy intent of the guidance was unchanged.

[edit] Background and development

The provision of sanitary accommodation has long been addressed by the Building Regulations. Before the introduction of Part T, requirements relating to sanitary facilities were principally dealt with through other parts of the regulations, particularly Part G, Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency, and Part M, Access to and use of buildings. The Building Regulations system itself developed from the introduction of national building standards in 1965 and was subsequently placed on a statutory basis through the Building Act 1984 and the Building Regulations.

The development of Part T followed a government review of toilet provision. In October 2020, the government announced a review of the provision of toilets for women and men, prompted in part by concerns about the conversion of publicly accessible toilets into gender-neutral facilities. The review considered issues including privacy, dignity, safety, accessibility and the balance between single-sex and unisex provision.

A technical consultation on toilet provision in buildings other than dwellings was subsequently undertaken in 2023. The consultation proposed the creation of a new Part T of the Building Regulations and associated statutory guidance. The government stated that the purpose was to support the safety, privacy and dignity of people using toilets in non-domestic buildings.

The Building (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2024 introduced Part T into the Building Regulations 2010. The regulations established Requirement T1, concerning toilet accommodation in buildings other than dwellings. Approved Document T was published alongside the regulatory change on 15 May 2024 and came into effect on 1 October 2024.

The introduction of Part T represented a change in emphasis from the previous regulatory framework. Rather than dealing principally with the sanitary appliances and services themselves, the new requirement establishes how toilet accommodation should be arranged, including the relationship between single-sex facilities and fully enclosed universal toilets.

[edit] Scope and requirements

Requirement T1 applies to toilet accommodation in buildings other than dwellings. It requires reasonable provision for male and female single-sex toilets, or, where the available space precludes their provision, universal toilets. Universal toilets may also be provided in addition to single-sex toilets where space permits.

For the purposes of Part T, a single-sex toilet is intended for the exclusive use of people of the same sex and provides washbasins and hand-drying facilities either within the toilet room or cubicle or in a separate area intended for people of that sex. A universal toilet is a fully enclosed room containing a WC, washbasin and hand-drying facilities, intended for individual use by people of either sex.

Part T does not apply to en-suite facilities in individual rooms for residential purposes, residential rooms in care homes, schools, premises used wholly or mainly for early years provision, or cellular accommodation in custodial facilities. These areas are subject to other requirements and standards.

The requirement applies to new buildings and to relevant building work involving existing buildings, including material changes of use. It is not retrospective and does not establish requirements for the management or use of existing buildings independently of building work.

Approved Document T should be considered alongside other parts of the Building Regulations. In particular, Part G remains relevant to sanitation, washing facilities and water efficiency, while Part M provides guidance on access and sanitary accommodation for disabled people. Part H is relevant to the drainage arrangements serving sanitary appliances.

[edit] Design guidance

Approved Document T identifies four principal types of toilet accommodation. Type A is a fully enclosed, self-contained ambulant universal toilet; Type B is a fully enclosed, self-contained universal toilet; Type C is an ambulant single-sex toilet cubicle that is not self-contained; and Type D is a single-sex toilet cubicle that is not self-contained.

A universal toilet is intended for individual use by anyone and should not be confused with a wheelchair-accessible unisex toilet. The latter is covered by Approved Document M. Similarly, guidance for Changing Places toilets and baby changing facilities is principally provided through Approved Document M and other relevant standards.

The document provides minimum dimensions, equipment and layout requirements for the four toilet types. Type A has minimum overall dimensions of 985 mm by 2125 mm and is intended to accommodate ambulant users, including features such as grab rails. Type B has minimum overall dimensions of 1050 mm by 1685 mm and provides a smaller fully enclosed universal toilet without the ambulant provision of Type A.

Type C and Type D provide single-sex cubicles within a shared toilet area. Type C is the ambulant version and has minimum overall dimensions of 920 mm by 1465 mm. Type D is the standard single-sex cubicle. The arrangements include requirements concerning door widths, activity spaces, sanitary fittings and the relationship between cubicles and shared washing facilities.

Common design provisions apply across the different types. These include appropriate signage, visual contrast, suitable lighting, accessible controls, appropriate door arrangements and provision for hand drying. Toilet facilities should be designed with regard to the safety, privacy and dignity of users. Cubicle doors should open into single-sex toilet accommodation, while universal toilets should be accessed from a well-lit circulation space.

The guidance also places emphasis on inclusive design. People should be able to use facilities regardless of ability, age or sex, and designers should consider both visitors and people who live or work in a building. Where possible, wheelchair-accessible unisex toilets, Changing Places toilets and universal toilets should be positioned so that they can be reached from a primary circulation route without requiring users to pass through single-sex accommodation.

Approved Document T does not prescribe a single method of compliance in every circumstance. The approved documents provide practical guidance for common situations, but alternative approaches may be used where they satisfy the underlying requirements of the Building Regulations. Those adopting an alternative approach are responsible for demonstrating compliance, normally in consultation with the relevant building control body.

[edit] Relationship with other requirements

Part T should not be interpreted as a replacement for the wider regulatory requirements governing sanitary facilities. Its principal purpose is to regulate the arrangement of toilet accommodation. The number of WCs, urinals and washbasins required for a particular building depends on its use, occupancy and other applicable requirements.

Approved Document G continues to provide guidance on sanitary and washing facilities, water efficiency and hot water safety. It also contains guidance on the number of sanitary appliances required for different building types. Workplace requirements may impose additional standards, while BS 6465 provides further guidance on sanitary provision in buildings.

Approved Document M is particularly important where toilet facilities need to accommodate wheelchair users or other disabled people. Part T provides guidance for ambulant toilet accommodation, but the principal guidance on wheelchair-accessible unisex toilets, Changing Places toilets and certain other inclusive facilities remains in Approved Document M, Volume 2.

The requirements of Part T therefore form part of a wider design framework. A compliant toilet installation may need to satisfy requirements relating to sanitation, water supply, drainage, ventilation, fire safety, accessibility, materials and workmanship as well as the specific provisions of Part T.

[edit] Current practice

The current version of Approved Document T is the 2024 edition as revised in November 2025. The 2025 revision corrected the Type B and Type D equipment tables to include a requirement for visual contrast between the toilet pan seat and the sanitary ware against which it is seen. The government stated that these amendments were intended to improve clarity rather than alter the policy intent of the original guidance.

In practice, compliance with Part T requires toilet provision to be considered early in the design process because the dimensions, circulation spaces, door swings, sanitary appliances and accessibility provisions can have a significant effect on the building layout. Designers also need to establish which other regulatory requirements apply to the project, particularly those concerning accessibility, sanitary provision and drainage.