Skip links

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question? Email us on your DOC M question
and we will get an answer back to you ASAP.

DOC M

Simply put, Doc M is in place to make public spaces accessible and safe for disabled people.  Doc M is the Approved Document that gives practical guidance on how the British Standards – BS8300 can be incorporated in the built environment. It is not a legislative document, but is a guide to the minimum that should be done to ensure compliance with building regulations.

The projection is the distance the rail sticks out from the wall. The projection of a grab rail must be between 60mm and 85mm. This is to allow space for a user with restricted dexterity to grab the rail.

Doc M toilet is 480mm as this is the standard height of a wheelchair. This means that side transferring from the wheelchair to the toilet making it easier for the user.

The toilet must project 750mm from wall to the front of the pan. This is so the seat of the wheelchair aligns with the front of the toilet with enough space to move the wheelchair into the required position. It also means that the handles of the wheelchair can be positioned against the wall. This offers the user extra stability, the wheelchair doesn’t move whilst transferring, it also means the distance the user must move themselves is kept to the minimum.

Accessibility

A door leading into a disabled toilet or washroom should be at least 900mm/90cm and open outward.  The height of the disabled toilet door is the same as standard toilet doors.

The minimum room size requirement is 1500mm (width) x 2200mm (long) to be Doc M compliant.

A disabled toilet should be 480mm high to the top of the seat, so it is the same height as a standard wheelchair allowing for easy side transferring.

To be Doc M compliant you must use a colour that contrasts with the wall colour, for example a black grab rail on a light grey or white wall. Here’s the techy bit – “A minimum contrast of 30 points of LRV (light reflection value) difference must be used. For more information on LRV please contact our customer services team who will be able to assist you.

Technical

Dirt traps allow bacteria to grow which increases the chances of infection spreading. In industries where infection control is crucial to keep vulnerable people safe such as the healthcare industry is vital to eliminate possible dirt traps. So, how do you do this? Concealed fittings on a flange or flangeless grab rails can prevent the screw heads gathering bacteria. The main areas where dirt traps can form are around the screw heads holding the rail to the wall as well as the gaps between the wall.

We offer a flangeless grab rail which is flush to the wall making an easily cleaned surface reducing the hygiene risk.

Stainless steel is cost effective, stylish, durable and hygienic! Stainless steel is 10% chromium which prevents the surface from corroding. At NYMAS we use grade 304 stainless steel for all our stainless steel grab rails as they have low electrical and thermal conduction making it ideal for installation in disabled washrooms. 304 stainless steel has an excellent corrosion resistance so will be free from stains and rust which is perfect for use in high use environments and it looks good too! This is why we offer extended and lifetime warranty on many of our stainless steel products.

BS8300 is a British Standard highlighting how a building should be accessible and inclusive for disabled people. Read more about BS8300.