Approved Document T: Toilet Accommodation (2024 edition)

In brief

Building Regulations approved document (statutory guidance) supporting Requirement T1 of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010 (Part T, inserted by SI 2024/645), on toilet accommodation in new non-domestic buildings in England. Part T REQUIRES separate single-sex toilet accommodation — the objective is that people of different sexes are not required to share toilets/washbasins in the same room. Self-contained 'universal' toilets are permitted IN ADDITION to single-sex provision (or as sole provision only where floorspace precludes separate single-sex). The single-sex requirement is ADDITIONAL to WHSWR 1992 reg 20, not a replacement. England only; new buildings (other than dwellings) + material change of use; excludes schools, early-years, custodial cellular, and individual/en-suite residential rooms. Effective 1 October 2024.

Key provisions

• Requirement T1 — Separate single-sex toilet accommodation required : Part T (Requirement T1, Sch 1 Building Regs 2010, inserted by SI 2024/645) requires SEPARATE single-sex toilets in new non-domestic buildings, so that people of different sexes are not required to share toilets/washbasins in the same room. 'Universal' toilets (self-contained, lockable, basin in room, one person at a time) are permitted IN ADDITION; universal-only is acceptable only where floorspace precludes separate single-sex provision.
• holding-1 — Provision varies by building type; key exclusions : Doc T sets provision by building type and EXCLUDES certain settings — schools and early-years (governed by the School Premises (England) Regs 2012 / independent-school standards), custodial cellular accommodation, and individual/en-suite residential rooms.

When relevant

Advising on toilet/facilities design for new non-domestic buildings (or material change of use) in England. Part T requires separate single-sex toilets with universal toilets as additional provision. Especially relevant where a client cites Doc T as mandating mixed-sex / cubicle-only provision (it does not) or as a UK-wide rule (it is England-only). Always distinguish the building-reg layer from WHSWR reg 20 (workplace welfare, GB-wide) and from equality law (EA 2010 and For Women Scotland; for services, the EHRC Code of Practice on Services, Public Functions and Associations 2026; for workplaces, EA 2010 Part 5 and the EHRC Employment Code, not the services Code).