ISO 19026:2015

Accessible design - Shape and colour of a flushing button and a call button, and their arrangement with a paper dispenser installed on the wall in public restroom

ISO 19026:2015 specifies shapes and colours of a flushing button and a call button of lavatory which are installed on the wall and their arrangement with a paper dispenser. This International Standard is only applicable in case of installing a flushing button and/or a call button on the wall of seat-type lavatory in public restrooms (general toilet compartments and toilet compartments with various functions) used by an unspecified large number of people, except restrooms with a big paper holder where it is difficult to place a flushing button and a call button above the holder, and Type A toilet with lateral transfer from both sides of ISO 21542.

Conception accessible — Forme et couleur d'un bouton de rinçage et d'un bouton d'appel, et leur combinaison avec un distributeur de papier installé sur le mur de toilettes publiques

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 09-Dec-2015
• ICS: 13.180 - Ergonomics
• ICS: 91.040.10 - Public buildings
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 173/SC 7 - Assistive products for persons with impaired sensory functions
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 173/SC 7 - Assistive products for persons with impaired sensory functions
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 06-Sep-2021
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Overview

ISO 19026:2015 is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that addresses accessible design elements in public restrooms. Specifically, it defines the shape, colour, and arrangement of flushing buttons and call buttons installed on walls in lavatories, along with their positioning relative to paper dispensers. This standard is focused on seat-type lavatories in public restrooms used by an unspecified large number of people, with the goal of enhancing usability and accessibility, particularly for older persons and individuals with visual or other disabilities.

The standard aims to create a consistent, user-friendly environment by specifying clear design guidelines for buttons that are crucial for restroom operation and assistance requests. By standardizing these elements, ISO 19026:2015 helps reduce confusion and improve ease of use, supporting inclusive design principles in public facilities.

Key Topics

Shape and Tactile Recognition

• Flushing buttons must be round or oval, while call buttons should have distinctly different shapes such as quadrangle, rectangle, or triangle to enable easy differentiation by touch.
• Buttons should be sized for easy pressing by fingers, palms, or the tops of hands.
• Raised button surfaces facilitate recognition by persons with visual disabilities.

Colour and Contrast

• Flushing and call buttons must have distinctly different colours to be easily distinguishable.
• Traditionally, call buttons are coloured red to signify urgency for assistance.
• Both types of buttons must maintain strong colour contrast against surrounding wall colours to increase visibility, following principles outlined in ISO 21542:2011.

Arrangement and Installation

• Buttons and the paper dispenser must be grouped together on one side of the restroom wall for intuitive access.
• Flushing buttons should be installed above the paper dispenser.
• Call buttons are placed at the same height as flushing buttons but oriented toward the rear of the toilet seat.
• Placement must accommodate different user postures, including sitting, standing, or fallen positions.
• Additional call buttons or pull cords must be installed at accessible heights for emergency use.
• The standard includes precise dimensional guidance for spacing to ensure consistency and ergonomic usability.

Exclusions and Specific Cases

• Restrooms with large paper holders that prevent standard button placement are excluded.
• Type A toilets with lateral transfer configurations per ISO 21542 are outside the scope.

Applications

ISO 19026:2015 is essential for architects, restroom designers, facility managers, and manufacturers of restroom hardware focused on public and commercial buildings. Applications include:

• Public transport hubs such as airports, railway stations, and bus terminals where large numbers of diverse users require accessible restroom facilities.
• Healthcare and social service facilities that must comply with accessibility standards and provide safe, easy restroom access for patients and visitors.
• Hotels, shopping centers, and office complexes aiming to meet inclusive design requirements and improve the overall user experience.
• Government buildings and assembly halls requiring compliance with local and international accessibility codes.
• Manufacturers of flushing and call buttons can leverage the standard to design products optimized for universal accessibility and interoperability.
• Facility maintenance and refurbishment projects can use the standard to audit and upgrade restroom fittings for better accessibility compliance.

Related Standards

• ISO 21542:2011 – Building construction - Accessibility and usability of the built environment; provides foundational guidance on visual contrast and accessibility criteria referenced in ISO 19026.
• ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 – Editorial rules, referenced for the preparation and maintenance of ISO documents.
• National standards on accessibility which may adopt or adapt ISO 19026 guidelines in local regulatory frameworks.

By adhering to ISO 19026:2015, organizations can create safer, more accessible public restroom environments that comply with global best practices in accessible design, enhancing usability and dignity for all users.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 19026
First edition
2015-12-15
Accessible design — Shape and colour
of a flushing button and a call button,
and their arrangement with a paper
dispenser installed on the wall in
public restroom
Conception accessible — Forme et couleur d’un bouton de rinçage
et d’un bouton d’appel, et leur combinaison avec un distributeur de
papier installé sur le mur de toilettes publiques
Reference number
©
ISO 2015
© ISO 2015, Published in Switzerland
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ii © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Figuration of a flushing button and a call button . 2
5 Colour and contrast of a flushing button and a call button . 2
5.1 Colours of buttons . 2
5.2 Contrast between the colours of a flushing button and a call button and the
surrounding colours . 2
6 Arrangement of a flushing button, a call button, and a paper dispenser .2
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 173, Assistive products for persons with disability,
Subcommittee SC 7, Accessible design.
iv © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Regarding public restrooms, products for the facility have been improved and new functions have been
added in toilet compartments which make public restrooms more accessible to users. On the other
hand, types of operating buttons have been diversified and they are placed in random locations. Also,
operating methods have been diversified and the difficulty of discrimination and the use of the buttons
have been raised as an issue. As users use toilet compartments alone in most cases unless s/he needs an
attendant, it is impossible to ask someone the whereabouts of a flushing button and a call button or ask
for help. Especially, persons with visual disabilities have difficulty to find a flushing button and a call
button when the arrangement of these buttons differs with places. This problem is not limited only to
persons with disabilities, but also to older persons. This International Standard aims to solve problems
which older persons and persons with disabilities encounter when they use public restrooms.
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