There is no single piece of UK legislation that explicitly states that all commercial washrooms must contain shelving. However, several standards and regulations either indirectly require it or strongly recommend it, particularly where accessibility, medical needs (e.g. Colostomy Bag Shelf), or family use are concerned. Depending on the type of washroom, shelving moves from being a “nice-to-have” feature to something that is effectively expected to meet equality, safety, and best-practice requirements.
Accessible Toilets (Approved Document M and BS 8300)
Accessible toilets have the clearest and strongest guidance on shelving provision. Approved Document M (2024), together with BS 8300-2:2018, sets expectations around meeting the needs of disabled users, including people with medical conditions such as stoma or colostomy use. While these documents do not always use the word “mandatory”, when they are read alongside the Equality Act 2010 and its duty to make reasonable adjustments, the inclusion of a colostomy shelf is widely regarded as a required accessibility feature in accessible toilets installed or refurbished since 2018.
BS 8300-2:2018 explicitly recommends providing a colostomy shelf within accessible toilets. As a result, omitting this feature could be difficult to justify if challenged, particularly where reasonable adjustments for disabled users are concerned. In practice, a colostomy shelf is considered part of standard compliant design rather than an optional extra.
Guidance on colostomy shelving specifies that it should have a minimum depth of 150 mm and a minimum width of 250 mm, although Colostomy UK identifies 400 mm as best practice. The shelf should be capable of supporting a load of approximately 10–15 kg. Installation height is typically between 950 and 1100 mm above finished floor level, making it reachable from a seated position.
Materials should be smooth, non-porous, hygienic, and easy to clean, with no sharp edges. The shelf should be located on the side wall adjacent to the WC, never above the pan itself, and positioned away from dryers or areas where splashing may occur. Best-practice design also includes a bag hook, a clinical waste bin, adequate lighting, and clear signage identifying the toilet as a stoma-friendly facility.
General Washrooms (Male and Female Cubicles)
In standard washrooms, shelving is not a legal requirement, but it is widely regarded as best practice. Design guidance and accessibility principles encourage the provision of small shelves or surfaces within cubicles to allow users to store bags or belongings temporarily.
Providing shelving in general washrooms improves hygiene by keeping bags off the floor, enhances overall user experience, and reduces congestion around basin areas where people might otherwise place their belongings. As a result, internal cubicle shelves are commonly included in hotels, hospitality venues, retail environments, offices, airports, transport hubs, and other high-traffic public spaces. These shelves are typically compact and made from durable, easy-clean materials.
Family, Baby-Changing, and Ambulatory Facilities
Although there is no direct legal requirement for shelving in baby-changing rooms or family facilities, best-practice guidance strongly supports its inclusion. Parents and carers often need space for bags, wipes, spare clothing, and other essentials while safely managing a child. A larger shelf or counter should be provided within reach of the changing area but positioned away from the changing table itself to avoid crowding and splash risks.
Ambulant accessible cubicles, which are designed for people with mobility impairments but not wheelchair users, should also provide hooks and, where space allows, small shelves for belongings. These features support usability without significantly increasing spatial requirements.
Workplace Washrooms
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require employers to provide adequate and hygienic sanitary facilities, including suitable means for storing clothing. While the regulations do not specifically mandate shelving, this requirement is commonly interpreted to include lockers, coat hooks, or shelving provision, particularly where staff need to change or store personal items.
In staff washrooms, lockers are often the preferred solution, but where space or practicality makes lockers unsuitable, shelves inside cubicles are an accepted and reasonable alternative. Although shelving alone is not explicitly enforced as law, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors often expect employers to demonstrate that staff can keep clothing and belongings clean and off the floor.
Best-Practice Approach to a Compliant Washroom
A well-designed commercial washroom typically incorporates shelving as part of an integrated, user-focused layout. Accessible toilets should include a compliant colostomy shelf, bag hooks, and a clinical waste bin. Standard cubicles benefit from a small belongings shelf and a coat hook. Baby-changing and family areas should provide larger counters or shelves, multiple hooks, and layouts that avoid splash zones and circulation conflicts.
In practical terms, shelving plays a key role in meeting accessibility, hygiene, and usability expectations across different types of washrooms. In accessible toilets, a colostomy shelf is now considered a required or expected feature to meet Equality Act duties and BS 8300 guidance. In standard cubicles, shelving is recommended as a best-practice measure that improves user experience. In family and baby-changing spaces, shelving is strongly advised to support safe and practical caregiving. In workplace washrooms, shelving forms part of acceptable solutions for meeting health and safety obligations related to clothing and belongings storage.
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