COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          7b 
BRIEFING ITEM                             Date of Meeting      October 23, 2018 
DATE:     October 1, 2018 
TO:        Port Commissioner and Executive Director Stephen P. Metruck 
FROM:    Veronica Valdez, Commission Specialist 
SUBJECT:  Update on the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) All Gender Restroom
Plan 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
The purpose of this briefing is to provide an update on the development of the Sea-Tac All
Gender Restroom Plan due to Commission by January 22, 2019 and receive feedback from
Commissioners on progress to-date. 
BACKGROUND 
On May 22, 2018, the Port of Seattle Commission adopted motion 2018-08 to develop a Sea-
Tac All Gender restroom plan to ensure that all existing and future single-occupant restrooms at
Sea-Tac, beyond meeting the requirements set by the Washington State Building Code (WSBC),
are designated for use by any person, regardless of sex or gender identity.1 
A working group, made up of representatives from across the Port, was tasked to develop the
all gender restroom plan that includes a recommended design for restrooms and signage,
timelines, costs, alternatives, and implications considered. 
On July 31, 2018, the Port of Seattle working group conducted a focus group with key external
stakeholders from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ)-focused
organizations, specifically organizations that support the transgender community, to gather
feedback on design of restrooms as well as signage. 
All gender restrooms are facilities that anyone can use regardless of gender. They can be single
or multi-stall. All gender restrooms benefit a variety of people, including transgender and
gender non-conforming individuals. All gender restrooms create a safe space for employees and
community members to use the restrooms as it removes stigma or rationale for judgement as

1 Gender identity means a person's gender-related identity, appearance, or expression, whether or not
traditionally associated with one's biological sex or one's sex at birth, and includes a person's attitudes,
preferences, beliefs, and practices pertaining thereto. 

Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7b                                  Page 2 of 4 
Meeting Date: October 23, 2018 
to which gendered facilities to use. All gender restrooms also accommodate use by caretakers
and parents when assisting someone of the opposite gender. 
For future restrooms, the following projects can be executed earlier to meet customer needs: 
(1) Adding waste receptacles in the individual stalls in the men's restrooms 
(2) Strip on stall doors so there is no gap visible between stalls 
(3) Doors to open out so that people can easily see that the stalls are available for use 
(4) Occupied/Non-Occupied Locks on stall doors 
(5) Vending dispensers to include adult incontinence supplies and feminine hygiene
products in both men's and women's restrooms: there are currently no vending
machines that provide adult incontinence supplies. Recommendation for discussion with
Airport Dining and Retail to include adult incontinence supplies in their stores. Another
option to be explored is having a vending machine outside of the restroom for anyone
to access with assorted items 
RESTROOM DESIGN 
Building Code Requirements 
(1) Public spaces have a minimum number of fixtures (toilets, sinks, urinals) that must be
available to meet building codes 
(2) WSBC requires a specific number of fixtures to be designated male, female, family and
ADA 
(3) There may be an opportunity to provide additional fixtures available to all users,
regardless of gender identity, after the code minimums have been met 
Restroom Criteria 
When designing Airport restrooms there are many objectives that the port is trying to achieve 
(in no particular order): 
(1) Maintainability 
(2) Accessibility 
(3) Passenger Throughput (efficiency) 
(4) Passenger Experience 
(5) Safety & Security 
Configurations Explored to Date 
(1) Gendered (status quo) 
(2) Gendered with additional single user restrooms (all gender/family restrooms) 
(3) Multi-user all gender restrooms: Compartment design 
(4) Multi-user all gender restrooms: Stalls, urinal room and open washing 


Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7b                                  Page 3 of 4 
Meeting Date: October 23, 2018 
SIGNAGE 
Signage Requirements 
Single-user restrooms standard practice includes displaying the following: 
(1) Iconography 
(2) WSBC requires the verbiage "Restroom" 
(3) WSBC requires at least 5 percent of the total number of restrooms as ADA compliant
with a minimum of one. Therefore, restroom signage must be identified by the
International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA) for family or assisted-use toilet and bathing
rooms 
(4) Braille translation of the title e.g. Restroom to be in braille 
(5) Subtitle description is optional but helpful e.g. All people may use this restroom 
Signs shall be readily visible and located near the entrance to each toilet facility. In addition,
directional signage indicating the route to the public toilet facilities shall be posted in a lobby,
corridor, aisle or similar space, such that the sign can be readily seen from the main entrance to
the building or tenant space. 
Signage Considered 
The working group considered a variety of signage options to include the following: 
Icons (single-user) 
(1) Toilet (western-style plumbing fixture) 
(2) Male and female 
(3) Male/Female divided by a line 
(4) Male/Female/Half pant and half dress 
The working group also considered various family/ADA restrooms signage. 
Title 
(1) Restroom 
(2) All Gender Restroom 
(3) Gender Inclusive Restroom 
(4) Gender Neutral Restroom 
(5) Inclusive Restroom 
(6) Universal Restroom 
(7) All User Restroom 
(8) Unisex Restroom 
(9) Water Closet (WC) 


Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7b                                  Page 4 of 4 
Meeting Date: October 23, 2018 
Description 
(1) No description 
(2) All people may use this restroom 
a.  All people and families may use this restroom 
(3) All users may use this restroom 
a.  All users and families may use this restroom 
(4) Anyone can use this restroom 
(5) Anyone can use this restroom, regardless of gender identity or expression 
Preliminary Recommendation 
Plumbing fixture icon: The iconography of the western-style plumbing fixture of a restroom is
gender-inclusive and universally recognizable. The icon of a toilet is recognizable to both
international and domestic travelers. Focus group members were in favor of depicting what
was behind the door as it is clear and does not designate who can and cannot use the restroom. 
All User Restroom: This title removes the term "gender" but is clear that all users may use the
restroom. Canada's international airports, such as Vancouver, use "All User Washroom" signage
and the working group agreed that this described the purpose of the restroom to serve all users
in a simple and straightforward manner. 
All users may use this restroom: This description is favored by the working group. The focus
group did not favor including "regardless of gender identity or expression" as it appears to call
out a minority group who may not necessarily want to be singled out in public for using the
single-user restroom. (Note: For family restrooms, the working group is considering "All users
and families may use this restroom" as a possible description). 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
(1)   Presentation slides 
(2)   Motion 2018-08 
(3)   Motion 2018-11 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
May 22, 2018  The Commission approved Motion 2018-08 
September 25, 2018  The Commission approved Motion 2018-11 




Template revised September 22, 2016.