https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/buildings-and-sites/about-the-ada-standards/ada-standards/chapter-6-plumbing-elements-and-facilities

ADA doesn’t apply to private residences, and is not a good standard to refer to unless someone is in a wheelchair. Either way, better and more nuanced standards exist. whether or not you are planning for wheelchair, get a designer who’s certified (or at least experienced) in this kind of design work. It’s specialized, and no two situations are the same.

60”x30” is a size used when replacing or anticipating a tub-shower. The 30” dimension is indeed tight.

If you have the room to go larger then do. Usually this means relocating a drain if you are going with a preformed pan. Why not fully tile - the preformed pan bases can be very slippery. Also, now is the time to design well placed grab bars and a hand shower near a seat if you are truly concerned about the comfort of aging parents.

I agree go back to the drawing board and see about a larger shower for sure , but maybe just post a to scale floor plan to see how the space is layed out.

You would need to drop back and create the whole bath as a curbless wetroom for the best stretch of a limited space. That requires structural alterations and only top notch talent involved. Or find additional space to add from elsewhere.

The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) provides guidelines for the design of certain spaces which generally help those with disabilities the ability to function in daily life. The Act is far more reaching than space planning but the guidelines it provides is a good basis for the design of residential bathrooms and such. I try to provide a 60" x 36" clear floor space shower in most every residential bathroom I design.

Is the person you refer to as "architect" you engaged in this project indeed licensed by the State you are in or just a term you are using to call the person that designed your bathroom?

Glass doors would not be used for a aging in place purposed shower. Shower curtains would be needed for bathing assistance. Glass just gets in the way.

@Mark Bischak, Architect I haven't checked his architect credentials. He represented himself as an architect. I had just verified his general contractor license. That was my mistake.

With all the issues and questions you have posted I would say he is not a licensed architect. Also it is very rare for a GC to have a license in architecture from what I know of the business.

He’s not even a good contractor, much less anything close to an architect. He might have a trade school class in drafting.

It turned out that the pan was actually a 60x32 but since about approx 1 inch on each side is lost to installation, the effective elbow room is only 30. Instead of removing the pan and changing fixture and drains (which was turning out to be quite expensive), decided to build an additional 4 inch curb and increase the effective elbow width by about 3-4 inches. Best we could do given the situation. Hoping it turns out ok.

4x6 is usually a 2-person shower and should work for one, even if disabled.

It is not 4x6

I know, Joe. That would be the ideal though.

How did you go from creating an accessible bathroom to one with an extra curb?? You may want to rethink this with your long term goals more fully clarified.

@The Cook's Kitchen, it is a tradeoff to get a larger shower. The accessibility isn't much worse that a regular pan curb. I am hoping that ramps can be used when needed to cross the curb.

Ramps are 1” per 12”. For a 6” curb, that’s a 6’ ramp.

Curb height is half inch more than pan curb height. It is 4-6" wide