Understanding Bathroom Layout & Code

A bathroom renovation can be a stressful time in your life. How long is it going to take? How much will it cost? Will everything meet code? Depending on your contractor and the scale of the renovations, the timeline can be a week, to up to a month. Costs are also going to range with the scale and quality of materials. But if you're doing it yourself, you're probably not a bathroom code-master. So let's break down the code to something more understandable*.

     Let's break down the code. We're using the 2015 International Residential Code book. Per R307.1; "Space Required. Fixtures shall be spaced in accordance with Figure R307.1, and in accordance with the requirements of Section P2705.1". Let's see what that means. Figure R307.1 shows spacing for bathroom fixtures. Such as the center of the toilet has to be 15" from any adjacent object; walls, tubs, vanities, etc. It also shows that the space in front of the toilet, and any vanity, must be at least 21". It shows that a shower must be at least 30"x30", with 24" of space in front of the opening.
     So, let's talk about what this means. If you are renovating a bathroom, and wish to put in a water closet, the framing plus the dry wall, must be 15" from the center of the toilet on each side. With a typical width of 1/2" drywall, this means that the width of your new water closet framing, should be about 31", at minimum. The space in front of the toilet should be more than 21" anyway, to make room for a door.

     Before we move on to Section P2705.1, let's take a look at R307.2, which says: "Bathtub and Shower Spaces. Bathtub and shower floors and walls above bathtubs with installed shower heads and in shower compartments shall be finished with a nonabsorbent surface. Such wall surfaces shall extend to a height of not less than 6 feet (1829 mm) above the floor." Basically, if you have a bathtub or shower that has plumbing or shower nooks in the walls, the walls must have a panel, or tile, or another nonabsorbent surface up to 6 feet tall from the floor. If you're putting in a free standing tub, this does not apply. I would recommend placing tile on the walls about 3 feet off the floor for looks and reducing water damage, but it's not required.
    Now moving on to P2705.1, which is under Chapter 27, titled Plumbing Fixtures. The "requirements of Section P2705.1", subtitled INSTALLATION, are as follows:

1. Floor-outlet or floor-mounted fixtures shall be secured to the drainage connection and to the floor, where so designed, by screws, bolts, washers, nuts and other similar fasteners of copper, copper alloy, or other corrosion-resistant material.
2. Wall-hung fixtures shall be rigidly supported so that strain is not transmitted to the plumbing system.
3. Where fixtures come in contact with walls and floors, the contact area shall be water tight.
4. Plumbing fixtures shall be usable.
5. Water closets, lavatories and bidets. A water closet, lavatory or bidet shall not be set closer than 15 inches (381 mm) from its center to any side wall, partition or vanity or closer than 30 inches (762 mm) center-to-center between adjacent fixtures. There shall be a clearance of not less than 21 inches (533 mm) in front of a water closet, lavatory or bidet to any wall, fixture or door.
6. The location of piping, fixtures or equipment shall not interfere with the operation of windows or doors. 
7. In flood hazard areas as established by Table R301.2(1), plumbing fixtures shall be located or installed in accordance with Section R322.1.6.
8. Integral fixture-fitting mounting surfaces on manufactured plumbing fixtures or plumbing fixtures constructed on site, shall meet the design requirements of ASME A112.19.2/CSA B45.1 or ASME A112.19.3/CSA B45.4.

     The previous listing should be pretty self explanatory, and are links to referenced materials that are also fairly simple. If you're looking for the ceiling height requirements, look no further. Section R305, Ceiling Height, Section 1 "Minimum height", states "[...] Bathrooms, toilet rooms and laundry rooms shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm)." 

      However, there are a few exceptions; "For rooms with sloped ceilings, the required floor area of the room shall have a ceiling height of not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) and not less than 50 percent of the required floor area shall have a ceiling height of not less less than 7 feet (2134 mm)." 

      "The ceiling height above bathroom and toilet room fixtures shall be such that the fixture is capable of being used for its intended purpose. A shower or tub equipped with a showerhead shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm) above and area of not less than 30 inches (762 mm) by 30 inches (762 mm) at the showerhead."

     So these are the biggest code items regarding bathrooms that you should follow. Chances are that you're renovating a bathroom, it probably meets most of the code already. But if you plan on moving things around or expanding, this is a helpful tool so that you can make your new bathroom beautiful and code compliant. 

     If you're looking for a bathroom renovation, give us a call at Hamilton Building Services. (607) 299 - 4838. Or shoot us an email marketing@hamiltonbuildingservices.com with Subject as "Bathroom Renovation"!

*HAMILTON BUILDING SERVICES AND ITS EMPLOYEES ARE NOT CODE ENFORCEMENT. WE DO NOT CLAIM TO BE CODE ENFORCEMENT. ANY ADVICE TAKEN FROM THIS FALLS UNDER THE READER'S RESPONSIBILITY. USE CAUTION WHEN DO RENOVATIONS ON YOUR HOME AND BE SURE TO CONSULT ANY HOME INSPECTOR WITH QUESTIONS. PLEASE APPLY FOR PERMITS WHERE NECESSARY.