Rough-in Plumbing for New Sink

RESIDENTIAL BATHROOMS—Typical Bathroom, access problems, Bathroom One, Bathroom Two, roll-in shower without seat, lavatory, and water closet, rough-in dimension, Bathroom Three, roll-in shower with seat, lavatory, and water closet, general rule, Bathroom Four, alternate shower with seat, lavatory, and water closet.

TYPICAL BATHROOM ACCESS PROBLEMS—When wheelchair access is part of a bathroom plan, every path, space, and fixture require special consideration. Below is a typical bathroom with wheelchair access problems. This bathroom has a 2468 door, a door with approximately 25-1/2 inches (749 mm) between door and doorstop when the door is open 90 degrees. 24 is shorthand for 2 feet and 4 inches in width (711 mm). 68 is shorthand for 6 feet and 8 inches in height (2032 mm). This bathroom picture has a water closet next to a bathtub. The bathroom has a cabinet, countertop and sink. Inside this typical bathroom a person cannot wheel in, use each fixture, turn around and leave.

ACCESS PROBLEMS (continued)—A water closet that is 18 inches away from a bathtub presents access problems. Getting into the bathtub is difficult. Reaching bathtub controls from a wheelchair is difficult. Regardless of the approach direction, anyone in a wheelchair must be aware of how many difficulties are created when a water closet is next to a bathtub.

BATHROOM ONE—Although Bathroom One is the same size as the typical bathroom, there are three significant differences. First, the 3068 door below has approximately 33-1/2 inches (851 mm) between door and doorstop when the door is open 90 degrees. Second, the water closet is centered 18 inches (457 mm) away from an adjacent wall. Third, cabinet, countertop and sink are replaced by a lavatory. These three differences leave enough room between a bathtub and a water closet for a Circular Turning Space.

Bathroom One's clear floor spaces, in concert with a turning space, allow access to each fixture. The spaces illustrated in this picture are: 1. Circular turning space, page 36. 2. Lavatory clear floor space, page 130. 3. Water closet clear floor space, page 118. 4. Bathtub clear floor space, page 160. 5. Front approach - push side landing, page 90. In such a small bathroom, consider replacing a bathtub with a roll-in shower.

BATHROOM TWO—Roll-in Shower without Seat, Lavatory, and Water Closet: Bathroom Two's bathing fixture is a roll-in shower. A roll-in shower has a minimum width and a minimum depth, and minimum widths and depths are always considerations. Although 30 inches (762 mm) is a roll-in shower's minimum width, a wider shower is a more comfortable space to bathe in. A roll-in shower's 60 inch (1524 mm) minimum depth is another consideration. Note that this shower's minimum depth and the layers of building materials on both end walls make Bathroom Two 3 inches (76.2 mm) deeper than Bathroom One. A picture illustrating building materials and shower depth is on page 111.

BATHROOM TWO—Rough-in Dimension: A rough-in dimension is the accumulation of every item between two structural walls (bare studs). This accounting for building materials and space is critical when a fixture has a minimum width or depth. A roll-in shower with a three-ply shower surround is an example. The rough-in dimension between the end walls is determined by: The width of the building materials on both end walls, approximately 3 inches (76.2 mm). The 3-inch dimension is approximate and should be accurate to within 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) given standard tiles, and, the depth of the fixture. A roll-in shower in this case.

BATHROOM THREE—Roll-in Shower with Seat, Lavatory, and Water Closet: Bathroom Three's roll-in shower has a seat. This roll-in shower also has a 36 inch (914 mm) wide seat wall, a seat wall wide enough for a transfer shower size L - shaped folding seat. Bathroom Three also has additional maneuvering space beyond the seat wall. The result is, this bathroom is 6 inches (152 mm) wider and 12 inches (305 mm) deeper than Bathroom Two.

BATHROOM THREE—A General Rule Is: minimum widths and depth should be increased in size wherever space permits. The length of a bathtub with a permanent seat's clear floor space is the depth of the bathtub and seat and 12 inches (305 mm) beyond the seat wall. Width and depth details are on page

BATHROOM FOUR—Alternate Shower with Seat, Lavatory, and Water Closet: Combining some of the design characteristics of a transfer shower, page 190, and an alternate shower with seat, page 196, creates a bathing fixture with advantages. There is a grab bar forward of the approach to aid the transfer from wheelchair to seat. The seat wall is wide enough for an L - shaped folding seat. The folding seat, in an up position, gives the shower dual use. The controls and shower spray unit are opposite the seat. The showerhead, it its fixed position and when it is handheld, can have its spray directed away from the entrance.

BATHROOM NOTES—Making sure a person can enter a bathroom, use any fixture in any order, turn around and leave requires planning. It also requires answers to basic questions. Is a fixture readily available? Which approach clear floor space makes a fixture accessible? Does a fixture require knee clearance? Where are a fixture's hard edges? How does a turning space lead from one fixture to the other fixtures in the bathroom?

New Sink Connected to New Rough-in Plumbing

Accessible Residential Bathroom

Layouts, dimensions, and drawings for a typical bathroom versus wheelchair friendly bathrooms.