Learn How Building Code and Good Design Rules Can Help You Design a Better Bathroom! (2024)

No room in the house is as densely packed with services – electricity, water, sewer – as the bathroom. This density can result in a disorganized, inefficient space. At its worst, it can present a danger for the occupants. Because of this, it pays to know your building code as it relates to bathrooms – before you remodel.

Good design rules are not code and they are not required by law. But designing wisely means having a bathroom you will enjoy using. Plus, a well-designed bathroom gives your home added resale value when it comes time to sell.

Following Code in the Bathroom

The International Residential Code is a model code that was developed by an international standards organization for one- and two-family dwellings. Most municipalities in the United States and Canada have adopted this code. Some of these jurisdictions maintain the code exactly as it was written, while others introduce changes to adapt to the needs of their constituents.

Learn How Building Code and Good Design Rules Can Help You Design a Better Bathroom! (1)

Toilets

Provisions are made for clearing out plenty of space around the toilet. The purpose is to ease access not only to the toilet but to other services, such as the sink and bathing facilities.

Showers

  • Shower Size: Showers must be a minimum of 36” by 36”.
  • Surrounds: Shower surrounds must extend at least 3” above the height of the shower head.
  • Doors: Shower doors must swing outward.
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Electrical

Electricity and water do not mix. For that reason, the code has strict specifications for electrical services, such as outlets, lights, and switches.

  • Outlet Type: Outlets within 6 feet of a water source must be GFCI-protected.
  • Outlet Type: Outlets within 6 feet of a water source must be GFCI-protected.
  • Switch-Controlled Light: Bathrooms must have at least one wall switch-controlled light. The switch must be located near the entrance to the bathroom.

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Ventilation

Remarkably enough, code does not require a ventilation fan. At a minimum, a window of at least 3 square feet should be provided. This window should be able to open at least halfway.http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/bathroom-exhaust-fans

Going Beyond Code: Rules for Good Design

Developed in large part by the National Kitchen and Bath Association, bathroom design rules are intelligent ideas that make bathrooms more efficient and enjoyable. None of these rules are required by law. Rather, they represent common sense ideas that bathroom industry professionals have developed from years of experience.http://nkba.org

As a blanket rule, bathroom designers tend to agree that all code-required distances should be increased by 2” to 4”. In general, the more buffer room, the better.

Ventilation is a classic example of good design rules picking up where code leaves off. All bathroom designers are in agreement that bathrooms need powered ventilation fans, as the code minimum requirement for an operable window is considered archaic.

Family Bathrooms

In many homes, the family bathroom is the only bathroom. It has many uses: from a quick powder room for guests, all the way to a heavily-trafficked bathing facility for several family members.

  • Counter Corners: Sharp corners on countertops can hurt your legs when you bump against them. Children can injure their faces or heads. Clipped or rounded corners should be used, rather than sharp corners.http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/bath.design.rules.htm#.VQuysNLF_h4
  • Towel Bars: Provide one towel bar per person using the bathroom’s bathing facility. If you lack wall space for multiple bars, you can install double or even triple bars, giving you space for several towels in the width of one towel bar.
  • Lots of Storage: Most people think of bathroom storage as being under-cabinet space for toilet paper. But here is a novel concept: provide storage space separate from the vanity cabinet. Tall storage cabinets no more than 12” wide can fit in tight places and can satisfy most of your needs.

Master Bathroom

Master bathrooms are a luxury. Often they are attached to a master bedroom and contain all four services that define a full bathroom: toilet, sink, shower, and tub.

  • Double-Basin Sink: Master bathrooms are large enough to accommodate two people. Double-basin sinks promote family peace and harmony because no one is fighting for dominance over that single sink.
  • Hooks: Hooks mounted on the back of the door or in spaces too narrow for cabinets provide temporary “storage” for robes, towels, or clothing.
  • Makeup Mirror: While not essential, a lighted extendable magnifying mirror is one item that defines your master bathroom as being luxurious.
  • Enough Hot Water: A nice steamy bath is perfect at the end of a long day. Large soaking tubs, often found in master baths, use far more water than ordinary tubs. This means they also use more hot water. It is recommended that you upgrade your water heater so that it is at least two-thirds the capacity of the tub.http://www.bhg.com/bathroom/type/master/master-bathroom/#page=5
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Powder Rooms

Powder rooms are where you send your guests so that your main bathroom (and your bath towels) remains unsullied (and unseen). Too tiny to contain bathing facilities, they are sometimes called half-bathrooms. Rather than the four services found in full bathrooms, powder rooms only have two – toilet and sink.

In some respects, good design for powder rooms is the opposite of that for family and master bathrooms. Storage needs are minimal, since you will not be storing bath towels or as many cleaning accessories. Storage can be reduced to just a small, covered wicker basket for extra toilet paper. Powder rooms have no need for multiple towel bars; at most, only one towel ring is needed.

  • Pedestal Sinks: Big, imposing bathroom vanity cabinets steal room from space-starved powder rooms. A pedestal sink – simply a basin atop a stand – makes your bathroom feel larger.
  • Large Mirrors: Many homeowners install a mirror proportional to the size of their powder room: small. But this only makes the room look tinier. Instead, put in a mirror that is as large as possible, as this will visually double your space.http://carlaaston.com/designed/tall-luxury-bathroom-mirror
  • Neutral Colors: Bright, in-your-face colors that look smashing in other parts of the house are, in guest bathrooms, literally in your face because the walls are so close. Try neutral colors in your powder room to avoid shocking your guests. Remember, neutral colors do not have to be boring. With warm tints (oranges, yellows) or cool shades (blues, greens), neutral colors can make as much of a statement as do those loud colors.

Bathroom code and design rules are not limits imposed on you to kill your creativity. Instead, they are positive guidelines for approaching your bathroom remodeling project productively.

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Learn How Building Code and Good Design Rules Can Help You Design a Better Bathroom! (2024)

FAQs

Learn How Building Code and Good Design Rules Can Help You Design a Better Bathroom!? ›

Plan a clear floor space of at least 30 inches from the front edge of all fixtures (lavatory, toilet, bidet, tub, and shower) to any opposite bath fixture, wall, or obstacle. Code Requirements: A minimum space of 21 inches must be planned in front of the lavatory, toilet, bidet, and tub.

What is the rules of bathroom layout? ›

The last thing you want in your bathroom is not enough room to move around and function in the space. Plan to have clear floor space of at least 30” from the front edge of all fixtures (sink, toilet, bathtub and shower) to any opposite bath fixture, wall or obstacle.

What is the building code for space around a toilet? ›

Most codes require at least 15 inches (measured from the center of the toilet) from any side wall or obstruction and not closer than 30 inches center to center to any other sanitary fixture. (The NKBA actually recommends 32 inches.) There should be at least 24 inches of clear space in front of a toilet or bidet.

What is the code for the bathroom door? ›

The standard bathroom door size should have a clear opening of 32 inches and a door width of 34 inches. The 34-inch clear width is considered the universal design for bathroom doors. The smallest allowable opening is 24 inches but this is only allowed if existing walls prohibit any type of modifications.

What is the philosophy of bathroom design? ›

Fundamentally, a bathroom must work. That means it should feel natural to use and be easy to clean, and all the essential elements must be accessible, clear, suitably lit and functional. Whatever design you adopt, never let style get in the way of function.

What is the smallest code compliant bathroom? ›

Minimum Bathroom Size Dimensions

As a general rule, the minimum bathroom size is 15 square feet for a powder room that only has a toilet and a sink. If you also want to include a shower, a tub or a combination of the two, you will need to look at allowing 30 to 36 square feet.

What is the smallest shower by code? ›

IRC. The minimum interior shower size is 30" x 30" or 900 square inches, in which a disk of 30" in diameter must fit. (In most places, the shower head must also be inside this imaginary disk.)

How many toilets does a building need? ›

Male toilets
Number of persons at workNumber of WCsNumber of washbasins
1 to 1511
16 to 3022
31 to 4522
46 to 6033
3 more rows

What makes a good bathroom? ›

A Great Layout

A good layout is the foundation of a great bathroom design. This is what makes your bathroom function in a practical and cohesive way. To create a successful layout, you need to think about how the room will be used and how many people will be using it. How does the space need to flow?

What should you pick first when designing a bathroom? ›

The view upon entrance: This is an important part of design, so makes a good starting point for your bathroom layout – you want to see the bath or basin first, not the toilet. Choose one key piece: Be it a freestanding bath, heart-stopping vanity unit or a beautifully tiled shower area and build the layout around it.

How do I choose the right bathroom design? ›

Before planning your new bathroom, think about the following factors:
  1. Fix Your Budget. ...
  2. Consider The Layout. ...
  3. Think About Functionality. ...
  4. Choose the Right Materials. ...
  5. Choose the Right Fixtures. ...
  6. Think About Lighting. ...
  7. Add Storage. ...
  8. Choose The Right Finishes.
Dec 30, 2022

What is 10 bathroom code? ›

CB Radio 10 Codes
10-1Receiving poorly (I can't hear you)
10-62Unable to copy; please use phone
10-99Mission completed
10-100Bathroom break
10-200Police needed at [insert location]
13 more rows
Mar 14, 2024

Can a bathroom have no door? ›

Yes. Public toilet without doors are common in some places.

Can a bathroom door be 24? ›

The recommended minimum bath door dimension is 32” clear space, which needs a 34” door. For someone needing accessibility, that moves to 34” clear, which needs a 36” door. 24” isn't big enough for a closet door.

Can you put a bathroom anywhere? ›

Yes, you can install a bathroom anywhere in your house, but some spaces are easier and less expensive to convert than others. Consider your existing plumbing system, the flow of traffic in your home, and the space you have to work with when determining the location of your new bathroom.

Should toilet or sink be next to shower? ›

If you want to minimize wasted space, you will put the shower farthest from the door. That means that the toilet is either next to the shower or next to the door, with the sink taking the other spot. It just seems more pleasant, in most cases, to have the sink by the door, so the toilet ends up by the shower.

What legally defines a bathroom? ›

Copy. Bathroom means a room containing at least a toilet and basin and bathtub or shower, or two rooms which contain in total at least one toilet and basin and one bathtub or one shower.

What is a full bathroom layout? ›

Typically, there are several components to a bathroom—sink, shower, tub and toilet—and the ability to which a space is able to accommodate these various elements ultimately determines the bathroom layout. A full bathroom houses all four components into the space.

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