Architectural Considerations for Dormitory Toilet and Bathing Facilities

“The Bathing Pool” | Hubert Robert (French, 1733–1808)

Oxford |  Miss Kate | Edinburg

Today at the usual hour we run a status check on the literature that informs the design, construction, use and maintenance of shared floor facilities for privacy, relief and hygiene.   We are mindful of the following considerations:

• Fixture Ratios: Dormitories are typically classified as Residential (R-2) or Institutional (I-1) occupancies, requiring fixtures per Table 2902.1. For example, 1 shower per 8 persons and 1 water closet per 25 persons (adjusted by sex or gender-neutral design).
• Gender-Inclusive Design: Recent IBC and IPC updates allow multi-user gender-neutral facilities, common in modern dormitories to support inclusivity.
• Privacy and Safety: Communal bathrooms must have lockable stalls, visual screening at entrances, and no internal locking of main doors to prevent inappropriate activities.
• Material Durability: Nonabsorbent surfaces (e.g., ceramic tiles, stainless steel fixtures) are mandatory to withstand heavy use and frequent cleaning in dormitory settings.
• Ventilation: Section 1202.5 requires mechanical ventilation (e.g., 50 cfm exhaust fans) or operable windows (3 sq. ft. minimum) to control humidity and odors.
• Water temperature: Does water get to the showerhead fast enough and is the temperature controlled safely?
• Are vertical piping systems to high rise dormitories “right-sized”?
• What cost considerations must be taken into account if a third gender-neutral space becomes mandatory.

University of Iowa Catlett Hall | Johnson County

We will slice horizontally through vertically oriented standards catalogs and explain where excess cost lies and should be removed.  There is significant interdependence between the International Building Code, the International Plumbing Code and ASME Plumbing Fixture Code.  The Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

Key Sections for Communal But Private Toilet and Shower Areas

• Section 2902: Minimum Plumbing Facilities (Chapter 29)
  • Purpose: Specifies the minimum number, type, and distribution of plumbing fixtures (toilets, urinals, lavatories, showers) for communal facilities in various occupancies, including institutional settings like college dormitories.
  • Key Provisions:
    • 2902.1: Minimum Number of Fixtures: Requires facilities to provide adequate fixtures based on occupant load and building use. Table 2902.1 lists fixture ratios (e.g., 1 water closet per 25 males/females in institutional occupancies). For dormitories, the code may adjust based on residential or institutional classifications.
    • 2902.1.2: Single-User Toilet and Bathing Room Fixtures: Allows single-user toilet and bathing rooms to count toward the total required fixtures and mandates they be identified as available for all persons, regardless of sex, supporting gender-inclusive designs.
    • 2902.2: Separate Facilities: Requires separate facilities for each sex in multi-user setups, with exceptions for:
      • Exception 5: Single-user toilet rooms not designated by sex.
      • Exception 6: Multi-user facilities designed to serve all sexes and genders, enabling communal gender-neutral bathrooms.
    • 2902.3: Employee and Public Facilities: Ensures public and employee toilet facilities are accessible, with communal areas visually screened from entryways for privacy.
    • Application to Communal Areas: In college dormitories, communal bathrooms (e.g., community or floor bathrooms) must meet these fixture counts, ensuring sufficient toilets, lavatories, and showers for the resident population. For example, a dorm with 100 residents might require 4 water closets and 2 showers per sex, adjusted for local amendments.
• Section 1210: Toilet and Bathroom Requirements (Chapter 12)
  • Purpose: Governs the design, materials, and privacy features of toilet and bathing areas, including communal setups.
  • Key Provisions:
    • 1210.2: Finish Materials:
      • Floors in toilet, bathing, and shower rooms must have a smooth, hard, nonabsorbent surface (e.g., porcelain tiles).
      • Walls within 2 feet of urinals or water closets must have nonabsorbent surfaces to a height of at least 4 feet (1219 mm) to resist moisture damage.
      • Shower and tub areas require nonabsorbent surfaces extending to 70 inches above the drain height.
      • Exceptions: These requirements do not apply to dwelling units, sleeping units, or non-public single-occupant toilet rooms.
    • 1210.3: Privacy:
      • Public restrooms must be visually screened from entry/exit doorways to ensure privacy, including avoiding mirrors that compromise privacy.
      • Each water closet in a communal facility must be in a separate compartment with walls/partitions and a door for privacy. Exceptions apply to single-occupant toilet rooms with lockable doors.
      • Urinals require privacy partitions with specified dimensions (introduced in the 2006 International Plumbing Code, referenced by IBC).
    • Application to Communal Areas: In dormitory community bathrooms, these rules ensure stalls are fully enclosed, floors and walls are moisture-resistant, and privacy is maintained through screening or layout design.
• Section 1109: Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (Chapter 11)
  • Purpose: Ensures communal toilet and shower areas comply with accessibility standards, referencing the ICC A117.1 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities.
  • Key Provisions:
    • 1109.2: Toilet and Bathing Facilities: Requires at least one wheelchair-accessible toilet compartment and, in facilities with six or more water closets/urinals, one ambulatory-accessible compartment.
    • 1109.2.1: Family or Assisted-Use Facilities: Mandates accessible single-user or family toilet/bathing rooms in certain occupancies, which can contribute to fixture counts in dormitories.
    • Grab Bars and Clearances: Requires grab bars (e.g., 18-inch vertical grab bar at water closets per ICC A117.1), a 1½-inch clearance between grab bars and walls, and clear floor space for wheelchair maneuvering.
    • Application to Communal Areas: Dormitory bathrooms must include accessible stalls and showers (e.g., roll-in showers with benches) to accommodate students with disabilities.

We will deal with cross-referencing concepts that appear in the International Plumbing Code (IPC) in a separate post.