How To Look At A House

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What are the minimum requirements for a shower?

Thursday, June 21, 2018

The 2017 Residential Edition of the Florida Building Code (FBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC) have the following minimum standards for residential showers:

  1.   Not less than 30 inch interior dimensions measured from finished interior surfaces, with a minimum of 900 square inches floor area, except that a shower can be a minimum of 25 inches in one dimension if the total area is increased to 1300 square inches. Fold-down seats are permitted as long as the minimum 900 square inches is maintained when the seat is up. Shower heads, grab bars, soap dishes, and valves allowed to protrude into minimum required area.
  2.   Shower walls must be nonabsorbent up to 72 inches above the drain.
  3.   The shower access opening or door must have a minimum of 22 inch clear opening width.
  4.   A listed anti-scald, pressure balance (single handle) faucet required, set to maximum 120º F.
  5.   Finished floor should slope 1/4” to 1/2” per foot towards drain.
  6.   The finished curb must be between 2 inches and 9 inches above the drain level.

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Field Guide for Home Inspectors, a quick reference for finding the age of 154 brands of HVAC systems, water heaters, and electrical panels, plus 210 code standards for site-built and manufactured homes, and the life expectancy rating of 195 home components. Available at amazon.com for $19.95.
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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about PLUMBING:

How can I protect my pipes to keep them from bursting during a hard winter freeze in North Florida?

Why is there sand in the bottom of my toilet tank?  

What causes a gurgling sound when a bathtub or sink drains? 

Are drop-in toilet bowl cleaner tablets safe? 

What can I add to my septic tank to help it work better?

What are the code requirements for layout of drain piping under sinks? 

Why is there mold inside my toilet tank?  

What are the pros and cons of a wall-mounted toilet?

Which plumbing fixtures require water shut off valves in a home? 

How can I tell if a house is connected to a septic tank system or sewer?

Why can't PVC be used for water pipe inside a house? 

What are the common problems to look for when the plumbing has been replaced in a house? 

What's that powdery crust on the pipe connections at the water heater? 

How can I tell what type of plumbing pipe I have? 

Which water pipes are an insurance problem and possibly uninsurable? 

• Does a home inspector check the plumbing under the floor slab?

• Is it alright to disconnect the washing machine drain from the septic tank and divert it to the ground in the yard?

      Visit our PLUMBING page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.  

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