How To Look At A House
McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of
site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes
What is the code for bathroom ventilation?
Sunday, March 1, 2020
You can opt for natural ventilation, with a window having a minimum area of three square feet and half of it openable, or provide artificial light and ventilation via a switched exhaust fan rated at a minimum of 50 cfm (cubic feet per minute) or a continuous one at 20 cfm. The vent must terminate at the exterior of the home (not the attic) and can't be directed onto walkways. The requirement also applies to a half-bath (toilet room). All of this is per the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) and the Residential Edition of the Florida Building Code (FBC) at R303.3 and M1507.4.
Also, see our blog posts Does a bathroom exhaust fan need to be GFCI protected by code? and When did the building code begin requiring bathroom vent fans to discharge to the exterior (not the attic or crawl space)? and How can I check to see if my bathroom exhaust fan is actually working and moving air? and My bathroom is stinky and humid even though it has an exhaust fan. What can I do to fix it? and What are the ventilation requirements for bathrooms and kitchens in mobile homes?
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Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about BATHROOMS:
• Honey, who shrunk the toilet?
• Why is it a problem when a trap under a bathroom sink is installed backwards?
• What are the code requirements for layout of drain piping under bathroom sinks?
• Why is there sand in the bottom of my toilet tank?
• What is a "fixture unit" for plumbing?
• Are drop-in toilet bowl cleaner tablets safe?
• What are the minimum requirements for a shower?
• Why is there mold inside my toilet tank?
• What are the pros and cons of a wall-mounted toilet?
• Is a hot water faucet handle required to be on the left?
• What is an escutcheon plate?
• Why is the European-style bottle trap not approved by the plumbing codes in the U.S.?
• What are the minimum clearances around a toilet?
• Can I make a trap under the sink from straight pipe and 90º elbows?
• Why is there a flexible accordion pipe under the bathroom sink?
• What is that big thing in the toilet tank?
• Why are shower water valves all single-handle nowadays?
• Why is my bathroom vent fan not exhausting enough air?
• What is an "S-Trap" under my sink? Why is it a problem?
• Is a furnace allowed in a bedroom, bathroom, or an adjoining closet?How do you test a shower pan for leaks?
• Is a shower pan leak test a required part of a home inspection?
• Can I install a commercial (wall-mounted flushometer) toilet in my home?
• What are the ventilation requirements for bathrooms and kitchens in mobile homes?
• Can a bathroom exhaust fan dump air (discharge/terminate) in the attic?
• Why is there a GFCI breaker in the electric panel for the bathroom shower light and exhaust fan?
• Why is there no bathroom electric receptacle in this old house?
• Can you install a gas water heater in a bathroom?
• What is the minimum size of a shower?
• Does a shower light need to be GFCI protected by code?
Visit our BATHROOMS 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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