Division B
Acceptable Solutions

Part 3 — Fire Protection, Occupant Safety and Accessibility

Section 3.7. Health Requirements

3.7.1. Height of Rooms

3.7.1.1. Room and Space Height

1) The height of every room and space shall be sufficient so that the ceiling or ceiling fixtures do not obstruct movement or activities below.

2) The unobstructed height in dwelling units shall conform to Subsection 9.5.3.

3.7.2. Plumbing Facilities

3.7.2.1. Plumbing and Drainage Systems

1) Except as permitted in Sentence (2), if the installation of a sanitary drainage system is not possible because of the absence of a water supply, sanitary privies, chemical closets or other means for the disposal of human waste shall be provided.

2) Waterless urinals are permitted to be used in buildings provided with a water supply.

3.7.2.2. Water Closets

1) Except as permitted by Sentence (4), water closets shall be provided for each sex assuming that the occupant load is equally divided between males and females, unless the proportion of each sex expected in the building can be determined with reasonable accuracy. (See Appendix A.)

2) If a single universal toilet room is provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 3.8., the total number of persons in the building used to determine the number of water closets to be provided, is permitted to be reduced by 10 before applying Sentences (6), (7), (8), (12), (13) or (14).

3) Except as permitted by Sentence (2), if only one universal toilet room is provided in accordance with Section 3.8., the water closet in this room shall not be taken into consideration in determining the number of water closets required by this Article, unless a single water closet is permitted in accordance with Sentence (4).

4) Both sexes are permitted to be served by a single water closet if the occupant load in an occupancy referred to in Sentence (6), (10), (12), (13), (14) or (16) is not more than 10.

5) Urinals are permitted to be substituted for two thirds of the number of water closets required by this Article for males, except that if only 2 water closets are required for males, one urinal is permitted to be substituted for one of the water closets.

6) Except as permitted by Sentences (4), (7) and (8), the number of water closets required for assembly occupancies shall conform to Table 3.7.2.2.A

7) The number of water closets required for primary schools and daycare facilities for children shall be at least one for each 30 males and one for each 25 females.

NC2010  2010-01-01 R1

7) The number of water closets required for primary schools and daycare facilities for children centres shall be at least one for each 30 males and one for each 25 females.

8) The number of water closets required for places of worship and undertaking premises shall be at least one for each 150 persons of each sex.

9) The number of water closets required for a treatment or detention occupancy shall be determined on the basis of the special needs of the occupancy.

10) Except as permitted by Sentences (4) and (7), the number of water closets required for a care or residential occupancy shall be at least one for each 10 persons of each sex.

11) At least one water closet shall be provided for each dwelling unit.

12) Except as permitted by Sentence (4), the number of water closets required for a business and personal services occupancy shall conform to Table 3.7.2.2.B

13) Except as permitted by Sentences (4) and (16), the number of water closets required for a mercantile occupancy shall be at least one for each 300 males and one for each 150 females.

14) Except as permitted by Sentence (4), the number of water closets required for an industrial occupancy shall conform to Table 3.7.2.2.C

15) In a building whose floor area is more than 600 m² and that includes one or more individual tenant spaces for a business and personal services occupancy or mercantile occupancy, water closets shall be located so that they are accessible to the public when the building is occupied.

16) The number of water closets required in a suite of mercantile occupancy whose area is not more than 500 m² is permitted to be determined in accordance with Table 3.7.2.2.B based solely on the total number of staff.

3.7.2.3. Lavatories

1) Except as permitted by Sentence (2), at least one lavatory shall be provided in a room containing one or 2 water closets or urinals, and at least one additional lavatory shall be provided for each additional 2 water closets or urinals.

2) Wash fountains in circular form are permitted to be provided in lieu of lavatories required by Sentence (1) provided each 500 mm of circumference is considered to be the equivalent of one lavatory.

3) Any shelf or projection above a lavatory shall be located so that it will not be a hazard.

4) Lavatories required by Sentence (1) shall be equipped with faucets that

a) operate automatically, or

b) have lever-type handles that do not close under spring action.

3.7.2.4. Mobile Home Facilities

1) If mobile homes do not have individual sanitary facilities connected to a central water supply and drainage system, a service building shall be provided for public use.

2) The service building required by Sentence (1) shall contain

a) at least one water closet for each sex if the service building facilities serve not more than 10 mobile homes, and

b) an additional water closet for each sex for each additional 10 mobile homes.

3) If a service building is required by Sentence (1), it shall contain lavatories as required by Sentence 3.7.2.3.(1) and at least

a) one laundry tray or similar facility, and

b) one bathtub or shower for each sex.

3.7.2.5. Safety Glass

1) Glass, other than safety glass, shall not be used for a shower or bathtub enclosure.

3.7.2.6. Surface Protection

1) Wall and floor surfaces below the uppermost surfaces of a urinal shall be protected from deterioration by impervious and durable material for a distance from the urinal to a point not less than 900 mm from the projected outline of the urinal on to the wall or floor.

2) Floor surfaces around a water closet shall be protected from deterioration by an impervious and durable material for a distance not less than 900 mm from the projected outline of the water closet on the floor.

3.7.2.7. Floor Drain

1) A floor drain shall be installed in a washroom containing a urinal equipped with an automatic flushing device.

3.7.2.8. Grab Bar Installation

1) Grab bars that are installed shall resist a load not less than 1.3 kN applied vertically or horizontally.

3.7.2.9. Bathtubs

1) Where a bathtub is installed in a hotel or a motel, it shall

a) notwithstanding the presence of a water closet or a lavatory, have a clear floor space at least 750 mm wide along its length,

b) have faucets that conform to Clause 3.7.2.3.(4)(b),

c) have grab bars that

i) conform to Sentence 3.7.2.8.(1),

ii) are 1 200 mm long located vertically at the end of the bathtub that is adjacent to the clear floor space, with the lower end between 180 mm and 280 mm above the bathtub rim, and

iii) are 1 200 mm long located horizontally along the length of the bathtub at 180 mm to 280 mm above the bathtub rim, and

d) be open along its length with no tracks mounted on the bathtub rim.

3.7.2.10. Accessible Washrooms

4) Toilet compartments described in Sentence (2) shall

a) have grab bars that

i) are 30 mm to 40 mm in diameter,

ii) are not less than 900 mm long,

iii) are mounted with a clearance of 35 mm to 45 mm from the wall, and

iv) are mounted horizontally, between 840 mm and 920 mm above the finished floor, with the mid-point of the length in line with the front edge of the water closet, and

v) may be angled upward at the mid-point of the length not more than 60° from the horizontal forward of the water closet, and

b) where a tank-type water closets is not used, have a second bar not less than 600 mm long, mounted on the wall behind, and centered over, the water closet with the center line between 815 mm and 865 mm above the finished floor.

10) Baths shall

a) have a clear floor area in front of the bath not less than 1 500 mm long by 800 mm out from the bath, with fixtures being permitted to project into such clear area provided that access to the bath controls from a wheelchair is not restricted,

b) have faucets conforming to the requirements of Sentence 3.7.2.3.(4),

c) have shower selector controls that meet the requirements for faucets described in Clause (b),

d) have a water supply that is controlled by a pressure-equalizing valve or by an automatic thermostatically-controlled valve,

e) to permit lateral transfer from a wheelchair, have a removable seat that is

i) designed to remain stable during use,

ii) wide enough to give stability to the user,

iii) capable of carrying a load of not less than 1.33 kN, and

iv) manufactured so as to be impervious to water and of such a design as to be easily cleaned,

f) have a telephone-type shower located at the same end of the bath as the controls, where a shower is provided,

g) have an integral slip-resistant bottom,

h) not have shower doors, (See Appendix Note A-3.7.2.10.(10)(h).)

i) have fully-recessed soap holders within reach from the seated position, and

j) have L-shaped grab bars that

i) have a horizontal section of not less than 600 mm, a vertical section of not less than 900 mm and a 90° angle,

ii) are mounted with the center line of the vertical section 275 mm to 325 mm away from the control end of the bath and the centre line of the horizontal section 150 mm to 300 mm above the rim of the bath, and

iii) conform to Subclauses (4)(a)(i) to (a)(v).

11) Shower compartments shall

a) be not less than 1 500 mm wide by 900 mm deep with an entrance not less than 1 500 mm wide,

b) have a clear floor area in front of the entrance to the shower not less than the width of the shower by 900 mm deep, with fixtures being permitted to project into the clear area provided that access to and from the shower compartment is not restricted,

c) have faucets that

i) conform to the requirements of Clause (5)(d), and

ii) are located so as to be usable from the seated position,

d) to permit lateral transfer from a wheelchair, be provided with a portable or wall-mounted folding seat, that is

i) located between 430 mm and 480 mm above the finished shower floor on a side wall,

ii) 40 mm to 60 mm less than shower compartment depth by between 430 mm and 530 mm wide,

iii) capable of carrying a minimum load of 1.33 kN, and

iv) manufactured so as to be impervious to water and of such a design as to be easily cleaned,

e) have a telephone-type shower, located so as to be within reach from the seated position,

f) have a water supply that is controlled by a pressure-equalizing valve or by an automatic thermostatically controlled valve,

g) not have shower doors, (see Appendix Note A-3.7.2.10.(10)(h).)

h) have thresholds that do not exceed 13 mm in height and are bevelled,

i) have fully-recessed soap holders within reach from the seated position, and

j) have L-shaped grab bars that

i) have a horizontal section of not less than 750 mm, a second horizontal section of not less than 900 mm and a 90° angle,

ii) are mounted with the centre line of the grab bar between 700 mm and 800 mm above the shower floor, with the 900 mm section on the side wall opposite the entrance, and

iii) conform to Subclauses (4) (a)(i) to (a)(v).

3.7.3. Medical Gas Piping Systems

3.7.3.1. Medical Gas Piping

1) If a non-flammable medical gas piping system is installed, it shall be installed in conformance with CSA Z7396.1, “Medical Gas Pipeline Systems – Part 1: Pipelines for Medical Gases and Vacuum.”

NC2010  2010-01-01 R1

1) If a non-flammable medical gas piping system is installed, it shall be installed in conformance with CSA Z7396.1, “Medical Gas Pipeline Systems – Part 1: Pipelines for Medical Gases and Vacuum.”