Dimensions (Forms 7 through 10)
Accurate dimensions of the existing space are critical for a renovation project. This is also true for any fixtures or structural elements that will remain in the newly designed space …
THE JOBSITE
Before you can begin the actual design, you have one more major assessment. This is of the jobsite. Structurally and mechanically, you need to know if you can make your …
Client’s Preferences and specifications
Many clients think and dream about a bathroom project before it becomes a reality. They read shelter magazines, visit showrooms, and surf the Internet. Many have a file of ideas …
STORAGE iN THE BATHROOM (FORM 4)
Talking about activities in the bathroom can easily lead to discussing your client's storage needs. What does your client want to keep in the bathroom? Where will they use the …
The home of the Future
Finish your understanding of the big picture by talking to your client about future plans for the home. Is this a home in which they plan to retire? Will they …
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CLIENT’S HOME (FORM 2)
Another part of the big picture is the total home. If you are working on a remodeling project, ask to take a tour of the existing home. Observe the size …
What Type of Home?
Most bathroom designers work on projects in single-family homes—but not always. Especially in urban areas, a designer may work on a home that is an apartment, townhouse, or other type …
. Your Client’s Home: Location, Location, Location
Start with the big picture. Where is the home located? How will the location influence the design of the bathroom? Location determines climate, telling you whether there are cold winters, …
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CLiENT (FORM 1)
The first thing you want to know is who uses the bathroom? Gather information about the users of the bathroom, their physical profiles, and any specialized needs they have. For …
Needs Assessment Forms
Using a prepared interview format is helpful. This assures that you gather all the information that you need, and gives you a way to record and later, to organize, the …
INTERVIEWING THE CLIENT
From your first meeting with a potential client, you are gathering information. Informal conversations can help you learn more about their household, who will use the bathroom, and their goals …
Assessing Needs
A bathroom is a very personal and private space. People use the space in different ways and have different ideas about function, mood, and ambience. To design a bathroom, your …
Canadian policies and practices
The National Building Code (NBC), developed by the Canadian Codes Center of the Institute for Research in Construction (a branch of the National Research Center), is the standard on which …
Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines and the 2010 Standards for Accessible design
First produced in 1991, the Americans with Disabilities Act Guidelines (ADAAG) are guidelines for compliance with the accessibility requirements of the ADA. The ADA is a law that addresses access …
American National Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (iCC A117.1)
The first edition of the American National Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (ANSI A117.1) was issued in 1961. Since then, the standard has been updated and revised …
Dispelling Myths
There are many misconceptions regarding universal design. Let's put an end to the most common ones. Myth 1: Universal design is nothing more than design for people in wheelchairs. Fact: …
ERGONOMIC AND UNiVERSAL DESiGN
Based on anthropometric data and other human factors, ergonomics is the study of the relationship of people to their environment. Ergonomic design is the application of human factors data to …
Mobility Aids
There is a growing amount of useful data related to movement and maneuvering, including information related to walking or moving with an assistive device (see Figures 4.7 to 4.1 0). …
Functional Anthropometry
Functional anthropometry, also referred to as dynamic anthropometry, is the measurement of the body in motion. It includes movement of body parts in relationship to one another and measures of …
ANTHROPOMETRY
A basic understanding of the human body, including its limitations and capabilities, is helpful in any space planning, particularly in a room of such concentrated high activity as the bath. …
Human Factors and Universal Design Foundation
Like most principles and elements of design, universal design is an enduring approach that draws from both science and spirit. Based solidly on human factors and, along with this quantitative …
Molds, Moisture, and Health
Molds are fungi. There are thousands of varieties of molds, which reproduce by spores that are blown out into the air. The spores can be dormant for years. Then, given …
Household Humidity
Managing the humidity level in a home is a balancing act between maintaining the comfort of the occupants and protecting the structure. Excess moisture leads to many indoor air quality, …
Hidden Condensation
The air temperature inside the bathroom tends to be higher than the air temperature on the other side of the walls, floor, and ceiling. This is especially true, in winter, …
MOISTURE AND INDOOR AIR QUALITY
The bathroom is a major source of moisture within a home—showering, soaking in the bathtub, running water in the lavatory, water evaporating from the toilet bowl, towels drying. In a …
. Air Cleaning
Air cleaners are often incorporated into the heating, ventilating, and/or air conditioning system of the home, where they are used to filter heated or cooled air before it is returned, …
Renovation Hazards
New construction sometimes means removing old construction. Make sure your client is aware of possible air quality problems that can result from demolition. Some things to consider and discuss with …
Indoor Air Quality and Construction
Some of the potential pollution in a bathroom can come from building and interior finish materials. New building materials such as paint, manufactured woods, varnishes, adhesives, and plastics can off-gas, …
AIR QUALITY
Good indoor air quality makes a space pleasant to be in—and healthy for the user. Part of the design process is to ensure that the space is pollution free. Providing …
Graywater
So far, the discussion on efficient and sustainable use of water has focused on conserving water use. Another approach is to reuse or recycle water. Reusing water is a sustainable …
WaterSense Bathroom Lavatory Faucets
The average flow rate for a bathroom lavatory faucet today is 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm) (8.3 liters per minute [lpm]). The WaterSense specification is 1.5 gpm (5.7 lpm) at …
WATERSENSE
WaterSense® is a public-private partnership program between the Environmental Protection Agency and manufacturers to provide water-efficient products. WaterSense products have been independently tested and certified. As a result of meeting …
Bathtubs
Water use in the bathtub is largely related to the size of the tub. A tub for soaking needs to have enough water to cover most of a person's body. …
Toilets
In most homes, the single greatest use of water is for flushing the toilet. Older toilets may use three, five, or more gallons (liters) per flush. Toilets manufactured since the …
Hot Water
Much of the water used in a bathroom is heated. Wasting water would also be wasting the energy used to heat the water. Conserving and reducing the energy used to …
