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Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

  • 1.  Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-08-2017 07:14 PM

    Per Wikipedia, 14.4% of the population has shy bladder syndrome (Paruresis) and find it difficult or impossible to use gang restrooms.

    A 1954 Study by Williams and Degenhart (Wikipedia) found 14.4% of the population having paruresis equaling 46 million Americans based upon 2015 USA population of 320,090,857.  1998 Harvard University Study found 6.6% of the population having paruresis equaling 21 million Americans as of 2015. 

    Employment, commerce, productivity, safety and well being are being compromised in a major way.  Many cannot work in buildings that have gang restrooms and avoid businesses that have them.  

    The Future Is Now 

    The 2018 International Plumbing Code 'allows' all restrooms (and bathing rooms) to be designed single-occupancy and unisex. Family/assist toilet fixture counts are now included for all occupancies instead of for just assembly and mercantile.   

    The attached drawing shows the cheapest way to build single-occupancy toilet rooms, with the smallest rooms, and by using an egress instead of a dedicated corridor.  

    The attached gang style, unisex full-height stalls with shared lavatories are not recommended due to safety, additional square footage/energy usage and problems that they create for those with shy bladder syndrome.  

    2018 International Plumbing Code, Section 403.1.2 (mirrors to the International Building Code IBC 2902.1.2) 

    Single-occupancy toilet facility and bathing room fixtures.

    The plumbing fixtures located in single-occupancy toilet facilities and bathing rooms, including family or assisted-use toilet and bathing rooms that are required by Section 1109.2.1 of the International Building Code, shall contribute towards the total number of required plumbing fixtures for a building or tenant space. Single-occupancy toilet facilities and bathing rooms, and family or assisted-use toilet and bathing rooms shall be identified for use by either sex.

    Variances, modifications or state code committees can allow this 2018 code in advance.   

    So Many Advantages

    1.  Helps millions with paruresis;
    2.  Helps opposite-sex parents and caregivers waiting outside of gang restrooms or bathing rooms creating safer environments;
    3.  Solves transgender restroom and bathing room issues;
    4.  Often reduces building square footage and energy usage (see attached drawings and cost differentials);
    5.  Reduces waiting lines for everyone known as gender or potty parity;
    6.  Solves Bathroom Laws by birth certificate. 

    Sanitation 

    In 2010, The National Organization For Women (NOW) provided testimony to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform - In Support of H.R. 4869, The Bipartisan Restroom Gender Parity in Federal Building Act.  For sanitation issues, NOW simply requests toilet seat covers and soap be maintained in the dispensers of single-occupancy toilet rooms.

    Spring lifting toilet seats could be considered instead in the non-accessible rooms yet not in accessible per 2010 ADA 604.4.   

    Conclusion 

    Multiple occupancy facilities have been designed since ancient Rome yet can now become obsolete.  Yet then, they should have never been designed in the first place.


    ------------------------------
    Bruce Pitts
    A&E HVAC Mechanical Engineering
    self
    Aiken SC
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-09-2017 05:48 PM
    This is a great future concept. Currently, with a combination of multi and single stall restrooms as the norm, this can be seen as segregating of groups, like Jim Crow. If there are multi user stalls, but the single use toilet is designated as the gender neutral toilet, they are not allowed to use the multi stall toilets at all.


  • 3.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-10-2017 11:18 AM

    Gang restrooms contribute to 46 million Americans with Shy Bladder Syndrome. Am curious as to what percentage of the following statistics are related to this.      

    93 million Americans are out of the workforce;

    7 million American men between ages 25 and 54 are not seeking work (Nicholas Eberstadt – Men Without Work);

    45.7 million Americans are on food stamps.



    ------------------------------
    Bruce Pitts
    A&E HVAC Mechanical Engineering
    self
    Aiken SC
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-13-2017 06:05 PM
    Where did you get 93 million Americans are out of work--that sounds like something delusional donald said.  If there are a total of about 350 million Americans, 93 million would represent 25% of all Americans.  Hopefully, most people under 20-ish and over 65 aren't working a full time job and aren't looking to do so.  Get your data from a reliable source--not donald.

    ------------------------------
    Peter Pfister AIA
    President
    Pfister Associates
    Golden Valley MN
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-14-2017 01:20 PM
    94 Million not in labor force as of February 2017 per the Bureau of Labor Statistics   

    https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS15000000

    ------------------------------
    Bruce Pitts
    A&E HVAC Mechanical Engineering
    self
    Aiken SC
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-15-2017 05:45 PM
    The number includes students, retired people and those choosing not to be in the workforce (stay-at-home parents with small children, e.g.) A simple check of the BLS website would confirm the truth.
    "Figures lie and liars figure."





  • 7.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-15-2017 05:52 PM
    That number from the BLS includes retired people, students, people not currently looking for a job and, yes, the unemployed. No detail given on how many people have shy bladder syndrome. This is getting off topic!

    Jeffrey Snyder, AIA

    Gardner/Fox Associates

    Bryn Mawr PA






  • 8.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-15-2017 05:52 PM
    The argument on people not in labor force is not relevant to this discussion. Nevertheless, that's a myopic view of that statistic. One should research deeper to find the truth behind that number:
    A-38. Persons not in the labor force by desire and availability for work, age, and sex
    Bls remove preview
    A-38. Persons not in the labor force by desire and availability for work, age, and sex
    Footnotes (1) Includes some persons who are not asked if they want a job.(2) Persons who had a job in the prior 12 months must have searched since the end of that job.(3) Persons "marginally attached to the labor force" are those who want a job, have searched for work
    View this on Bls >
     

    ------------------------------
    R. David Frum AIA
    Salus Architecture
    Seattle WA
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-15-2017 06:57 PM
    Of course the 94 million includes everyone not in the labor force.  "Am curious as to what percentage of the following statistics are related to this" is what my message questioned Eric.  Am not trying to lie about any of this.  

    That's questioning the percentage of everyone not in the labor force that may be related to shy bladder syndrome instead of any myopic statistical fact David.
    __________

    Jeffrey, here are the statistics on shy bladder syndrome:  

    A Study by Williams and Degenhart (Wikipedia) found 14.4% of the population having Paruresis, equaling 46 million Americans, based upon the 2015 USA population of 320,098,857.  A Harvard University Study - Social Phobia Subtypes in the National Comorbidity Study - American Journal of Psychiatry, 155:613-9, May 1998, found 6.6% of the population with Paruresis equaling 21 million Americans as of 2015.  

    Gang facilities should not be designed in new buildings from now on folks. 


    ------------------------------
    Bruce Pitts
    A&E HVAC Mechanical Engineering
    self
    Aiken SC
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-17-2017 10:05 AM

    We seem to be offering design solutions that are searching for a problem.  I have never designed a multi-stall toilet (men's or women's) that did not have at least one private stall.  To my knowledge all women toilets are private stalls, this would eliminate half of the population of those suffering from Paruresis. 

     

     

    John C Hoelscher, AIA, ACHA

    image001.png@01D075C7.B68AB630

    RTA Architects            
    719.471.7566  office  
    719.331.2339  mobile

     

    www.rtaarchitects.com

     

     

     






  • 11.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-17-2017 12:45 PM
    Mr. Hoelscher, stalls do not work.  If they did, I would still be employed instead of having retired way too early and living off of my savings instead.  Others have not been so lucky as Paruresis can lead to agoraphobia and even to suicide.  No telling how many are on SSDI.  Some may be helped by stalls, yet I do not know of any statistics on that.   

    The issue is the proximity of others in a gang restroom.  Being able to create a urine stream with others around who can hear if this has occurring or not is the problem.  People flush urinals and toilets to help make this happen (increasing water bills by the way).

    Many sites claim to have a cure Paruresis, yet if that even exists, it could take a lifetime - if ever.

    Necessity is the mother of invention.  In 2014, working with the American Restroom Association, the the National Organization for Women and various architects, I presented an Executive Summary to the National AIA Executive Committee to change Section 4 of the IPC regarding Paruresis and for the other reasons listed below.  IPC Section 403.1.2 was rewritten by a code writer for the 2018 edition. 

    Gender-Neutral, Single-Occupancy Toilet Rooms help

    • millions with paruresis;
    • opposite-sex parents and caregivers waiting outside of gang restrooms creating safer environments;
    • transgender restroom/bathing room issues and state Bathroom Laws;
    • reduce building square footage and energy usage in many cases  (see attached drawings and cost differentials from my original post);
    • reduce waiting lines for everyone -  gender/potty parity;


    ------------------------------
    Bruce Pitts
    A&E HVAC Mechanical Engineering
    self
    Aiken SC
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-16-2017 02:32 PM

    The labor statistics cited (Not in Labor Force) include "everyone" over 16, and therefore is not an accurate representation of everyone who wants to be/or could be working.

     

    The Unemployment Rates are around 5% and falling. https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000

     

     

     

    Linda Delano, AIA         

    Building Possibilities, Inc.

    2328 West Royal Palm, Suite A

    Phoenix AZ 85021

    p.  (602) 903-3680

    e.  ldelano@bp-inc.biz

    www.buildingpossibilitiesinc.com

     






  • 13.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-09-2017 07:20 PM
    Per the 2010 ADA Standards, door swings can encroach into the required clear floor space or clearance of the water closet and of the lavatory in individual toilet rooms if a clear floor space (30" x 48") is provided beyond the arc of the door swing (see 603.2.3 Ex #2).  

    The outswinging door could swing into the toilet room :

    Inswinging DoorThe 60" deep x 30" wide front approach (pull side) clearance with 18" at the latch side is met (depending on the lavatory size).

    The water closet (WC) requires a minimum 60" wide x 56" deep clearance but this clearance cannot contain any other fixtures (e.g. lavatory). It appears that the lavatory encroaches slightly into the WCs required clearance :

    Lav Conflict

    This could be alleviated by verifying the actual size of the lavatory (LAV) and/or shifting the LAV closer to the wall to the right.  The ADA does not require that the LAV's  30" wide x 48" deep clearance to be centered on the LAV. 

    The other option would be to locate the LAV on the other wall.  This would allow a smaller toilet room by reducing the initial 7'-0" width to 6'-2" (depending on the size of the WC).

    Lav Relocated 

    2010 ADA Standards :
    603.2 Clearances. Clearances shall comply with 603.2.
    603.2.1 Turning Space. Turning space complying with 304 shall be provided within the room.
    603.2.2 Overlap. Required clear floor spaces, clearance at fixtures, and turning space shall be permitted to overlap.
    603.2.3 Door Swing. Doors shall not swing into the clear floor space or clearance required for any
    fixture. Doors shall be permitted to swing into the required turning space.
    EXCEPTIONS:
    1. Doors to a toilet room or bathing room for a single occupant accessed only through a private office and not for common use or public use shall be permitted to swing into the clear floor space or clearance provided the swing of the door can be reversed to comply with
    603.2.3.
    2. Where the toilet room or bathing room is for individual use and a clear floor space complying with 305.3 is provided within the room beyond the arc of the door swing, doors shall be permitted to swing into the clear floor space or clearance required for any fixture.


    ------------------------------
    Todd Wyatt AIA
    Architect (Code Specialist)
    Flad Architects
    Madison WI
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-10-2017 05:40 PM
    Todd,

    I appreciate the support for the economic use of space with this type of restroom; however, I don't see how the restroom layout shown complies with ADAAG Figure 404.2.4.1(a), (h) or (i). It appears that the water closet is a barrier to use of the door.

    ------------------------------
    Sean Catherall AIA
    Herriman UT
    ------------------------------



  • 15.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-13-2017 09:26 AM
    You are correct ... the pull side would need a 50" wide (18" pull side + 32" minimum door) clearance without the toilet encroaching on this clear floor space.

    X

    ------------------------------
    Todd Wyatt AIA
    Architect (Code Specialist)
    Flad Architects
    Madison WI
    ------------------------------



  • 16.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-13-2017 03:49 PM
    We have been using a single-occupant toilet room dimension of 5'-3"x8'-10" with an in-swinging 3'-0" door. In healthcare we often increase the door size to 42" doors, which mean we need to widen the room a couple inches.

    In response to the original post with all of the out-swinging doors - that's nice and legal per IBC and NFPA, but in Michigan, the state health department does not allow doors to swing into corridors like that due to concerns of patient safety - a slow moving patient walking the corridor getting hit by an out-swinging door.

    Also, please be aware that ANSI A117.1 proposed 2015 draft is increasing the size of the turning radius to 67" diameter. You can read the final committee draft here: ICC (ASC A117)

    ------------------------------
    Tom Dillenbeck AIA
    Vice President
    Hobbs & Black Associates, Inc.
    ------------------------------



  • 17.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-13-2017 05:26 PM
    I forgot to mention another interesting tidbit - we designed a 100,000 sf medical building two years ago and only provided single-occupant toilet rooms. In the lobby area we did provide a pair side by side, but in the clinical areas we have single toilets scattered throughout. The city was concerned that all of the unisex toilet rooms would not allow us to meet the building/plumbing code which requires a certain amount designated for men and women. In the end the owner installed separate male and female signs in the public lobby, but all of the rest of the building remained unisex.
    My point is just to say that the current building code still requires separate facilities, under the plumbing code chart.
    Many jurisdictions will probably not enforce separate signage going forward due to the publicity of the topic.

    ------------------------------
    Tom Dillenbeck AIA
    Vice President
    Hobbs & Black Associates, Inc.
    ------------------------------



  • 18.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-15-2017 08:26 AM
    I see a need for gender neutral toilets in many cases, however, I am under the impression that women do not like using a public toilet frequented by men for sanitary reasons.
    Also, the 36" door no longer accommodates many who must use wheel chairs that are larger than normal. A 42" wide door should be the standard now.

    ------------------------------
    Samuel Powell Assoc. AIA
    Senior Engineer (Design)
    Martinsburg, WV
    ------------------------------



  • 19.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-15-2017 12:57 PM
    Sam, both the National Organization for Women NOW and the American Restroom Association ARA are proponents of gender-neutral, single-occupancy toilet rooms.  Both organizations have female Presidents.  

    Regarding sanitation, NOW requests seat covers and hand soap maintained in the dispensers.  I recommend spring lifting toilet seats, instead of cover dispensers in the non accessible toilet rooms; they are not allowed in accessible per ADA.

    ------------------------------
    Bruce Pitts
    A&E HVAC Mechanical Engineering
    self
    Aiken SC
    ------------------------------



  • 20.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-16-2017 08:17 PM
    Yes, I've seen those covers left behind.
    If you are a father with a toddler daughter,  a gender neutral facility would be helpful. More so if you are on a trip with an elderly parent that needs assistance.
    However, I see that none of the plans shown would work. You probably need at least 22 inches between the wall and the edge of the toilet, or about 32 inches to centerline if someone needs to give assistance.
    Many are using scooters now and many are in wider wheel chairs.
    So, if we are making this change we should try to be more inclusive.  



    ------------------------------
    Samuel Powell Assoc. AIA
    Senior Engineer (Design)
    Martinsburg, WV


    ------------------------------



  • 21.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-16-2017 06:58 PM
    Now we crossed over onto a another issue.  
    Water closets at 18" off the wall will not work for part of the population.  Over 18" will not work for ADA.  Now what?
    For years I have put both a urinal and a water closet in generic toilets.  Don't put the urinal across from the wc.  A few women complained but when asked they agreed it was better than having men use the wc.
    To me the question really comes down to being good stewards of our limited resources.  If all restrooms become single use that work for everyone think of the extra space that needs to constructed, maintained, heated and cooled.
    Inedible 
    weeks worth
    M
    w



    Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone





  • 22.  RE: Gender-Neutral Toilet and Bathing Rooms a Must in New Buildings

    Posted 03-27-2017 08:28 AM

    Shy Bladder Syndrome employees are entitled to pee in privacy during the normal course of daily work - 2008 ADAAA:  

    Costs to add a private (family) restroom to existing gang facilities could be astronomical.  Building owners and insurance companies may use the 2008 ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) as their defense as to designing architects paying for them.   

    Men with Shy Bladder Syndrome may be reluctant to use a family restroom – with reputations for women with children and transgender - defeating the purpose for even installing these for them.

    Designing all toilet rooms single-occupancy in new buildings makes sense.

    ADA defines “disability” as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.  Shy Bladder Syndrome (Paruresis) is a mental impairment that can affect the ability to even work in buildings with gang restrooms.

    The following article explains how these employees are entitled to pee in privacy during the normal course of daily work, per the 2008 ADAAA, and adding a private toilet room in existing buildings.  It is based upon 6.6% of the population with Paruresis in 1998 when the Harvard Study was completed – 17 million Americans at the time (21 million as of 2015): 

    http://dailycaller.com/2012/05/10/americans-with-disabilities-act-covers-bashful-bladder-syndrome-could-cost-employers-billions/

    Here is the EEOC determination the article is referring to - 

    https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/foia/letters/2011/ada_definition_disability.html 

    ______________
     

    Harvard Study - Social Phobia Subtypes in the National Comorbidity Study - American Journal of Psychiatry, 155:613-9, May 1998, found 6.6% of the population with Paruresis equaling 21 million Americans as of 2015.  

    Williams and Degenhart - Micturition Study in the Journal of General Psychology 51:19-29, 1954, found 14.4% of the population with Paruresis equaling 46 million Americans as of 2015.



    ------------------------------
    Bruce Pitts
    A&E HVAC Mechanical Engineering
    self
    Aiken SC
    ------------------------------