The Ontario Building Code | Showers and Bathtubs
3.8.3.13. showers and Bathtubs
(1) Except within a suite of residential occupancy, if showers are provided in a building, the number of barrier-freeshowers shall conform to Table 3.8.3.13.
Table 3.8.3.13.
Minimum Number of Barrier-Free showers
Forming Part of Sentence 3.8.3.13.(1)
| Item | Column 1 Number of showers provided in a Group | Column 2 Minimum Number of showers Required to Be Barrier-Free |
| 1. | 1 | 0 |
| 2. | 2 to 7 | 1 |
| 3. | Over 7 | 1, plus 1 for each additional increment of 7 showers in a group |
(2) A barrier-free shower required by Sentence (1) shall,
(a) be not less than 1 500 mm wide and 900 mm deep,
(b) have a clear floor space at the entrance to the shower not less than 900 mm deep and the same width as the shower, except that fixtures are permitted to project into that space provided they do not restrict access to the shower,
(c) have a slip-resistant floor surface,
(d) have a threshold that is level with the adjacent finished floor or a bevelled threshold not more than 13 mm higher than the adjacent finished floor,
(e) have a hinged seat that is not spring-loaded or a fixed seat that shall be,
(i) not less than 450 mm wide and 400 mm deep,
(ii) mounted not less than 430 mm and not more than 485 mm above the finished floor,
(iii) designed to carry a minimum load of 1.3 kN, and
(iv) located so that the edge of the seat is within 500 mm of the shower controls,
(f) have a wall mounted continuous L-shaped grab bar conforming to Sentence 3.8.3.8.(7) located on the same wall as the controls, with the horizontal component of the grab bar,
(i) mounted not more than 850 mm above the finished floor, and
(ii) located so that the end of the horizontal component is within 100 mm from the edge of the shower seat,
(g) have a pressure-equalizing or thermostatic mixing valve controlled by a lever or other device operable using a closed fist from the seated position,
(h) have a hand-held shower head with not less than 1 500 mm of flexible hose located so that it can be reached from the seated position and equipped with a support so that it can operate as a fixed shower head, and
(i) have fully recessed soap holders that can be reached from the seated position.
(3) Individual showers that are provided for use by patients or residents in buildings of Group B, Division 2 or 3 occupancy shall conform to Sentence (2).
(4) Individual bathtubs that are provided for the use of patients or residents in buildings of Group B, Division 2 or 3 occupancy shall have,
(a) faucets that have lever type handles without spring loading or that operate automatically,
(b) faucet handles that are located so as to be usable by a person seated in the bathtub,
(c) unless the bathtub is free-standing, a continuous L-shaped grab bar conforming to Sentence 3.8.3.8.(7) with 900 mm long horizontal and vertical components mounted with,
(i) the horizontal component located not less than 150 mm and not more than 200 mm above and parallel to the rim of the bathtub, and
(ii) the vertical component located not less than 300 mm and not more than 450 mm from the control end of the bathtub, and
(d) unless the bathtub is free-standing, a grab bar conforming to Sentence 3.8.3.8.(7) that is located at each end of the bathtub and is,
(i) at least 750 mm long,
(ii) mounted vertically from a point 200 mm above the rim of the bathtub, and
(iii) mounted within 150 mm from the edge of the bathtub, measured horizontally.
(5) Where a barrier-free bathtub is provided, a clear floor space at least 900 mm wide and 1 440 mm long shall be provided along the full length of the bathtub.