Thread: Help me out on this question..bathroom fan

On an inspection right now and looknig for some help. Is an exhaust fan required by code in the bathroom, if the bathroom has an operable window? I am in a modern house and found the exhaust fan for the master bathroom lying in the attic. The installer never cut a hole in the bathroom ceiling for the fan. The fan, duct and electrical are all lying in the attic, however not installed in the bathroom below. The bathroom does have an operable window.Is an exhaust fan required by code in the bathroom, if the bathroom has an operable window?

Thanks

Gene

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Originally Posted by Gene South

On an inspection right now and looknig for some help. Is an exhaust fan required by code in the bathroom, if the bathroom has an operable window? I am in a modern house and found the exhaust fan for the master bathroom lying in the attic. The installer never cut a hole in the bathroom ceiling for the fan. The fan, duct and electrical are all lying in the attic, however not installed in the bathroom below. The bathroom does have an operable window.Is an exhaust fan required by code in the bathroom, if the bathroom has an operable window?

Thanks

Gene

Mr. South: Not required with operable window.

Someone will post the official rules, but I believe an operating window is all that is required, or at least that is how I have always treated it.

Why not indicate that the bathroom ventilation fan appears to be improperly installed? Or, just write what you see, and let your client address it with the builder. Either way, it makes one wonder about the quality of the rest of the house.

Mr. South: Not required with operable window.Today 10:37 AM"Mr. South: Not required with operable window."

Yes,but
Window must also have a screen installed.

"

R303.3 Bathrooms.

Bathrooms, water closet compartments
and other similar rooms shall be provided with aggregate glazing
area in windows of not less than 3 square feet (0.3 m2),
one-half of which must be openable.

Exception:

The glazed areas shall not be requiredwhere artificial
light and a mechanical ventilation system are provided.
Theminimumventilation rates shall be 50 cubic feet perminute
(24 L/s) for intermittent ventilation or 20 cubic feet per
minute (10 L/s) for continuous ventilation. Ventilation air

from the space shall be exhausted directly to the outside.

Gene you got your answer, but if that was my report, it would call for the builder to install the fan, which apparently was in the plan but forgotten at beer time.

The builder's warranty should cover it and it is a standard we expect to see in a new home.

Mr. South: You said this is a master bathroom. Does it have a separate water closet compartment? Where is the operable window located? Where is the fan to have been installed?

I am asking these questions because, in my experience a fan is required in the bathroom and in the water closet compartment even if they are not separated by a door. If the window is in one of those areas, a fan is requried in the other.

Hi Elliot, the master bath did not have a separate water closet, just a half-wall partition separting the toilet. Thanks to all for the input.

Gene