Thread: Toilet room requirements

Preparing to remodel master bath and would like to add a separate toilet room. The interior of the room will be 36" wide by 52" long. When the door to the room is closed, will have more than the required 20" clear space in front of the toilet. Do we also need to consider the clear space when the door swings open? Thanks.

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Originally Posted by Eileen Emison

Preparing to remodel master bath and would like to add a separate toilet room. The interior of the room will be 36" wide by 52" long. When the door to the room is closed, will have more than the required 20" clear space in front of the toilet. Do we also need to consider the clear space when the door swings open? Thanks.

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How wide is the door, would it hit the toilet when opened or just the legs of the user?
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Because we have a member of this board who cannot read, or does not care to read, or simply tries to degrade everyone he can, be forewarned of a poster named Watson, I will post the various editions of the ICC IRC code, although NONE may be specifically applicable to your area as your area may have amendments/deletions to/from the base code posted below.

(bold and underlining are mine)
2012 IRC:
- SECTION P2705 INSTALLATION
- - P2705.1 General.
- - - The installation of fixtures shall conform to the following:
- - - - 5. Water closets, lavatories and bidets. A water closet, lavatory or bidet shall not be set closer than 15 inches (381 mm) from its center to any side wall, partition or vanity or closer than 30 inches (762 mm) center-to-center between adjacent fixtures. There shall be a clearance of not less than 21 inches (533 mm) in front of a water closet, lavatory or bidet to any wall, fixture or door.

2009 IRC:
- SECTION P2705 INSTALLATION
- - P2705.1 General. The installation of fixtures shall conform to the following:
- - - 5. Water closets, lavatories and bidets. A water closet, lavatory or bidet shall not be set closer than 15 inches (381 mm) from its center to any side wall, partition or vanity or closer than 30 inches (762 mm) center-to-center between adjacent fixtures. There shall be at least a 21-inch (533 mm) clearance in front of the water closet, lavatory or bidet to any wall, fixture or door.

2006 IRC:
- SECTION P2705 INSTALLATION
- - P2705.1 General.
- - - The installation of fixtures shall conform to the following:
- - - - 5. The centerline of water closets or bidets shall not be less than 15 inches (381 mm) from adjacent walls or partitions or not less than 15 inches (381 mm) from the centerline of a bidet to the outermost rim of an adjacent water closet. There shall be at least 21 inches (533 mm) clearance in front of the water closet, bidet or lavatory to any wall, fixture or door.

As shown above, and even Watson should be able to read and comprehend what is stated in all of the above, is that a minimum of 21" clearance is required in front of the water closet (toilet).

Being as that required minimum clearance is for usability access, no, the clearance is not to the door during its swing, the clearance is to the door closed as the door will be, will mostly likely be, closed when the water closet is in use.

It is a terrible shame to make such a simple answer so complicated just because of one Watson person not being able to read and understand what is written.

It is such a shame, that Watson or no Watson, I will forgo these types of over complicating types of posts and just let Watson rant and rave because of his lack of reading and comprehension skills.

Eileen, my apologies for having to have made this so complicated just to try to avoid the like of Watson's rantings and ravings. Again, my apologies for having had to do this type of post.