I have a situation were we are rewiring a pool house. In this pool house there is a panel that we had to relocate flush in the wall, the problem we might have is that it may now be in a bathroom.In this room they have install a sink and an electric toilet. The toilet has no water hookup or drainage piping. The sink drains outside and only has cold water to it. The toilet plugs into a 20 amp 240 volt outlet. Is this a bathroom?
Bathroom or not a bathroom
- Thread starter berto21
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bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: Bathroom or not a bathroom
A bathroom is defined as having a basin (sink) with one or more of the following: a tub, a toilet, or a shower.
You have a sink and a toilet, sounds like a bathroom to me!
A bathroom is defined as having a basin (sink) with one or more of the following: a tub, a toilet, or a shower.
You have a sink and a toilet, sounds like a bathroom to me!
pierre
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Re: Bathroom or not a bathroom
It looks like a bathroom, feels like a bathroom, and I bet it smells like a bathroom
Pierre
It looks like a bathroom, feels like a bathroom, and I bet it smells like a bathroom
Pierre
fishin' electrician
Senior Member
- Location
- Connecticut
Re: Bathroom or not a bathroom
The panel is permitted to be in this bathroom.
The panel is permitted to be in this bathroom.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: Bathroom or not a bathroom
I agree if this pool house is separate from the house.
renosteinke
Senior Member
- Location
- NE Arkansas
Re: Bathroom or not a bathroom
How about a GFCI breaker on the feed to the panel?
How about a GFCI breaker on the feed to the panel?
Re: Bathroom or not a bathroom
240.24(E) was used recently by our local inspector to turn down a job in a detached garage/office where a storage room that originally included the panel was converted into a bathroom. The home and garage/office was located in an addition thereby making the separate structure a dwelling unit by virtue of the zoning ordinances. The inspector required the panel to be moved to the garage wall. The argument can be made that if it is a structure built on land zoned Residential 1 it is classified as a dwelling unit. 240.24(E) also lists hotels and motels. Also see 230.70(A)(2). If the panel contains the service disconnect it "shall not be installed in bathrooms".
240.24(E) was used recently by our local inspector to turn down a job in a detached garage/office where a storage room that originally included the panel was converted into a bathroom. The home and garage/office was located in an addition thereby making the separate structure a dwelling unit by virtue of the zoning ordinances. The inspector required the panel to be moved to the garage wall. The argument can be made that if it is a structure built on land zoned Residential 1 it is classified as a dwelling unit. 240.24(E) also lists hotels and motels. Also see 230.70(A)(2). If the panel contains the service disconnect it "shall not be installed in bathrooms".
bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: Bathroom or not a bathroom
I wonder how many jurisdictions would use this interpretation over the definition of adwelling unit in the NEC? If someone puts up a small shed in the back yard, does that become a dwelling? Did the inspector require all the requirements as specified in the code like small appliance circuits, outlet sapcing, etc.. If not, how can they enforce one dwelling rule, and not another?
Re: Bathroom or not a bathroom
I didn't say you could win the argument, just that the argument can be made. If you look at the intent of the code, I believe it is to prohibit over-current devices and service disconnects in bathrooms where people live. The inspector makes the logical assumption that it would include all the bathrooms on the residential property. The code doesn't mention over-current devices in commercial property bathrooms and you see them all the time in the restrooms at Walmart. The panels in Walmart don't include the service disconnects, though and I believe their placement is code compliant. Personally, I don't see the safety issue with a panel in a bathroom that contains just a sink and toilet. I would see the problem if a shower or bathtub were also present as it would be a damp enviornment. So as it stands around here, I can install a full bathroom in my detached garage. I just can't put the panel in the bathroom. On the other side, a few years ago a local township built a new fire station. The contractor put the panel in the bathroom. Sinks, toilets and showers. The fire station had a kitchen and sleeping areas. The state inspector passed it because it wasn't classified as a dwelling. In my opinion, the same safety concerns existed in the fire station as they do in a residential dwelling. People eat, sleep and bathe there.
I didn't say you could win the argument, just that the argument can be made. If you look at the intent of the code, I believe it is to prohibit over-current devices and service disconnects in bathrooms where people live. The inspector makes the logical assumption that it would include all the bathrooms on the residential property. The code doesn't mention over-current devices in commercial property bathrooms and you see them all the time in the restrooms at Walmart. The panels in Walmart don't include the service disconnects, though and I believe their placement is code compliant. Personally, I don't see the safety issue with a panel in a bathroom that contains just a sink and toilet. I would see the problem if a shower or bathtub were also present as it would be a damp enviornment. So as it stands around here, I can install a full bathroom in my detached garage. I just can't put the panel in the bathroom. On the other side, a few years ago a local township built a new fire station. The contractor put the panel in the bathroom. Sinks, toilets and showers. The fire station had a kitchen and sleeping areas. The state inspector passed it because it wasn't classified as a dwelling. In my opinion, the same safety concerns existed in the fire station as they do in a residential dwelling. People eat, sleep and bathe there.
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