Do we have a bathroom here?

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I heard tell once of a swan that walked and talked like a duck, at least early in its life. The fact that its ?siblings? and neighbors didn?t care for its appearance had no real influence on the question of whether or not it was a duck.

As for the notion of washing one?s hands in the laundry sink, that does not change the fact that the laundry sink?s chief purpose is related to the washing machine. Please note that the two definitions presented thus far (I posted one and so did Chris) used the terms ?chiefly? and ?especially? in a context that does not allow for the inclusion of a laundry sink.
 
As I said earlier.......it is the intended use of the room that governs the intent of the code. What is there to argue about? A shower in the room means that someone will 'bathe' or 'shower' in this room. Some of you are so hung up on words and you can't see what the code is really addressing!
THINK!!!
Be realistic!
Get on with it.
By the way, the code does not prohibit putting a laundry in a bathroom, which way do you look at that? THE MOST RESTRICTIVE SHALL APPLY.
 
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earshavewalls said:
As I said earlier.......it is the intended use of the room that governs the intent of the code. What is there to argue about? A shower in the room means that someone will 'bathe' or 'shower' in this room. Some of you are so hung up on words and you can't see what the code is really addressing!
THINK!!!
Be realistic!
Get on with it.
By the way, the code does not prohibit putting a laundry in a bathroom, which way do you look at that? THE MOST RESTRICTIVE SHALL APPLY.

I see no where in the code where it mentions that anyone is entitled to make his or her own determination as to what the intent of the code is, and adhere to that interpretation, rather than what it actually says.
 
cowboyjwc said:
The original poster did not say it was a wash tub. He said that it was a laundry sink.

Out here nobody puts in those big old deep free standing sinks like my grandmother used to have. They usually use the same type that are installed in bathrooms.

I like the walks like a duck and talks like a duck compairison. We all know that the room is used to wash up in prior to coming into the house. Sounds like a bathroom to me.

If he had meant it was a typical bathroom sink why did he call it a laundry sink? I agree one can wash their hands in a laundry sink. They could also wash their hands in a bath tub. That does not make a bath tub a basin or a sink.
 
90-4 The authority having jurisdiction for enforcement of the Code has the responsibility for making interpretations of the rules.....

Awhile back we had this same argument over weather a closet was part of a bedroom or if a closet made it a bedroom. It's up to the local AHJ to decide, unless it is spcifically spelled out in the Code.

Here in CA the Building Standards Commission has told us which edition of Websters dictionary we are to use if there is a dispute as to a definition.
 
cowboyjwc said:
Here in CA the Building Standards Commission has told us which edition of Websters dictionary we are to use if there is a dispute as to a definition.

So what does that version of Webster's say a basin is?
 
I can't imagine making the arguement that the sink is not a basin and therefore this is not a bathroom, myself , but to each his own.
 
Suppose the intent of the shower is to hang large items in and clean them, like raincoats? Sort of a domestic parts washer. Just don't have a soap and washcloth tray in there, and obviously it wouldnt be fit for man nor beast.
 
1. Basin: an open circular vessel or dish with sloping or curving sides and wider that it's depth used typically for holding water for washing

2. Sink: a stationary basin or a cabinet with a basin connected with a drain and usually a water supply for washing and drainage

Webster's Third New INternational Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged
 
LawnGuyLandSparky said:
Suppose the intent of the shower is to hang large items in and clean them, like raincoats? Sort of a domestic parts washer. Just don't have a soap and washcloth tray in there, and obviously it wouldnt be fit for man nor beast.

What if there is a faucet? It becomes a shower no matter what the intended use.
 
Frankly this sounds like what we call a mudroom. An entrance from the outside, garage, or similar for muddy people to enter the house by. They strip down and use either the basin or the shower to rinse the worst of the filth off their clothes, and shoes, and then toss them directly into the washer. Then they take a shower.

A mudroom is basically a laundry/bathroom combination. The sink is deepened to allow rinsing out clothes as well as hands.

Were I the AHJ I would enforce the rules as a combination laundry AND bathroom unless the HO provided a compelling argument otherwise.

EDIT: Of course, I think I may have read in someplace that there were hookups in the room.
 
cowboyjwc said:
1. Basin: an open circular vessel or dish with sloping or curving sides and wider that it's depth used typically for holding water for washing.
Should that be than?

So it is not a basin if any of the following is true (at least in your neck of the woods):

It is not circular
It does not have curving or sloping sides
Its not wider than its depth
Its not typically used for holding water for washing

It sounds to me like that definition would exclude your typical laundry sink by all four measures.
 
OK let me try to understand,you just took a shower and now want to wash your hands.Something is crazy here..My thinking says it has nothing to do with the shower.The hazard here might be electric within in reach of a sink but i dont see a hazard greater than if this was a kitchen or a hose bib next to an outside panel.Let me open the can,can i put a panel rain tight inside a shower room only stall ?Back up that no way with code.
 
To Clarify

To Clarify

This room has the following items in it:

1. Service Panel
2. Big deep two hole laundry sink like your grandmother used to have
3. Washer and Dryer
4. Water Heater
5. Shower
5. Water Softner

It is in the basement and has one door only.

Al
 
Post content deleted as it was utter garbage and added nothing to the thread apart from illustrating that I cant read. Kudos to petersonra for helping me to notice this.
 
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Mass State Sanitary Code 105 CMR 410.

410.150: Washbasins, Toilets, Tubs, and Showers
The owner shall provide no less than the following:
(A) For each dwelling unit:
(1) A toilet with a toilet seat in a room which is not used for living, sleeping, cooking or eating purposes and which affords privacy to a person within said room.
(2) A wash basin in the same room as the toilet, or if the wash basin cannot be placed in the same room as the toilet, it shall be placed in close proximity to the door leading directly into the room in which the toilet is located. The kitchen sink may not be substituted for the wash basin required in 105 CMR 410.150(A).
(3) A bathtub or shower in the same room as the toilet or in another room which is not used for living, sleeping, cooking or eating purposes and which affords privacy to a person within said room.
(4) Each room which contains a toilet, bathtub or shower shall be fitted with a door which is capable of being closed.

They seem to make a distinction between "sink" and "basin", so I guess we can too .
 
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