Minimum plumbing fixture? for a "M" occupancy under the IPC.

[JPohling]

We are getting more and more projects in Ohio using the 2017 OPC based upon the 2015 IPC. I have a conundrum that I cannot seem to find the correct answer. These projects are "M" mercantile stores with an occupant load of just under 50 and always less than 99.

Table 403.1 under "M" mercantile has a (f.) notation leading to this:

f. Mercantile occupancies are not required to provide customer facilities when the occupant load is 50 or less.

But the code section for separate facilities 403.2 states. Separate facilities shall not be required in mercantile occupancies in which the maximum occupant load is 100 or fewer.

The thing that worries me a little is (f.) that states under 50 occupants then we are not required to provide customer facilities, so over 50 we would have to provide separate facilities for employee and customer. But Separate men's and women's facilities are not required until over 100 occupants.

So the way I read it, is if we are indeed under 50, then we can use a single occupancy toilet, no urinal required. But if we are over 50 then the way I read it is we would need separate unisex restrooms one for employees and one for customers.

Any thoughts?

 

[RLGA]

Apparently, the 'f' footnote is an Ohio amendment; thus, the IBC Commentary does not address this specific situation.

However, I would tend to agree with your interpretation.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

over 50 we would have to provide separate facilities for employee and customer

That's very odd. I wonder why the employees and customers can't share the same facilities? Can the employees walk through a customer restroom to reach the employee restroom? If they are allowed you just need a partition between them.

 

[SH225]

What I get out of this is that Separate Facilities are described in 403.2 as separate for each sex. At greater than 50 occupants you have to make your toilets available to customers. At greater than 100 occupants you have to provide separate facilities for each sex. It’s two different things.

 

[RLGA]

What I get out of this is that Separate Facilities are described in 403.2 as separate for each sex. At greater than 50 occupants you have to make your toilets available to customers. At greater than 100 occupants you have to provide separate facilities for each sex. It’s two different things.

That is what the OP described as their interpretation, and what I believed to be the correct interpretation; so it appears to be the consensus here.

 

[SH225]

That is what the OP described as their interpretation, and what I believed to be the correct interpretation; so it appears to be the consensus here.

OP said separate unisex restrooms, one for employees and one for customers. I’m saying it’s separate for each sex, not separate for employees and customers. Separate unisex rooms is not what the code means by separate.

 

[RLGA]

OP said separate unisex restrooms, one for employees and one for customers. I’m saying it’s separate for each sex, not separate for employees and customers. Separate unisex rooms is not what the code means by separate.

That is incorrect. The footnote refers to customer facilities and not separate facilities (male-female). Separate facilities are required when the occupant load exceeds 100. So under 100 occupants, they only need to provide a unisex toilet. They only need to provide a unisex toilet for employees if the occupant load is 50 or less per the state amendment. Thus, if the occupant load is between 51 and 100, they need to provide at least a unisex toilet for customers. This public unisex could be used for the employees, too, but they could provide a separate unisex toilet for the employees. If the occupant load exceeds 100, then they must provide separate men’s and women’s toilets. These can be used by the employees if they do not provide separate facilities for them.

 

[SH225]

That is incorrect. The footnote refers to customer facilities and not separate facilities (male-female). Separate facilities are required when the occupant load exceeds 100. So under 100 occupants, they only need to provide a unisex toilet. They only need to provide a unisex toilet for employees if the occupant load is 50 or less per the state amendment. Thus, if the occupant load is between 51 and 100, they need to provide at least a unisex toilet for customers. This public unisex could be used for the employees, too, but they could provide a separate unisex toilet for the employees. If the occupant load exceeds 100, then they must provide separate men’s and women’s toilets. These can be used by the employees if they do not provide separate facilities for them.

OP stated, “over 50 occupants we would have to provide separate facilities for employee and customer.” I don’t agree with that.

 

[RLGA]

OP stated, “over 50 occupants we would have to provide separate facilities for employee and customer.” I don’t agree with that.

If they provide an employee-only restroom, yes. If they provide a customer unisex restroom that the employees can use, too, then, no, they are not required to provide separate employee and customer restrooms (IBC Section 2902.3).

 

[SH225]

If they provide an employee-only restroom, yes. If they provide a customer unisex restroom that the employees can use, too, then, no, they are not required to provide separate employee and customer restrooms (IBC Section 2902.3).

My point is I disagree with OP’s stated interpretation of the code requirement.

 

[RLGA]

My point is I disagree with OP’s stated interpretation of the code requirement.

I see now where you are coming from. Are they required to have separate employee and customer toilets? No.

But if they provide an employee-only toilet, then they would be required to provide a customer toilet if the occupant load is over 50.

 

[JPohling]

My point is I disagree with OP’s stated interpretation of the code requirement.

I do not see any other way for it to be interpreted. If you have 75 occupants what are you required to provide? separate facilities for customers and employees, but not separate mens and womens facilities as it is less than 100 occupants. So, two individual gender neutral restrooms, one for employees and one for customers. If you have 49 occupants what are you required to provide? a single gender neutral restroom.

 

[JPohling]

Building official in Ohio indicated that there is nothing in the code to preclude you from using the same single occupancy restroom to satisfy both employee and customers as long as the route to access is not thru a restricted area. That is what I was hoping for, but no clear code language makes it confusing.

 

[ccollings]

Building official in Ohio indicated that there is nothing in the code to preclude you from using the same single occupancy restroom to satisfy both employee and customers as long as the route to access is not thru a restricted area. That is what I was hoping for, but no clear code language makes it confusing.

as an architect in Ohio is can tell you that you are never required to provide separate facilities for employees and customers. if you have an occupancy less than 50, then you still need to provide a restroom but it can be employee only. if you have an occupancy less than 100 then you need to provide a customer restroom and it can be unisex. occupancy over 100 then you need to provide separate mens and womens restrooms.