• Welcome to The Building Code Forum

    Your premier resource for building code knowledge.

    This forum remains free to the public thanks to the generous support of our Sawhorse Members and Corporate Sponsors. Their contributions help keep this community thriving and accessible.

    Want enhanced access to expert discussions and exclusive features? Learn more about the benefits here.

    Ready to upgrade? Log in and upgrade now.

2 inches you wan me to move the sink 2 inches

TheCommish

SAWHORSE
Joined
Sep 27, 2011
Messages
2,123
Location
Charlton Ma
So the local restaurateur wanted to open a frozen yogurt shop, came in 6 months ago with 8x11 conceptual plans, met with me and the town planer about the site and process. We explained the process, for existing building tenant rehab and fit out.

They (not me) held up the permit for months while they submitted stuff (calling them plans would be a stretch) and I kept reviewing and commenting, hired bunch of less than stellar non-Rotarian subs, stared demo without permits, then demo the ceiling in the gable roof contrary to plans structurally compromised the roof and on and on it goes…

So yesterday during the fire and sprinkler commissioning test I look over the building and find the public bathroom sinks 36 inches to the rim, the gabs bars in the wrong location and smooth win a bunch of other problems.

This is the e-mail I sent the owner

Sprinkler and alarms test out correctly

Alarm final reports due

Certificate of completion and building permit missing

Need signatures on reissued CO

Needs

Floor drain raised to finish floor height and grouted in

Front entrance complete, head room issue

Bathroom signs incorrectly placed and need Brail

Sinks at 36” above floor need to be 34 max

Grab bar at toilets incorrect

Link to AAB public toilet rooms

http://www.mass.gov/eopss/docs/dps/aab-regs/521030.pdf

his answer

Curt

All the issues above will be fixed but my only concern is the vanities.

Are you asking that we move them down 2 inches? This would require us to have the plumber come back and a re inspection on the Inspector's part. We have read through the 521 CMR . We see that it has the 34 inches but would it be possible if we had a simple ramp built under the sink to raise it up to the 2 inches that we need ?

We are really looking into opening before you leave on vacation.

Please let us know what other options we may have.

Thank you for all your help.

The answer I really want to give

If you had hired competent English speaking designers, subs and general contractor and keep to ruining your sushi restaurant, we would have been done 3 months ago. Instead your hired a ghost for and RDP, your buddies that don’t know what they are doing let alone even looked at the plans or codes, expect me to run the job for you then give you break, forget it, see you in 3 weeks when I have time to sort this mess out.

The answer I gave

The code requires them to be moved down 2 inches, you could lower them more as long as you provide the proper space under them.

The proposed ramp would cause more problems with the floor slope requirements then you could deal with in the space you have to work with.

thanks for listening:D :banghd
 
Well, he could build up the floors 2" inside and outside the restrooms, provide a ramp, and hope the restroom door frames are 7' tall so he can just shave the doors 2" and raise the bathroom signs the same height as the floor. Otherwise, he can raise the door frames and headers. Seems like it might be easier to lower the sinks; but what do I know?
 
Typical job run by someone who is trying to save money by not hiring experienced, qualified contractors. No sympathy at all, seen it too many times. Then they want special concessions by the BO and/or the AHJ.
 
we inspected a school 2 years ago.. at final (Friday) EVERY sink was set at 36" (and this was a huge school.. maybe 200 lavs).. noted it and went back Monday... every sink was set at 34".. 70 plumbers working all weekend.. sometimes it JUST sucks to do it wrong.

All the tile was fixed too.. another 70 tile setters, I guess.
 
Back
Top