Down the rabbit hole-toilet room finish materials

[Sifu]

I consider myself a pretty fast reviewer, but sometimes I can go so deep into a rabbit hole I lose an entire day on seemingly minor issues, but ones that can often lead to phone calls from applicants as well as inspectors. Between yesterday and now I was in fairly deep on whether paint (of any kind) on GWB was an acceptable surface in a toilet room. I searched and read many threads about this on the forum spanning over a decade, and no real hard code/consensus presented itself. I finally found this, although not on the ICC interpretations list (which I am still blocked from for some reason). So I thought I would share it in the event it may save someone else from the rabbit hole.

 

[fatboy]

We have always interpretated it the same way.

 

[Paul Sweet]

I've had epoxy paint on drywall accepted for private and single-occupant restrooms.

 

[steveray]

I've had epoxy paint on drywall accepted for private and single-occupant restrooms.

There is an exception for that now...2015

1210.2.2 Walls and partitions. Walls and partitions
within 2 feet (610 mm) of service sinks, urinals and water
closets shall have a smooth, hard, nonabsorbent surface, to
a height of not less than 4 feet (1219 mm) above the floor,
and except for structural elements, the materials used in
such walls shall be of a type that is not adversely affected
by moisture.
Exception: This section does not apply to the following
buildings and spaces:
1. Dwelling units and sleeping units.
2. Toilet rooms that are not accessible to the public
and that have not more than one water closet.

 

[Sifu]

I thought about the exception. In this case, the toilet rooms are in a commercial office/showroom. They serve both employees and patrons. But even so, in my opinion there are very few toilet rooms that aren't public. If it was a toilet room in excess of the required number, that served only a private office or in a private residence I would consider it private.

 

[ADAguy]

And how often to you ding them (public) for failure to provide min. 4" coved base too?

 

[pstockert]

In an out of print publication by the ICC - question and answers to the 2009 IBC it indicates that this is up to the authority having jurisdiction to determine when Referencing epoxy painted walls.

 

[Yikes]

And how often to you ding them (public) for failure to provide min. 4" coved base too?

For coving? Never, because 2018 IBC 1209.2.1 does not require the base to be coved.

 

[Yikes]

In an out of print publication by the ICC - question and answers to the 2009 IBC it indicates that this is up to the authority having jurisdiction to determine when Referencing epoxy painted walls.

I agree with the AHJ having the final call. "Hard surface" is subjective. There are abuse-resistant drywalls available that have 5 times this impact resistance of regular drywall.

 

[JPohling]

And how often to you ding them (public) for failure to provide min. 4" coved base too?

The coved base requirement will come from the health department for a food service use.

 

[steveray]

Coved....no....but 4"

1210.2.1 Floors and wall bases. In other than dwelling
units, toilet, bathing and shower room floor finish materials
shall have a smooth, hard, nonabsorbent surface. The
intersections of such floors with walls shall have a smooth,
hard, nonabsorbent vertical base that extends upward onto
the walls not less than 4 inches (102 mm).

 

[north star]

# > # > #

Sifu, ...regarding your question of surfaces
around commercial plumbing fixtures, it has been
my experience that the actual users of the facility
should be considered.......Example, ...institutional
facilities, ...schools, ...military facilities, etc. would
[ typically ] require the surfaces to be very durable
and; for the most part, be easily cleanable.

In the military facilities that I have had access to,
both after that they were already constructed and
for proposed new facilities, it was deemed "best
practice" and very long term use [ e.g. - durability
and cleaning ], that porcelain tiles were installed
floor-to-ceiling......Some with mortar joints, some
without........Recently, in a command center, there
was a remodel of some men's & women's restrooms.
The choice was made by the RDP's and approved by
Leadership, to use some material akin to ceramic floor
tile strips, floor-to-ceiling.

Just sayin', ...the end users should be considered.

# < # < #

 

[my250r11]

I agree with the AHJ having the final call. "Hard surface" is subjective. There are abuse-resistant drywalls available that have 5 times this impact resistance of regular drywall.

Installed many sheets of this in school halls & classrooms at the first 4ft because kids like to kick, run into, push into, etc.

Maybe epoxy paint but not good ol' latex. We generally require at least FRP.

 

[Yikes]

Installed many sheets of this in school halls & classrooms at the first 4ft because kids like to kick, run into, push into, etc.

Maybe epoxy paint but not good ol' latex. We generally require at least FRP.

I've done epoxy paint in restrooms that's been a very hard surface. I had one project where a person tried to draw on it with a ballpoint pen. They made one line, then the broken pen was laying on the floor - - the ball had popped in, yet the epoxy remained intact, not even a scratch.

 

[my250r11]

I've done epoxy paint in restrooms that's been a very hard surface. I had one project where a person tried to draw on it with a ballpoint pen. They made one line, then the broken pen was laying on the floor - - the ball had popped in, yet the epoxy remained intact, not even a scratch.

I have not seen it used for interior walls, thus the maybe . If they can show something like you mention or a small spray out for test, I probably would approve the use. I have had contractors on multiple occasions try to get off with latex paint. That's a hard no here.

 

[Sifu]

A while back I was called by an upset restaurant owner who had failed an inspection by the health department (not the building department!) after passing their building final. They had put some sort of fancy, tree bark looking wall covering in their toilet rooms. It was deeply textured, lots of crevices...imagine a heavy tree bark, but made of plastic. Of course it was special order, very expensive and came from some foreign land. I visited the site and agreed with the inspector. It did not meet the requirements. Why didn't anyone tell her before? she passionately pleaded. I had done the plan review and was now concerned I had approved it...but, upon checking, tile was shown on the plans. Now I make sure to check every time.