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Gender Neutral Restrooms

A facility is a space where plumbing fixtures are located. A separate facility is required for each sex. 403.3 states, in part "The number of plumbing fixtures located within the required toilet facilities shall be provided..." Private fixture compartments for both sexes within the same facility (room) do not meet current code, IMHO.

GPE
 
Key word "current" however based on state laws (which often differ) AHJ's are free to approve alternate M & M's.
The other key word in the future will be "cost". Ganged unisex "facilities" will be more costly given the seperate ventilation required for each stall. Square footage will also have to be increased/or not?

At least 2021 is attempting to address this.
 
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I find it very interesting about how people's buttons really get pushed over this topic. A lot of deep seated beliefs are being tapped to cause FEAR to come out. Folks, these are transitioning times and everyone has got to keep there wits about this topic. It wasn't too long ago that there was discrimination concerning women's and "colored" toilet rooms. We learned to adapt through that and now we will learn to adapt in this phase.

I am neither for or against any concept as I believe that this is a free country where the masses have the right for self determination by consensus voting. If you are on one side or the other, get involved in the voting processes and have your voices heard. But once the vote is made, accept the decision even though you might personally disagree with it.

FYI, the 2021 IPC will allow for non-gendered, multi-user toilet facilities.
 
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How do you assure "potty parity" in a gender-neutral restroom in an assembly occupancy? Is it first come, first served, or do women get dibs on 2/3 of the WCs?
 
HF - I find it very interesting that if one disagrees with another on a topic, the accusation of FEAR, in capital letters, is attributed to the opposing view. Interesting...You say you are neither for or against any concept yet, you appear to attribute FEAR to one of the concepts. Forgive me if I am mistaken but, that is how it appears to me.
GPE
 
GPE, I didn't mean to say all opposing views are the result of fear...but in some cases it seems to be the only thing that is blocking rational thought on how to accomodate what the populous seems to want. MTL's diatribe is just one example of arguments that seem to be based in fear (IMHO). I have spoke to MANY individuals on this topic from all over the country ...some are so resistant to these ideas but can't rationally and simply explain why they are resistant. One individual (not on this forum) said: "I asked my wife what she thought about men being in the same toilet facility as women and she she said that she didn't think that was "right". Therefore, we shouldn't have non gendered, multi-user toilet facilities."

My thought is: If we can send men to the moon, why can't we design "safe" toilet facilities where any person, regardless of "gender" can relieve themselves without any stigma about how one looks or acts while doing so. It takes rational thought for good design...this is no different than providing good design for accessibility needs. The populous needs design professionals to serve their needs. This is already happening in many jurisdictions so there is a wealth of experience to draw from to refine the designs. Then write good code to make the features a universal design.
 
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Not all of them, only a percentage.
1109.2 Toilet and Bathing Facilities
Each toilet room and bathing room shall be accessible. Where a floor level is not required to be connected by an accessible route, the only toilet rooms or bathing rooms provided within the facility shall not be located on the inaccessible floor. Except as provided for in Sections 1109.2.2 and 1109.2.3, at least one of each type of fixture, element, control or dispenser in each accessible toilet room and bathing room shall be accessible.
Exceptions:
...
3. Where multiple single-user toilet rooms or bathing rooms are clustered at a single location, at least 50 percent but not less than one room for each use at each cluster shall be accessible.
...​
 
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tmurray said "Separate or together. Why do I care?"
Why? Because the code (2012) clearly states that they be separate. No personal opinion is expressed here. If anyone here wants to go to another country and poop in a communal pit, it is nothing to me, but our code prohibits it, at least, for now. When the code changes, I will enforce that change. I just won't let my 14 year old daughter use public restrooms.

GPE
Just not a hill I'm going to die on.
 
some are so resistant to these ideas but can't rationally and simply explain why they are resistant.

Can you give a rational and simple explanation for why a male should be able to use a female restroom, locker room, etc and vice versus?

When you stand for nothing, you fall for everything.
 
MT, Thats the point, they are not female restrooms. They are individual private rooms available to anyone to use. If these are private rooms I do not see your concern. No one is proposing shared dressing areas in locker rooms. If they did once again they would be private dressing rooms or private shower rooms. Changing rooms in stores are not always segregated. usually just a bank of partition enclosures for anyone that needs to try on some clothes can use.
 
Anyone seen, or remember the Ally McBeal series that aired between 1997 and 2002? First time I saw gender neutral toilet facilities. Codes are just now catching up?
 
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