Is there a code definition of "compartment" (toilet or urinal)?

[Yikes]

I know there are different requirements in ADAS / 11B-600 for toilet "compartments" vs toilet "rooms". Likewise CBC 11B has additional clearance requirements for urinals that are in compartments. But I don't see a 202 definition of "compartment" or what makes it different than a "room".
I have a coworker who thinks a single-user restroom is a type of "compartment", even though there are no other partitions in the room.

Is there any explicit, prescriptive code guidance on what constitutes a "Compartment"?

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

I don't know of any code definition. It's one of those common sense things that nobody would ever think someone could muck it up.

No definition on the IPC.

A117.1 addresses toilet rooms in section 603, and toilet compartments in section 604. The 2010 ADAS is the same. That might be a clue.

 

[arwat23]

It looks like it's a plumbing code definition. DSA makes reference to the CPC in one of their advisories (see image)


Privacy Compartment. [BSC & DSA-SS] A compartment enclosing a water closet or urinal provided with floor-to-ceiling pre-manufactured panels, continuous brackets at abutting panels, and a floor-to-ceiling door with continuous hinges and full height astragals. Privacy compartments may also be constructed with full-height walls and door with head jamb casing.

If you want to go outside of code (since CBC doesn't have an explicit definition), Merriam Webster defines "compartment" as "a separate division or section; one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided".

 

[Yikes]

It looks like it's a plumbing code definition. DSA makes reference to the CPC in one of their advisories (see image)
View attachment 15146

Privacy Compartment. [BSC & DSA-SS] A compartment enclosing a water closet or urinal provided with floor-to-ceiling pre-manufactured panels, continuous brackets at abutting panels, and a floor-to-ceiling door with continuous hinges and full height astragals. Privacy compartments may also be constructed with full-height walls and door with head jamb casing.

If you want to go outside of code (since CBC doesn't have an explicit definition), Merriam Webster defines "compartment" as "a separate division or section; one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided".

The additional information is great, but this generates more questions about the use of the terms "compartment" vs. "privacy compartment".
The definition in the CPC for "privacy compartment" is pre-manufactured partitions that go "floor-to-ceiling".
There is no CBC or CPC definition for just plain ol' "compartment", but when you look at CBC Fig. 11B-604.8.1.4, the partition clearly can't go down to the floor, because it shows toe clearance provided under the partition.
The DSA Advisory seems to focus the discussion on multi-user restrooms, but CPC definition of "privacy compartment" makes no qualifier on whether it applies only to multi-user or also to single user. It further states that a privacy compartment may be made of conventional wall construction.
Architects often use the word "partition" colloquially to refer to stud wall construction.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

California now recognizes/allows (if I'm not mistaken) multi-gender, multi-user toilet rooms. Do those require "privacy compartments," in order to prevent pervs from slipping mirrors or cameras under the compartment divider panels?

 

[Yikes]

California now recognizes/allows (if I'm not mistaken) multi-gender, multi-user toilet rooms. Do those require "privacy compartments," in order to prevent pervs from slipping mirrors or cameras under the compartment divider panels?

Yes, I believe that is the intent of the regs. However, due to lack of definition of "compartment" (see post #4), there are people thinking that a single accommodation toilet room (1 lav, 1 wc, 1 urinal) is a type of "compartment".
If "yes" then the centerline of urinal needs to be 18" away from side wall.
If "no" then urinal only needs to be 15" away form side wall.

I'm working on retrofitting an existing small bathroom, masonry walls on 4 sides. Every inch would help.

 

[arwat23]

The additional information is great, but this generates more questions about the use of the terms "compartment" vs. "privacy compartment".
The definition in the CPC for "privacy compartment" is pre-manufactured partitions that go "floor-to-ceiling".
There is no CBC or CPC definition for just plain ol' "compartment", but when you look at CBC Fig. 11B-604.8.1.4, the partition clearly can't go down to the floor, because it shows toe clearance provided under the partition.

Fair points. In that case, I'd say a "compartment" could, by common definition, be anything closed off from another space. Not very explicit, I know...

Lets say for the sake of argument that any space that's separated from another space can be considered a compartment. A "room" is a "compartment". 11B-604.8, 11B-605.1, and 11B-605.5 state a distinction between a compartment with one plumbing fixture and one with multiple plumbing fixtures. With one fixture, you need to comply with different sections than if there were multiple fixtures in the compartment.

For example, if a urinal is in a "compartment" (in this example, it could be a room) by itself, it needs to comply with 11B-605.1 through 11B-605.5 only. If it's in a "compartment" with other plumbing fixtures, it needs to comply with 11B-603 and 11B-605.1 through 11B-605.4 (but not 11B-605.5).

Essentially, the only thing that makes a difference is the number of fixtures in the "compartment". Your co-worker is technically correct when it comes to terminology, but the sections that apply to a compartment with more than one fixture (a single-user toilet room) are different than what you (and I) probably think of when we think of the word "compartment" (only one fixture).

If you co-worker is saying you need to comply with 11B-605.5 for a single-user toilet room, they're wrong.
(Edited for code reference corrections)

 

[arwat23]

Yes, I believe that is the intent of the regs. However, due to lack of definition of "compartment" (see post #4), there are people thinking that a single accommodation toilet room (1 lav, 1 wc, 1 urinal) is a type of "compartment".
If "yes" then the centerline of urinal needs to be 18" away from side wall.
If "no" then urinal only needs to be 15" away form side wall.

I'm working on retrofitting an existing small bathroom, masonry walls on 4 sides. Every inch would help.

Continuing off my previous response, yes, it can be called a compartment (based on the dictionary definition). However, the requirements are different since there are multiple plumbing fixtures within the room / compartment.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

I have a coworker who thinks a single-user restroom is a type of "compartment", even though there are no other partitions in the room.

Is there any explicit, prescriptive code guidance on what constitutes a "Compartment"?

In my opinion, your colleague is taking something that has been universally understood for more than 50 years and generating unnecessary confusion. Bottom line: He's wrong. If he were correct, the codes would not have provisions for "single-occupant toilet rooms," "unisex toilet rooms," or "family-assisted toilet rooms." They would all be "compartments."

 

[bill1952]

So does the presence of a lav make it a room but if just a toilet or just a urinal it's a compartment?

 

[arwat23]

So does the presence of a lav make it a room but if just a toilet or just a urinal it's a compartment?

Yes, essentially. That's how I read my state's code.

If the lav and toilet are not separated by an enclosure of some sort, it's a "toilet room". If they are separated, then it's a "compartment".

 

[bill1952]

And can a toilet only compartment be "toilet partitions" or be stud walks and either touch the floor or not and touch the ceiling or not? Other than HVAC concerns, I believe handled separately, just trying to understand.

FWIW, I've seen restrooms labeled for "both sex and all genders" with toilet compartments with traditional partitions and with full height walls, and lavs in a common area.

 

[arwat23]

And can a toilet only compartment be "toilet partitions" or be stud walks and either touch the floor or not and touch the ceiling or not? Other than HVAC concerns, I believe handled separately, just trying to understand.

A stud wall or floor-to-ceiling paneling can be used for compartments. Really, anything that physically separates and encloses the toilet from all other plumbing fixtures would make the space the toilet is in a "compartment". Our plumbing code actually references this. See #3 above. Although in CPC (amended UPC), they refer to it as "privacy compartments". But the word "compartment" is there, so there's that at least.

FWIW, I've seen restrooms labeled for "both sex and all genders" with toilet compartments with traditional partitions and with full height walls, and lavs in a common area.

California just allowed this sort of design ("multi-user all-gender facilities" as our code so eloquently puts it) in the supplemental changes we got in July last year. I've seen those in a few places here and there before then, but now it's "officially" allowed in the state.

 

[bill1952]

Still unclear of what code requires regarding the partitions extending to the floor or stopping short of the floor.

 

[arwat23]

Still unclear of what code requires regarding the partitions extending to the floor or stopping short of the floor.

It depends on the width of the compartment.

CBC 11B-604.8.1.4 requires toe clearance at an accessible compartment if the between 60" and 66" wide (stopping short of the floor). If wider than 66", no toe clearance is required.

CBC 11B-605.5.4 requires toe clearance at accessible urinal compartments (although 11B-605.5.2 seems to indicate that the 66" exception above also apply here).

If the compartment is less than 66" wide, you CANNOT have a partition that extends to the floor. If the compartment is greater than 66" wide, you CAN have a partition extend to the floor.

 

[bill1952]

It depends on the width of the compartment.

CBC 11B-604.8.1.4 requires toe clearance at an accessible compartment if the between 60" and 66" wide (stopping short of the floor). If wider than 66", no toe clearance is required.

CBC 11B-605.5.4 requires toe clearance at accessible urinal compartments (although 11B-605.5.2 seems to indicate that the 66" exception above also apply here).

If the compartment is less than 66" wide, you CANNOT have a partition that extends to the floor. If the compartment is greater than 66" wide, you CAN have a partition extend to the floor.

Thank you. Accessibility issues.