The Size of a Standing Corner Shower Stall

Origins

• Homeowners and designers have free rein in planning corner shower stalls with large areas. However, when including smaller facilities, they bump into limitations imposed by building regulations. These codes guarantee that installations remain functional, safe and durable for a long time. Most local and state jurisdictions in the U.S. base their rules on the International Residential Code. The International Code Council developed and continually updates this document, along with other related documents such as the International Plumbing Code and the International Property Maintenance Code.

Basics

• The 2012 IRC requires corner shower compartments to have a minimum interior of 900 square inches as measured in the finished areas. The minimum length from one wall to the opposite one must be 30 inches, not counting showerheads, built-in soap dishes or other fixtures. These measurements start at the top of the threshold and continue up to a height of 70 inches above the shower drain. Any shower doors must swing outward, and any built-in fold-up seats must not lessen the dimensions when folded up. Corner units with at least 1,300 square inches can have a minimum dimension of 25 inches.

Receptors

• Receptors, more commonly called shower pans, consist of the shower floor plus any surrounding thresholds and molded-in curbs. Such curbs must be a minimum of 1 inch below the sides and back of the receptor, and between two-to-nine inches above the drain. The floor must slope toward the drain by 2 percent to 4 percent. The receptor needs a lining of lead, copper, plastic, hot mopping or other waterproof membrane that extends at least two inches beyond and around the jambs, and 2 inches above the finished threshholds.

Prefabs

• Prefabricated corner shower stall will automatically meet most building codes, while dropping easily into a designated space. They can start as small as 32 inches square with a height of nearly 80 inches, including glass doors, shelves and tower bars, but not including valves or showerheads. Installers can also fabricate stalls by joining two prefabricated walls, sized from 35.25 inches square and 71.25 inches high. They can then add an appropriately sized shower pan, and doors.