What is the Minimum Floor Space Needed for a Stall Shower?

Regulations

• Minimum spaces needed for stall showers are specified in local building codes, which are based on the International Residential Code (IRC). The International Code Council created this set of construction standards in 1994 from a mix of codes that duplicated and sometimes contradicted each other. The stated vision of the council is to “protect the health, safety and welfare of people by creating safe building and communities.” The council does so with several building rule books including the International Building Code, the International Fire Code and the International Plumbing Code.

Basics

• The IRC states that shower compartments need at least 300 square inches of finished interior cross section. The smallest dimension allowed from one finished wall to the opposite one is 30 inches, not including fixtures such as showerheads or safety bars. These minimum measurements must start from the threshold and continue at least 70 inches above the shower drain. A folding shower seat is allowed, but only if the 900-square-inch dimension is maintained when the seat is folded up. Any doors for the compartment must hinge outward. Shower stalls with at least 1,300 square inches can have a smaller wall-to-wall measurement of 26 inches.

ADA

• The Americans with Disabilities Act modifies the IRC codes slightly so that disabled individuals can use stall showers without assistance. It specifies minimum compartments measuring 36-by-36 inches inside, with a 36-inch minimum entry. This is for transfer-type stalls that allow movement from a wheelchair to a built-in seat through the use of grab bars. For showers that allow wheelchairs to roll in, the minimum clear interior measurement is 30 inches wide by 60 inches deep, with a minimum entry width of 60 inches. The floor space facing the entry must also measure 30 inches wide by 60 inches deep.

Modules

• One way to ensure that shower stalls meet minimum dimensions is to buy commercially available modular versions. Corner units, complete with shower doors, can drop into plumbed areas, though fixtures are a separate purchase. Modules with minimum dimensions for wheelchair users are also available. Unlike standard corner units, these typically have no doors and no threshold, so they fit flush with the floor. But they include the grab bars, drain, showerhead, valve and safety seat.