Requirement

A bathroom must be provided containing a wash basin and either a fixed bath or a shower.

Limits on application

Requirement G5 applies only to dwellings and to buildings containing one or more rooms for residential purposes.

General

5.1 The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/1148) make provisions for appropriate backflow protection on taps including mixer fittings and hose connections.

5.2 Requirements for ventilation are in Part F of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010 (Ventilation). Guidance on ventilation of sanitary accommodation is given in Approved Document F.

5.3 Requirements for electrical safety are given in Part P of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010 (Electrical safety). Guidance is given in Approved Document P.

5.4 Guidance on the selection, installation and maintenance of sanitary appliances may be found in BS 6465-3:2006 Sanitary installations. Code of practice for the selection, installation and maintenance of sanitary and associated appliances.

5.5 Where hot and cold taps are provided on a sanitary appliance, the hot tap should be on the left.

Scale of provision and layout in dwellings

5.6 Any dwelling (house or flat) must have at least one bathroom with a fixed bath or shower, and a washbasin.

5.7 Guidance on the provision of activity space around sanitary appliances is given in BS 6465-2:1996 Sanitary installations. Code of practice for space requirements for sanitary appliances.

Scale of provision and layout in buildings with rooms for residential purposes

5.8 The number of fixed baths or showers and washbasins in buildings with rooms for residential purposes should be in accordance with BS 6465-1:2006 and A1:2009 Sanitary installations. Code of practice for the design of sanitary facilities and scales of provision of sanitary and associated appliances.

Discharges to drains

Note: See Approved Document for Requirement H1 Sanitary pipework and drainage for guidance on provision for traps, branch discharge pipes, discharge stacks and foul drains.

5.9 Any sanitary appliance used for personal washing should discharge through a grating, a trap and a branch discharge pipe to an adequate system of drainage.

5.10 A sanitary appliance used for personal washing fitted with a macerator and pump may be connected to a small bore drainage system discharging to a discharge stack if:

a. there is also access to washing facilities discharging directly to a gravity system; and

b. the macerator and pump meets the requirements of BS EN 12050-2:2001 Wastewater lifting plants for buildings and sites. Principles of construction and testing. Lifting plants for faecal-free wastewater.

G5: Bathrooms