Housing for Health – the guide
  • Safety
    Electrical Safety

    Electrical Safety

    • A1.1 Functioning Safety switches
    • A1.2 Electrical earth connection
    • A1.3 Cabling and wiring
    • A1.4 Power points, lights and other fittings
    Gas Safety

    Gas Safety

    • A2.1 Gas Safety
    Fire Safety

    Fire Safety

    • A3.1 Fire prevention
    • A3.2 Fire and smoke detection
    • A3.3 Escape in the event of fire
    Structural Safety

    Structural Safety

    • A4.1 Structural safety
  • Health & Housing
    Washing People

    Washing People

    • B1.1 Wet area design
    • B1.2 Hot water
    • B1.3 Water outlets, valves & taps
    • B1.4 Washing young children ― hand basins, bathtubs, and laundry tubs
    • B1.5 Showers
    • B1.6 Wet area floor drainage (bathroom, shower, toilet and laundry)
    • B1.7 Turning the water off to allow plumbing maintenance
    Washing clothes and bedding

    Washing clothes and bedding

    • B2.1 Laundry design
    • B2.2 Drying clothes and bedding
    Removing waste water safely

    Removing waste water safely

    • B3.1 Flush toilets
    • B3.2 House drains
    • B3.3 Septic tanks, common effluent drains and on-site effluent disposal systems
    • B3.4 Aerated waste water treatment systems

    • B3.5 Dry toilets
    Improving nutrition – the ability to store, prepare and cook food

    Improving nutrition – the ability to store, prepare and cook food

    • B4.1 Quality of drinking water
    • B4.2 Food storage
    • B4.3 Preparing food – sinks and benches
    • B4.4 Cooking
    • B4.5 General issues for kitchen design
    Reducing the negative impacts of crowding

    Reducing the negative impacts of crowding

    • B5.1 Performance of health hardware in households with more people
    • B5.2 Developing the edges of the house and the yard
    • B5.3 Storage areas in the house
    Reducing the negative effects of animals, insects and vermin

    Reducing the negative effects of animals, insects and vermin

    • B6.1 Animals: Dogs, cats and others
    • B6.2 Animals: rats, mice, snakes and birds
    • B6.3 Insects: ants and cockroaches
    • B6.4 Insects: mosquitoes and flies
    • B6.5 Insects: Dust mites
    • B6.6 Insects: termites
    Reducing the health impacts of dust

    Reducing the health impacts of dust

    • B7.1 Reducing the health impacts of dust
    Controlling the temperature of the living environment

    Controlling the temperature of the living environment

    • B8.1 Human comfort and climate
    • B8.2 Passive design in tropical zones
    • B8.3 Passive design for houses in arid and temperate climates
    • B8.4 Active cooling of houses
    • B8.5 Active heating of houses
    Reducing hazards that cause minor injury (trauma)

    Reducing hazards that cause minor injury (trauma)

    • B9.1 Hazardous materials
    • B9.2 Personal security
    • B9.3 Preventing slips, trips and falls
    • B9.4 Preventing cuts and abrasions
    • B9.5 Preventing burns
  • Healthy Communities
    Water

    Water

    • C1.1 Water quantity and treatment systems
    • C1.2 Water quantity and demand management
    • C1.3 Rainwater, stormwater and recycled water for landscaping
    Energy

    Energy

    • C2.1 Electricity
    • C2.2 Gas
    Waste Water

    Waste Water

    • C3.1 Waste water
    Household rubbish disposal

    Household rubbish disposal

    • C4.1 Household rubbish disposal
    Community planning

    Community planning

    Landscaping

    Landscaping

    • C6.1 Landscaping
    Communications

    Communications

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Home > Health & Housing > Washing People > Showers

B1.5 Showers

A functioning shower is important for health. All parts of the shower should be designed, built and maintained to enable people to wash themselves at least once a day. The shower contains a number of interdependent parts that must be working to provide benefit to the residents of the house.

Data shows that shower areas could have the following faults:

  • poor quality water can corrode taps and cause leaks and wastes water (26 per cent of hot water taps not working)
  • poor quality water can also block shower rose holes (36 per cent not working), which can lead to residents removing the shower rose to gain access to water
  • if shower bases and walls are not completely waterproofed, water will penetrate the walls and damage the supporting floor structure (29 per cent of walls show signs of water penetration)
  • if floors do not fall to floor drains (29 per cent floors not drained an improvement of 5 per cent since 2006), water will pond, make the floor less safe and more difficult to clean
  • shower trays, hobs and showers over baths can limit accessibility for elderly people and people with disabilities (50 per cent of houses that have a bath have a combined shower and bath)
  • lack of door locks for privacy (32 per cent), no clothes hooks (64 per cent), no shelves (57 per cent) and lack of towel rails (50 per cent).

Real world examples of problems

  • B1.5 001 Innovative solution to shower rose repair
  • B1.5 002 Water quality can effect shower roses
  • B1.5 003 Shower rose adaptation
  • B1.5 005 Missing tap handles
  • B1.5 007 Makeshift pipe work
  • B1.5 008 A cheap multi jointed shower rose has many potential leaking points. Note the wall staining near the base of the fitting.
  • B1.5 010 Example of a shower hob. Designed to restrict water flow at floor level, hobs can limit access to showering for elderly or disabled people
  • B1.5 011 Agressive bore water + copper pipes = corrosion of pipes in the wall needing major repair works

Design and Specification

Ensure

  • B1.5.1.

    that, if the shower is separated from other wet area facilities, there is a space for people to dry and dress adjacent to the shower room and that personal items can be stored away from the water spray created during showering

  • B1.5.2.

    the shower area is private – walls and doors are taken to floor level, doors are able to be locked with a privacy snib (able to be released in an emergency), windows for ventilation and natural light do not compromise privacy

  • B1.5.3.

    where a hand held shower is used the hose is long enough / fit for purpose so the outlet can be positioned away from the user to prevent scalding and also allows greater access for person to clean themselves from a seated position, or assist others

  • B1.5.4.

    wherever possible, shower and bathtubs are not combined

  • B1.5.5.

    the shower cubicle can be used by people with limited mobility and by parents assisting children (1160mm x 1100mm clear shower area )

  • B1.5.6.

    shower hobs are avoided wherever possible to reduce falls and improve access to the shower area

  • B1.5.7.

    provide a step-free, hobless shower recess in addition to any bathtubs

  • B1.5.8.

    the shower area is graded to the shower floor drain, which should be a minimum diameter of 100mm, located directly under the main shower stream and at the lowest drainage point in the room

  • B1.5.9.

    the shower cubicle is fully waterproofed and shower bases and joints between bathtubs, showers and walls are detailed to prevent leaks

  • B1.5.10.

    waterproofing of all walls in the shower cubicle extends to above the height of the shower rose and that the water resistant wall lining is also to this height

  • B1.5.11.

    the specification of all shower tap ware and fittings are able to function when subjected to the water quality in the local area

  • B1.5.12.

    the shower rose and taps are located so that the water spray stays within the shower cubicle

  • B1.5.13.

    the taps are located outside of the shower stream, so they can be turned on and off without the risk of scalding hands or any part of the body

  • B1.5.14.

    fixed arm or single swivel wall-mounted shower roses are used and multi-jointed shower arms and plastic shower roses are avoided

  • B1.5.15.

    water saving shower roses are only used if the water quality shows low levels of mineral salts and particulates

  • B1.5.16.

    soap and shampoo can be easily accessed when using the shower, and clothes hooks, towel rails, grab rails and shelves are securely fixed near the shower cubicle

  • B1.5.17.

    where penetrations to waterproofing membranes cannot be avoided, eg fixing grab rails, shower shelves etc, including wall penetrations for tapware, shower roses and spouts, ensure all penetrations are sealed

Consider

  • waterproofing all walls in the shower cubicle to above the height of the shower rose and extending the water resistant wall lining to this height
  • using fixed or single swivel wall-mounted roses and avoid multi-jointed shower arms and plastic shower roses
  • providing a grab rail in the shower and next to the entry to the shower for support
  • incorporating a folding seat or the space for a removable shower seat in the shower enclosure
  • providing at least one shower in each house that can be accessed by people with disabilities
  • making the shower recess large enough to allow enough space for someone to assist someone to shower
  • providing a second capped outlet in the shower for future provision of a hand held shower rose, particularly when a ceiling mounted shower rose has been used
  • recessing the soap holder to reduce the likelihood of injury
  • avoiding sliding shower screens because they require frequent maintenance
  • using polycarbonate in any fixed shower screens instead of glass for greater durability and safety
  • providing external showers as a secondary showering area.
  • falling the shower floor in a single direction to provide a more even surface for people who are frail aged or with disabilities

Real world examples of Solutions

  • B1.5 004 Sealing behind wall mounted taps
  • B1.5 006 Storage for soap
  • B1.5 009 Tenant punches all holes in the shower rose to ensure a good flow in poor quality water.

Quality control

  • the shower rose: - directs water onto the person and does not cause leaks or drainage problems - has large holes where water quality is poor - is water efficient in areas where there is good water quality
    info-icon
    COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
    DURING CONSTRUCTION
    AT HANDOVER
    FINAL COMPLETION
  • the shower area floor falls to the floor drain
    info-icon
    COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
    DURING CONSTRUCTION
    AT HANDOVER
    FINAL COMPLETION
    TRADE TEST
  • the floor drain is 100mm diameter and not blocked by concrete or tile grout during construction
    info-icon
    COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
    DURING CONSTRUCTION
    AT HANDOVER
  • if using a shower tray, that the base is fully supported with non-shrink grout and there is no movement of the base
    info-icon
    COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
    DURING CONSTRUCTION
    FINAL COMPLETION
  • the corners, shower bases and wall junctions are sealed to prevent leaks, and where silicone is used it is mould resistant"
    info-icon
    DURING CONSTRUCTION
    AT HANDOVER
    FINAL COMPLETION
    TRADE TEST
  • the builder has provided a warranty for the wet area waterproofing.
    info-icon
    DURING CONSTRUCTION
    AT HANDOVER
    FINAL COMPLETION
    TRADE TEST

Maintenance

As part of cyclical maintenance, check that:

  • hot (temperature more than 45°C) and cold water is available at reasonable pressure for washing
    info-icon
    Plumber, Local Maintenance Team
    12 Months
  • the drains are working as tested by draining at least 5 minutes of running water
    info-icon
    Plumber, Local Maintenance Team
    12 Months
  • there is a good flow of water from water saving shower roses and flow limiting devices, especially for locations with poor water quality
    info-icon
    Plumber, Local Maintenance Team
    12 Months
  • tap handles are secure, can easily be turned on and off, and are not leaking at any point.
    info-icon
    Plumber, Local Maintenance Team
    12 Months
  • the corners, shower bases and wall junctions are sealed with mould resistant silicone to prevent leaks
    info-icon
    Plumber, Local Maintenance Team
    12 Months

Standard And References

AS 1428.1–2001, Design for access and mobility—General requirements for access—New building work.

 

HB52–2000, The Bathroom Book.

 

Anda, M & Ryan, J 1998, Saving water for healthy communities: a workbook for Aboriginal communities, Remote Area Developments Group, Murdoch University, Perth, p. 5.

 

Pholeros, P.  2002 ‘Housing for Health and Fixing Houses for Better Health’ in Environmental Health, vol 2, no 4 : 34 - 38

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  • Washing People
    • B1.1 Wet area design
    • B1.2 Hot water
    • B1.3 Water outlets, valves & taps
    • B1.4 Washing young children ― hand basins, bathtubs, and laundry tubs
    • B1.5 Showers
    • B1.6 Wet area floor drainage (bathroom, shower, toilet and laundry)
    • B1.7 Turning the water off to allow plumbing maintenance
of houses tested nationally have a working shower - with hot and cold water, working taps and rose and wastewater drainage
Click here for more data on Showers

Real world story

How a bathroom fails to function

How a bathroom fails to function in a two bedroom house, serving 3 families with 15 people. A new cake of soap is opened over the basin, the wrapper falls into the basin, gets wet and blocks the waste pipe trap. A box of laundry powder is…

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