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08 March 2006

Help! How many lavatories do I need? Interpreting the International Building Code.→[More:]

Say I've got an occupancy load of 222 people, and I'm trying to find out the minimum number of lavatories (hand-washing sinks) that I need; the code says:

"1 per 40 for the first 50 and 1 per 80 for the remainder exceeding 50."

Does this mean I need 4?

Also found while doing code research in Section 307 of the IBC:

Mass-detonating explosives: Division 1.1, 1.2, and 1.5 explosives alone or in combination, or loaded into various types of ammunition or containers, most of which can be expected to explode virtually instantaneously when a small portion is subjected to fire, severe concussion, impact, the impulse of an initiating agent or the effect of a considerable discharge of energy from without. Materials that react in this manner represent a mass explosion hazard. Such an explosive will normally cause severe structural damage to adjacent objects. [No fucking shit!] Explosive propogation could occur immedialtey to other items of ammunition and explosives stored sufficiently close to and not adequately protected from the initially exploding pile with a time interval short enough so that two or more quantities must be considred as one for quantity-distance purposes.

I'm thinking that I should quit my job as an architectural designer (fuck this lavatory shit) and become an explosives expert.

post by: Specklet at: 11:45 | 38 comments

"1 per 40 for the first 50 and 1 per 80 for the remainder exceeding 50."

I no can help, but wow, that sentence is a steaming pile of shit. Sounds like some of my former students . . .

posted by tr33hggr 08 March | 11:47

Specklet, you genius - using the internet for "work-related" purposes! *searches for hidden message*

Yes, I believe it means you need 4. The wording is a little confusing. But you have 1 for the first 50, leaving 172. Divided by 80 (rounding up, I'm assuming) is 3 more.

But I'm using probably the exact same logic that you did. I don't know anything about code.

posted by mike9322 08 March | 11:50

"1 per 80 for the remainder exceeding 50."

(P-50) / 80

"1 per 40 for the first 50"

(P > 50 ? 50 : P ) / 40

(222-50)/80 = 172/80 = 2.15

(P > 50 ? 50 : P ) / 40 = 50/40 = 1.25

2.15 + 1.25 = 3.4
round up to be safe = 4

roundup(2.15) + roundup(1.25) = 5

posted by orthogonality 08 March | 11:56

Is it possible the code means:

"1 [lavatory] per 40 [people] for the first 50 [lavatories] and 1 per 80 for the remainder exceeding 50."

So, if you have an occupancy of 4000, you need 50 lavatories for the first 2000, then the 1 per 80 rate kicks in and you need 25 for the remaining 2000?

Hence, you need 6?

posted by Capn 08 March | 12:00

I'm with Capn. I'd interpret "first 50" to refer to number of lavatories, unless there's an additional sentence somewhere that clarifies it further.

posted by me3dia 08 March | 12:03

That seems to be the only way it makes sense at all.

posted by taz 08 March | 12:07

Thanks guys!

It's pretty clear from other sections of the code that the "first fifty" refers to people, not lavatories.

Fucking codes.

*searches for hidden message*

Oh yeah, I forgot the hidden message! Here: Ufflesway orfay ikeMay!

posted by Specklet 08 March | 12:16

I had a dream once where there was this really lavish marble bathroom, inlaid with gold and jade with green marble walls separating the tiers. Yes, it was a tiered bathroom, with toilets on multiple levels, and bath/jacuzzis, but no stalls, because I guess since it was the quintessential executive washroom only the quintessential executive could use it so there were no concerns about other execs being in there at the same time. It was simple and pure excess for excess' sake.

I parsed that sentence to mean first 50 lavatories as well.

posted by Eideteker 08 March | 12:18

Why on earth would they say "one lavatory per 40 people for the first 50 people"? That's just idiotic!

Stupid code writers.

posted by me3dia 08 March | 12:22

*gets out secret decoder ring*

Ooh!

posted by mike9322 08 March | 12:24

It's pretty clear from other sections of the code that the "first fifty" refers to people, not lavatories.

Oh, it's simple then, you need one lavatory per 40 people for the first 50 people, so that's n * 1/40 * 50 or 5/4n. Then you need one per 80 after the first 50 or 1/80 * m where m is n - 50. So you need 5/4 * 8 + m - n - 50 lavatories

By my calculations, you need 9322 lavatories for 222 people.

posted by Capn 08 March | 13:23

It's a magic number. It appears constantly in nature.

posted by mike9322 08 March | 13:25

And bathrooms.

posted by Capn 08 March | 13:33

Capn, I saw your number in the lavatory once. I called, but you weren't home.

posted by taz 08 March | 14:03

I feel your pain, Speck. This is why I got out of architecture, and just make things when I'm so inclined.

posted by chewatadistance 08 March | 14:37

I'm surprised a classy lady like you would be in a club like that taz.

posted by Capn 08 March | 14:56

Hi Specklet!
(That's all I have to say. I guessed my way through the math part of the SATs.)

posted by jrossi4r 08 March | 15:03

Capn, :)

Do you plan on being home tonight, btw?

posted by taz 08 March | 15:11

Speaking of lavatories, why do people insist on talking to me when I'm at the urinal? That's "me time". And now I still have to pee.

posted by mike9322 08 March | 15:26

Yes, yes I do.

posted by Capn 08 March | 15:27

mike, you are well within your legal rights to pee on the shoes of anyone that talks to you while you're at the urinal. If they continue, move up to the pants.

posted by Capn 08 March | 15:29

Yeah, that's rude, mike. I'd just stare straight ahead and say "PEEING." Rather dead-pan and loudly. If they kept talking, I'd say it again. After you're done, make a joke about it. Say you're pee-shy and you have to concentrate. Say you like thinking about your girlfriend when you pee. Say whatever.

posted by Specklet 08 March | 15:42

I've never been in the boys room, especially when there's actual peeing going on, but I really really want to be a ~~fly~~ webcam on the wall when mike is standing there saying PEEING in a loud deadpan voice over and over.

posted by mygothlaundry 08 March | 15:54

Say you like thinking about your girlfriend when you pee.

Um, what are you trying to us about mike9322, Specklet?

posted by King of Prontopia 08 March | 15:58

Er, trying to tell us rather. I wouldn't be much of an editor it seems, lousy proof-reading skills. Read what I meant, not what I typed.

posted by King of Prontopia 08 March | 16:00

I have heard that if men think about their girlfriend when they pee, the mechanics of it become such that they can't pee anymore.

posted by matildaben 08 March | 16:04

Wow, you girls really want to see my penis.

posted by mike9322 08 March | 16:25

mike: Only a little. And only if it has a nifty dragon on it.

The common sense answer to this, of course, is twice as many men's bathrooms as women's. We shouldn't have to stand in lines, you know.

posted by TrishaLynn 08 March | 16:55

Please don't use words like "little" when referring to my penis. "dragon" is acceptable.

posted by mike9322 08 March | 16:57

TrishaLynn - you mean twice as many women's bathrooms. That's my favorite thing about the new Seattle Opera House. They actually understood that.

posted by matildaben 08 March | 17:06

Now the real question is: When Specklet started this thread, did she know what it would degenerate into? Knowing Specklet, and knowing how well she knows us, I strongly suspect she did.

posted by matildaben 08 March | 17:09

The correct answer is 4

What ortho said. Specklet, aren't you supposed to be working and not having fun with us?

mike"little dragon"9322 You know there are people that email all the time about the size of your dragon. Maybe they can help.

posted by warbaby 08 March | 17:19

I'm not having fun. And it was work-related.

ikeMay, oremay ufflesway orfay ooyay!

posted by Specklet 08 March | 18:01

Whuffled twice (and in code!) in the course of a single thread! I don't know what I've done to deserve it but I gotta keep it up. *glee*

posted by mike9322 08 March | 18:32

matildaben: Yes, that's what I get for trusting that I actually make sense when I type.

mike: This sort of thing needs pictorial proof, you know.

posted by TrishaLynn 08 March | 19:14

Okay, so I'm done with work now and I decided that yeah, it was four.

I hope we're all right, because it's my ass if the building inspector doesn't agree.

I leave now, go grocery shopping, go home, and maybe make some phone calls. Ahem. IRC later, anyone?

posted by Specklet 08 March | 20:00

Depends on if you get home before Project Runway starts.

posted by TrishaLynn 08 March | 20:10

TL: Sorry, I only do private showings.

posted by mike9322 09 March | 07:58

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