Size requirements for toilets

I am trying to find the minimum size requirements for a WC in Syndey.

Do you mean miminum size for the room itself?

cheers
Wendy

Hi Wendy,

Yes, we are going to take the toilet out of our bathroom and make it a separate room. I can't seem to find if there is a minimum requirement for the room.

Regards

Lisa

I don't know if there is a minimum size but as long as you can open the door if some one collapses in there and it has sufficient ventilation. If the door can't be swung open it has to have special hinges so you can remove the door even if it is locked.

I've certainly been in some small ones that it was difficult to wipe yourself with out belting your elbows on the wall.

Hi Barry,

Thanks for the info.

I haven't been able to find guidelines anywhere, but had read in a magazine that it was 840 x 1330 and I am trying to see if this is correct.

Regards

Lisa

Why don't you get in touch with a local building surveyor. If there is any minimum standards for your area they would know.

Thanks for the input. Think I will contact my local surveyor.

Regards


Lisa

Don't forget to leave room for the bookshelf, filing cabinet and beer fridge.

Keep in mind too that you'll likely need to have the door opening outwards in a small toilet. If you can't do that for some reason, the other alternative is to provide a door with lift off hinges.

Last weekend I used a loo in a small house down the coast that had an inward-opening bi-fold door. Room was certainly small (for those interested in privacy/security, the door-lock was actually your knee), but it worked well, allowing you to do the job.
Cheers,
Adam

Hi Lisa I just built one that was 850 x 1300 with a small wall basin. The door needed to be outward opening as Barry pointed out. The 1300 is pretty tight 1400 would be better.

Cheers
Pulse

Just thought I'd add there are no minimum sizes in the Building code of Aus. The only requirements for room size is a height of 2100mm and ventilation and access and agress ( ie the door)

Cheers
Pulse

This is a most appropriate subject on this, World Toilet Day:D They had a segment on ABC News about that today!

BTW, silentc is right, if your door opens inward in a small toilet you nedd escape hinges. I know, it was one of 2 things they picked on in my final inspection for my CoO, The esape hinges were on the plan, but I didn't like the gap at the top of the door, so used normal hinges. Building inspector said I had to change them.

I hadn't thought of a bi fold door. Sounds as though it would be the best idea.

thanks everyone for your input.

Just keep in mind the reason for the outward opening door regulation: if someone collapses on the floor in the toilet, it may not be possible to get the door open. Bi-fold doors would be subject to this too in a very small toilet. I can't recall what the minimum depth is. It's to do with the distance from the door to the toilet pan I think.

I'm pretty sure I was reading somewhere that 300mm is a comfortable minimum distance between the door swing and pan front. That's what I based mine on, and it seems to work well.

Just out of interest, what are the ventilation requirements?

Not sure of the ventilation requirements (am finding it difficult to find any documentation on regs) but we are installing an extraction fan that will turn on when the door is opened.

Thanks for the tip on 300mm from gap from the door to pan.

1200 from the door to the face of the pan for lift off hinges or outward opening door reg.
No minimum floor area that I know of.