Bathrooms and Kitchens in Dwelling G1 Requirements
A dwelling shall be provided with:
(a) a bathroom containing either a fixed bath or a shower bath, and a washbasin, and
(b) a kitchen containing a sink of adequate size and a draining board, and
(c) a suitable installation for the provision of hot and cold water to the bath or shower bath, washbasin and sink.
1.1 Every dwelling (house or flat) should have at least one bathroom, with a fixed bath or shower, and a washbasin.
1.2 Every dwelling (house or flat) should have a kitchen which is adequately fitted for the installation and use of cooking equipment. The kitchen should contain a sink of adequate size and a draining board.
1.3 The cold water supply to the kitchen sink should be taken directly the service pipe supplying water to the dwelling; the cold water supply to the bath or shower and the washbasin and to other appliances in the dwelling should be from a cold water storage cistern. The bath, shower, washbasin, and sink should also have a piped supply of hot water, which may be from a central source or from a unit water heater.
1.4 The bath, shower, washbasin and sink should discharge through a trap and branch pipe to a discharge stack, or may, if it is on the ground floor, discharge into a gully. See Technical Guidance Document H for guidance regarding drainage.
1.5 Guidance on sinks is given in I.S. 132: Part 1: 1975, I.S. 132: 1964 and I.S. EN 13310: 2003.
1.6 The cold water storage cistern should have an actual capacity of not less than 212 litres in the case of a dwelling containing up to three bedrooms and an actual capacity of not less than 340 litres in the case of a dwelling containing four or more bedrooms.
1.7 The cistern should be properly covered but not airtight, accessible for cleaning and replacement, and fitted with an overflow pipe so located as to discharge in a manner that will give ready warning of the occurrence of overflow without causing any nuisance or any dampness in the dwelling.
1.8 The service pipe to each dwelling should be provided with a stopcock or sluice valve fitted with a crutch wheel for manual operation in a convenient position within the dwelling and near to the point of entry of the pipe to the dwelling.
1.9 The cistern, service pipe and fittings and any associated cold water pipes should be adequately protected against damage by frost.
Protection would be considered adequate where:
1.9.1 The underground service pipe from the external meter/stopcock to the dwelling has a minimum cover of 600 mm. The minimum cover should be maintained along the whole pipe length. Where the pipe is close to the external wall, the pipe should be insulated with insulation impermeable to water vapour (see Diagrams 1 & 2).
Diagram HG1 - Insulation to a cold water supply through floors in contact with the ground - Extract from TGD G
Diagram HG2 - Insulation to a cold water supply through a suspended ventilated floor - Extract from TGD G
1.9.2 The cold water cistern, when located in the attic, has the top and sides of the cistern insulated. The area underneath the cistern should be left un-insulated and continuity of tank and ceiling insulation should be ensured (see Diagram 3). Where raised tanks are used, to aid head pressure, the ceiling should be insulated as normal and all surfaces of the tank insulated separately. Provision should be made to ensure ventilation of the tank.
Diagram HG3 - Insulated pipes and cisterns in roof space - Extract from TGD G
1.9.3 Always locate pipes in heated spaces if possible, i.e. below loft insulation or below ceilings. All pipes, including overflow pipes, outside the thermal envelope should be insulated. The use of insulation alone does not afford complete protection against the freezing of water in pipes and vessels under all atmospheric conditions. Insulation can delay the onset of freezing, such that the formation of ice may be avoided if the time intervals are short enough.
1.9.4 Table 1 in the appendix gives values for different pipe sizes and insulation thicknesses for various thermal conductivities for 12 hours protection in normally occupied buildings. Where different conditions or time periods are envisaged please refer to section 11 of BS 5422.
1.9.5 For further information refer to Good Building Guide 40 - Protecting Pipes from Freezing and BRE Guide Thermal Insulation: avoiding risks.
1.10 The guidance given in paragraphs 1.1 - 1.9 relates generally to dwelling houses. For other types of dwellings, e.g. apartments in apartment blocks or multi-occupancy buildings, alternative arrangements or ways of achieving compliance may be appropriate, subject to the approval of the local Water and Building Control Authorities
