OBC 2024 Standards: Public Pool Dressing Rooms and Sanitary Facilities Requirements

When planning a public aquatic facility, adhering to the 2024 Ontario Building Code (OBC) Section 3.11.9.1 is vital for safety, hygiene, and accessibility. At empcontracting.ca Inc. your construction contractor in London, Ontario, we ensure every project meets these rigorous provincial standards.

Mandatory Facilities for Public Pools

According to OBC 3.11.9.1., every public pool must provide dedicated dressing rooms, locker rooms, shower heads, water closets, urinals, lavatories, and drinking fountains. These facilities must be designed to accommodate occupant loads calculated specifically for the pool type.

Exceptions for Class A and Class B Pools

The code provides specific exemptions for Class A pools (often found at recreational camps) and Class B pools. These facilities may not require dedicated on-site dressing rooms if suitable facilities are available elsewhere on the premises and foot sprays are installed according to Sentence 3.11.3.1.(18).

Shower and Plumbing Specifications

To maintain hygiene standards, the OBC mandates specific technical requirements for plumbing:

• Ratio: A minimum of one shower head must be provided for every 40 bathers.
• Water Pressure: Potable water must be supplied at a minimum pressure of 140 kPa.
• Temperature Control: Tempering devices must ensure shower water never exceeds 40°C to prevent scalding.
• Flow Path: Bathers must be routed to pass through or by a shower area before reaching the pool deck.

Structural and Safety Design

The physical construction of the change areas is just as important as the plumbing. The code specifies:

• Flooring: Floors in washrooms and showers must have a minimum 1% slope to drains and consist of hard-surfaced, non-slip materials.
• Hygiene: Joints between floors and walls must be coved for easy cleaning, and hose bibbs must be accessible for flushing down the area.
• Privacy: Partitions must ensure bather privacy, with the bottom of interior partitions set between 250 mm and 350 mm above the floor to facilitate drainage and ventilation.