Plumbing Connection 2-2015

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PLUMBING CONNECTION WINTER 2015 81
THE RULES
I have divided my illustrations into Bathroom and Kitchen
RULES. I hope you and your staff make good use of them.
Access should not be an afterthought – something
that you grudgingly do or fix if you have to. Or course, it’s
uneconomical to widen an existing front door in a Victorian
terrace home to 920mm wide. However, with your future
buildings, every door should be 920mm wide - it doesn’t
cost much to provide access for the lifetime of every
building occupant. Ensuring proper access is like DPCs
in masonry, termite resistant timber, and stainless steel
fixings – cheaper in the long run and better for every user
and owner.
Jerry is founder of the Institute of Building Consultants
and co-founder of Tyrrells Property Inspections. He has
more than 43 years’ experience as a labourer, tradesman,
contractor, architect, mediator, building consultant and
author. Jerry welcomes reader feedback, thoughts and
experiences. He can be contacted at .
WHAT PLUMBERS CAN DO
∫ Use taps / mixers with indestructible lever handles
(n.b. - avoid using lever handles with sharp ends on
shower walls).
∫ Encourage manufacturers to ensure that people with
vision impairments can recognise hot taps.
∫ Ensure that water at fixtures does not exceed 50°C.
∫ Install taps within 300mm of bench edges where
possible.
∫ Install showers with a hand-held hose option.
∫ Locate shower and bath taps on the access side (i.e.
so user doesn’t need to reach under the shower rose
or across the bath).
∫ Use 150mm deep sinks with insulated bases.
∫ Use flexible connections to all sinks and
basins which may require lowering in
future to meet the access needs of the
building’s occupants.
∫ Use P traps – again, so fixtures can be
more easily lowered.
∫ Set pan out a minimum of 450mm
from the finished surfaces of
side walls.
∫ Use ceramic or Hydroseal-type
washers.
∫ Install gas hotplates with auto
ignition and easily reached
controls. setting a
superior
standard for
commercial
kitchens
For more information:
1300 369 273
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