Description

• Bathroom renovations are critical for residents’ health and well-being. Quality finishes and fixtures improve the overall quality of the apartment while reducing indoor air pollution from mold and excessive moisture that could harm finishes outside the bathroom space. Thoughtful layouts contribute to an efficient use of space, finishes are chosen for durability, ease of maintenance, and adequate attic stock in the event replacement is required. GFCI outlets are required.
• Bathrooms must be designed with accessibility in mind. Because the size of NYCHA bathrooms poses a challenge to meet all ADA requirements as specified in federal ADA / UFAS standards, any conflicts with ADA / UFAS the VCA, is the controlling document, designers must include accessibility features including appropriate turn angles and door widths for the mobility impaired. Grab bars should be installed along with accessible basins.  New fixtures should comply with UFAS, utilizing the UFAS Accessibility Checklist, HPD Accessibility Guide, and ADA standards. 

Baseline

Overall

• All surfaces to be durable and cleanable to help with pest management and discourage mold growth.
• Piping under lavatories and sinks open to below must be insulated, enclosed, or configured to prevent contact.
• Provide a GFCI outlet in wet locations according to code.
• Use cement board, fiber cement board, or other waterproof surfaces for floors (where appropriate), walls, and ceilings (where appropriate). [COMPMOD] 
• Evaluate all plumbing lines and ensure proper allowance for % repair or replacement if full replacement is not required. [PACT]
• Wall-mounted vanities will only be accepted in apartments where they are the existing vanity type. PACT Partners should engage residents in preferences related to storage and exposed plumbing to determine vanity style. [PACT]
• All exposed water supply and drain pipes under lavatories and kitchen sinks shall be insulated or otherwise configured to protect against contact. There shall be no sharp or abrasive surfaces under lavatories and sinks

Floors

• Bathroom floors should have porcelain or ceramic tiles and 4″ cove base.
• Floor tiles are typically 2×2-inch but can vary as per project requirements.
• Floor tile to be waterproof and slip-resistant. [COMPMOD]
• Wet rooms including bathrooms should be tiled with porcelain or ceramic. [PACT]

Walls

• Use cement board, fiber cement board or the equivalent meeting ASTM #D3273 for all wet wall backing.
• Walls are not to be tiled.

Ceilings

• Ceilings to be painted with mold-resistant paint. [COMPMOD]

Bathrooms

• Bathtubs are required to be standard cast-iron enamel with a push pop-up drain stopper with overflow and water-saving showerhead.
• Bathtub walls must be fitted with a fiberglass tub surround. If a tub surround is installed at a window, use a 3- to 5-piece trim kit.
• Provide fiberglass tub surround, seamless or with waterproof seams, and with no protruding elements. Lesson Learned: the protruding soap dishes on some shower surrounds are prone to cracking and have caused mold and moisture problems at multiple NYCHA properties. [COMPMOD]
• Bathtubs must be equipped with a removable in-tub seat or a permanent seat at the head end of the tub or Swivel Tub Transfer Bench.
• Consider shower with standard roll-In shower compartment. (This requires a raised shower stall with ramp) 

Sinks

• ADA adaptable 20-inch (W) x 19-inch (D) vitreous china sinks are required.

Toilets

• Provide floor-mounted toilets a maximum of 27 inches from the rear wall, and the water closet flange shall be installed 12 inches from the finished back wall. The centerline of the water closet shall be 16 inches minimum to 18 inches maximum from the side wall.
• Toilets must have a MaP rating of 1000. (Sustainability to verify. 500 min?)

Fixtures

• Provide 20-gauge 304 polished stainless steel curtain rod.
• Above the sink, provide a soap dish and toothbrush holder, a 28-inch (H) x 18-inch (W) surface-mounted medicine cabinet with mirror, and an LED light fixture.
• Provide toilet paper holder and towel rod.
• Specify fixtures that comply with UFAS and ADA standards.
• Provide a minimum of five grab bars to meet accessibility requirements as specified by ADA standards. Grab bars should be located at appropriate heights with ¾” plywood or metal plate between studs for secure attachment (see A-DG_Bathroom Diagram). Provide blocking in all units including non-ADA units.
• All new plumbing fixtures should be low-flow and comply with efficiency rates set by Local Law 57 of 2010 and Enterprise Green Communities Criteria. Plumbing layouts and design and emergency potable water access should comply with Enterprise Green Communities Criteria. [PACT]

Stretch

• Install ultra-high efficiency toilets (0.8 gpf).
• Provide vented exhaust in bathrooms. An exhaust fan significantly outperforms an operable window. It’s important that any integrated exhaust fan into a window unit allows for operability of the window unit for fresh air. Consider putting the fan and light switch on separate circuits for flexibility and less wear and tear on the fan. [COMPMOD]
• Provide rear-discharge toilets and run waste pipes in walls, eliminating the visible waste pipes from floor above. This proposal requires deepening chase wall and replacement of waste line riser. Water pressure must be checked. Plumbing may need to be upgraded. Rear discharge toilets allow for maintenance of that toilet without having to access the apartment below. [COMPMOD]
• Install extra-large or multiple medicine cabinets to provide residents with bathroom storage. Lesson Learned: under-sink vanity cabinets can cause maintenance problems and are not preferred. [COMPMOD] (Our medicine cabinets are surface mounted, there is no room for recessed cabinets) 
• Provide waterproof tile on walls, at least to 4” above the top of the sink. [COMPMOD] (This proposal will make repairs behind chase more expensive because of tile work) 
• Provide wider sinks with counters from 28 inches to 40 inches depending on available space, with integral space for tenant-supplied soap dishes and toothbrush holders, instead of the wall-mounted accessories. [COMPMOD] (Standard sized bathrooms are 5’x7’ nominally, in actuality it’s closer to +/- 4’-10 ½” x 6’-10 ½”, tub size and toilet space is limiting sink size without a major renovation) 
• Install ultra-high efficiency water-saving fixtures. [SA]
• Stop and prevent building plumbing systems leakage. [SA]
• Upgrade mechanical ventilation systems for mold prevention. [SA]
• Washer hookups should be fully inset into the wall and include a water supply and drain line; a dedicated electrical outlet nearby should be located. [PACT] (Take into consideration limited chase space and discharge volume into existing system. An additional waste line would be required for washer discharge)
• Toilet may be rear discharge if a new wastepipe is provided.
• Porcelain bathroom tiles are a viable alternative as it is better for wet environments. [COMPMOD]

Strategies

Optimize Performance, Operation & Maintenance of Buildings, Systems & Assets

Ensure Accessibility & Inclusion

CompModPACTSustainability Agenda

Last Updated on February 5, 2025 at 10:41 am

Downloads and Data

Download All

Specifications

06 10 00 – Rough Carpentry

06 20 00 – Finish Carpentry

08 83 00 – Mirrors

09 22 36.10 – Furring and Lathing

09 23 00 – Plastering

09 29 10 – Gypsum Board Assemblies

09 30 13 – Ceramic Tiling

09 65 00 – Resilient Flooring

09 90 00 – Painting

10 28 00.10 – Grab Bars

22 40 00 – Plumbing Fixtures

Diagrams