the placement decision. In many cases placement away from the shower entry is optimal. During the design phase, con- sideration should also be given to defining the shower floor space. In other words, what are the extents of the shower floor? In some cases, in larger showers or open-design showers where the shower floor freely flows into the restroom areas, a secondary drain may be required to collect any water that may flow out of the shower compartment or overrun the main shower drain due to the momentum of the water. Also, showers with multiple heads/jets may require additional drains to handle the water flow. Slope of the shower floor The International Plumbing Code (IPC) requires a slope of 1/4” per foot (IPC 417.5.2 Shower Lining) for shower floors, which is echoed in the TCNA Handbook shower receptor methods. Recessing the subfloor or substrate under a show- er allows the finished floor to start sloping from the height of the floor outside the shower, rather than building up a shower base to provide slope to drain, as required when there is no recess in which to countersink the shower base, which therefore requires a curb. Sometimes less slope is speci- fied in a curbless shower, such as 1/8” per foot. In some jurisdic- tions, a slope of 3/16” per foot or 1/8” per foot could be allowed for a roll-in show- er designed to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). However, it is important to note that reducing slope greatly reduces the drain- ing efficiency of the show- er. There just isn’t enough slope to properly evacu- ate the water, which can result in standing water at any given time, a different possible safety concern. In addition to consider- ing these tradeoffs, design professionals should also consult local building and plumbing codes and offi- cials on a regular basis to TECH TALK –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Milton Client Support Graphic Designer Greg Corain Web Development Team Corain Bryan Sales Team Manager Audio Team Anthony Marketing Team Mike J. Jenn Web Development Team Established 1990 Web Development • Corporate Video Production Telephone On-Hold Messages • Printed Promotional Gear Review Management • Search Optimization Paid Search Management CALL US TODAY! 70 TileLetter | March 2019