Shower

The Building Regulations Approved Document G: Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency, suggests that the term ‘sanitary appliance’ means a ‘… WC, urinal, bath, shower, washbasin, sink, bidet and drinking fountain. It also includes appliances that are not connected to a water supply (e.g. composting toilet) or drain (e.g. waterless urinal).’

Under these regulations, sanitary appliances collect and remove waste matter and are generally grouped into two categories: soil appliances and wastewater appliances. Wastewater appliances are primarily used to collect and remove water once it has been used. A shower is considered a type of wastewater appliance under this definition.

The Scottish Building Standards, Part I. Technical Handbook – Domestic, Appendix A Defined Terms, defines a shower as a sanitary accommodation or a sanitary facility.

Showers are typically cubicles with a drain at the bottom, and a fixed shower head, or a shower head attached to a flexible hose, that produces a spray of water that allows users to clean themselves. They might be connected to a hot and cold water supply wth a mixer valve to control the temperature, or they may have an electric heater that allows cold water to be heated instantaneously. Shower appliances might also be installed in wet rooms, or attached to the taps of a bath.

For more information see: Types of showers.

The word 'shower' might also refer to a brief period of light rain, snow or hail.

NB The Illustrated Guide to Hot and Cold Water Services (BG 33/2014), written by Reginald Brown and published by BSRIA in 2014, it states: ‘Basic electric showers incorporate a heating element but rely on the cold water supply pressure. Power showers include an integral pump for use with low water supply pressures.’

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Approved Document G.
• Approved document M.
• Bath.
• Bidet.
• Lavatory.
• Level access shower
• Sanitary accommodation.
• Sanitaryware.
• Shower vs bath
• Types of sanitary appliances.
• Types of showers.
• Waste water.
• Wet room.

[edit] External resources

• Gov.uk, Building Regulations Approved Document G: Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency.
• The Scottish Building Standards, Part I. Technical Handbook – Domestic, Appendix A Defined Terms.