Bathroom

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about private rooms for personal hygiene. For toilet facilities outside the home, see public toilet. For private toilet room at a residence, see toilet (room). For washing facilities outside the home, see public bathing.

Illustration of a bathroom from the early 20th century, in which appear a bathtub, two towels, a toilet, a sink and two mirrors

A bathroom is a

room in which people wash their bodies or parts thereof. It can contain one or more of the following plumbing fixtures: a shower, a bathtub, a bidet, and a sink (also known as a wash basin in the United Kingdom). A toilet is also frequently included. There are also specific toilet rooms, only containing a toilet (often accompanied by a sink), which in American English tend to be called "bathrooms", "powder rooms" or "washrooms", as euphemisms to conceal their actual purpose, while they in British English are known as just "toilets" or possibly "cloakrooms" - but also as "lavatories" when they are public.[1]

Historically, bathing was often a collective activity, which took place in public baths. In some countries, the shared social aspect of cleansing the body is still important, for example with sento in Japan and, throughout the Islamic world, the hammam (also known in the West as a "Turkish bath").

Variations and terminology

Bathroom in France, with a bathtub and a shower - and no toilet.
"Ensuite" redirects here. For the term, see Then.

The term for the place used to clean the body varies around the

wetroom is a waterproof room usually equipped with a shower; it is designed to eliminate moisture damage and is compatible with underfloor heating
systems.

In the United States, there is a lack of a single definition. This commonly results in discrepancies between the advertised and actual number of baths in real estate listings. Bathrooms are generally categorized as "master bathroom", containing a shower and a bathtub that is adjoining to the largest bedroom; a "full bathroom" (or "full bath"), containing four plumbing fixtures: a toilet and sink, and either a bathtub with a shower, or a bathtub and a separate shower stall; "half bath" (or "powder room") containing just a toilet and sink; and "3/4 bath" containing toilet, sink, and shower, although the terms vary from market to market. In some U.S. markets, a toilet, sink, and shower are considered a "full bath." In addition, there is the use of the word "bathroom" to describe a room containing a toilet and a basin, and nothing else.[citation needed]

In Canada, "washroom" is the preferred term for such a room, the same applies to public facilities.[4]

Design considerations

Towels

Bathrooms often have one or more towel bars or rings for hanging towels.[citation needed]

Furniture

A bathroom cabinet

Some bathrooms contain a bathroom cabinet for personal hygiene products and medicines, and drawers or shelves (sometimes in column form) for storing towels and other items.[5]

Bidet

A modern bidet of the traditional type

Some bathrooms contain a bidet, which might be placed next to a toilet.[6]

Plumbing

The bathroom design must account for the use of hot and cold water, in significant quantities, for cleaning the body. The water is also used for moving solid and liquid human waste to a sewer or septic tank. Water may be splashed on the walls and floor, and hot humid air may cause condensation on cold surfaces. From a decorating point of view, the bathroom presents a challenge. Ceiling, wall, and floor materials and coverings should be impervious to water and readily and easily cleaned. The use of ceramic or glass, as well as smooth plastic materials, is common in bathrooms for their ease of cleaning. Such surfaces are often cold to the touch, however, so water-resistant bath mats or even bathroom carpets may be used on the floor to make the room more comfortable. Alternatively, the floor may be heated, possibly by strategically placing resistive electric mats under the floor tile or radiant hot water tubing close to the underside of the floor surface.[citation needed]

Electricity

Electrical appliances, such as lights, heaters, and heated towel rails, generally need to be installed as fixtures, with permanent connections rather than plugs and sockets. This minimizes the risk of

electrical and building codes in the United States and Canada. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, only special sockets suitable for electric shavers and electric toothbrushes are permitted in bathrooms and are labelled as such.[7]

UK building regulations also define what type of electrical fixtures, such as light fittings (i.e. how water-/splash-proof) may be installed in the areas (zones) around and above baths, and showers.[8]

Lighting

Bathroom lighting should be uniform, and bright and must minimize glare. For all the activities like shaving, showering, grooming, etc. one must ensure equitable lighting across the entire bathroom space. The mirror area should have at least two sources of light at least 1 foot apart to eliminate any shadows on the face. Skin tones and hair color are highlighted with a tinge of yellow light. Ceiling and wall lights must be safe for use in a bathroom (electrical parts need to be splashproof) and therefore must carry appropriate certification such as

IP44.[citation needed
]

All forms of bathroom lighting should be IP44 rated as safe to use in the bathroom.[9][where?]

History

See also: Ritual purification and Hygiene § History
Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro

The first records for the use of baths date back as far as 3000 B.C. At this time water had a strong religious value, being seen as a purifying element for both body and soul. So it was not uncommon for people to be required to cleanse themselves before entering a sacred area. Baths are recorded as part of village or town life throughout this period, with a split between steam baths in Europe and America and cold baths in Asia. Communal baths were erected in a distinctly separate area from the living quarters of the village.[citation needed]

Nearly all of the hundreds of houses excavated had their bathing rooms. Generally located on the ground floor, the bath was made of brick, sometimes with a surrounding curb to sit on. The water drained away through a hole in the floor, down chutes or pottery pipes in the walls, and into the municipal drainage system. Even the fastidious Egyptians rarely had special bathrooms.[10]

Greek and Roman bathing

Main article: Ancient Roman bathing
Virtual reconstruction of the Roman Baths in Weißenburg, Germany, using data from laser scan technology

The Roman attitudes towards bathing are well documented; they built large thermal baths (

Bath, England, then part of Roman Britain.[citation needed
]

Not all ancient baths were in the style of the large pools that often come to mind when one imagines the

volcanic island.[citation needed
]

Both the Greeks and the Romans recognized the value of bathing as an important part of their lifestyles. Writers such as

Arcadia. Public baths are mentioned by the comedian Aristophanes as βαλανεία, balaneía (sing.: βαλανείον, balaneíon, Latinized as balneum, a "balneary").[citation needed
]

16th century and beyond

Throughout the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, the use of

public baths declined gradually in the West, and private spaces were favored, thus laying the foundations for the bathroom, as it was to become, in the 20th century. However, increased urbanization led to the creation of more baths and washhouses in Britain.[citation needed
]

In Japan shared bathing in

sento and onsen (spas) still exists, the latter being very popular.[citation needed
]

Cultural historian Barbara Penner has written of the ambiguous nature of bathrooms as both the most private space and one most connected to the wider outside world.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ "bathroom". Marriam-Webster). Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  2. ISBN 9780979882036
    .
  3. ^ "The Benefits of a Jack and Jill Bathroom - Bob Vila". Bob Vila. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  4. ^ "Washroom vs. restroom: Why do Canadians say one and Americans the other?". National Post. August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "Top 10 Bathroom Design Ideas". KitchenCarpets.com. August 13, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  6. ^ "Why You Should Buy a Bidet". TheSpruce. June 13, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  7. ^ "The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1987". Legislation UK.
  8. ^ "Bathroom Zones and IP Ratings Explained". Bathrooms.
  9. ^ "Lighting research center - Bathroom lighting". Article from lighting research center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY 12180 USA). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  10. ISBN 0-684-83718-8
    .
  11. OCLC 834404623.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link
    )

Further reading
  • Media related to Bathroom at Wikimedia Commons
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