1. Residential Building Codes and Preferences For the Designer Sleeping Area
Architectural Design

2. The Sleeping Area Codes and Preferences
Bedrooms
Code Requirements
100 sq. ft minimum
Minimum width--9’-6”
A bedroom may be 9’-6”x 10’-6” (99.75 sq. ft.)
May not be 5’x 20’ (100 sq. ft.)

3. The Sleeping Area Codes and Preferences
Bedrooms--Code Requirements continued
Must have an egress window
Emergency exit (such as an egress window--EW)
EW’s must have a 5.7 sq. ft. minimum opening.
24” Minimum height
20” Minimum width
42" maximum above floor

4. The Sleeping Area Codes and Preferences
Bedrooms--Code Requirements continued
Habitable rooms must have natural light source
10% of floor area
If the EW does not provide this amount of light, a larger window or additional windows must be used.
Skylights can be used to provide the natural light.
Ceiling height of habitable rooms
7’-6" minimum
8’-0" standard
9’-10’-0" common

5. The Sleeping Area Codes and Preferences
Bedrooms--Code Requirements continued
Door sizes
2’6" code minimum
2’-8" preferred
Provides extra space for moving furniture
Must have 2’x 3’ minimum closet space
Requires 2’-4” x 3’-4” center to center (CC) framing

6. The Sleeping Area Codes and Preferences
Bedrooms--Code Requirements continued
Must have reasonable access to bathroom and toilet facilities
Varies from city to city according to local building code

7. The Sleeping Area Customary Room Sizes
Bedrooms--Preferred and customary room sizes There is no standard size for bedrooms. The list below is for reference and planning only.
1) Small S.F.- 11’0" to 12’0" CC framing size
2) Medium S.F. 12’0" to 14’0" CC framing size
3) Large S.F. 12’0" to 17’0" CC framing size
4) Luxury 240 S.F. 14’0“ to 17’0"CC framing size

8. The Sleeping Area Customary Room Sizes--Continued
Closets--Strip closet --Accessible from front only
Minimum preferred size 2’-4"x 4’-4"
Average size 2’-4"x 5’-4" or equivalent
Approximately 5’ of single rod space
Minimum door 24“
Up to 6’ of closet
Distance from door opening to end of the closet cannot exceed 24”
Strip closets over 6’ must have larger doors
ADA requires a minimum door size of 2'-8".

9. The Sleeping Area Customary Room Sizes Continued
Closets—Walk-in Closet (WIC) Accessible from inside the closet.
5’4” x 3’4” minimum CC framing
Yields 6’ for rod space.
Rod space may be increased by using double stacked rods.
Secondary BR preferred 5’4” wide and 5’-4” deep
Yields 10’ of single rod space.
Rod space may be increased by using double stacked rods
Master BR 5’4” or 6’4” wide and  10’ or more deep CC framing. Rod space may be increased by using double stacked rods as well as single rods.
Minimum door size of 24". ADA requires a minimum door size of 2’-8".

10. The Sleeping Area Customary Room Sizes Continued
Hallways/Passageways
Passageways--minimum width 36" clear
Hallways—minimum 40" clear
Using of 2’-6" door requires a clear space of 3’-4" (3’-8" CC framing).
Using a 2'-8" door requires a hall size of 3’-6" clear (3’-10" CC framing) preferred.

11. The Sleeping Area Customary Room Sizes Continued
Bathrooms--Code requirements
Must have a hand washing, toilet and bathing facilities
Water Closet Space
1’-3" space on each side of center line
1’-8" in front
1’-6” if there is a wall on the side
Must have ventilation in toilet area
Must have GFIC electrical outlets within 3’ of a water source
Bathing space --2’-6"x 2’-6" minimum
Standard tubs are 2’-6"x 5’-0”
Shower tub/shower areas must be ventilated
Lavatories --minimum of 2’-6” space in front

12. The Sleeping Area Customary Room Sizes Continued
Bathrooms—Manufacturers Specification
Standard tub--2’-6”x 5’-0”
Water closet--up to 28" front to back
1’-8" space in front minimum
Commonly 2’-8" in front --5’ wall to wall
Standard vanity/lavatory
1’-6“ to 22" deep.
Usually controlled by building code
Prefabricated showers
Start at 2’-8” square
Preferred size--3’-0”
3'-4 x 3'-4 CC framing yields a 3'-0“ x 3'-0" space.
Built in showers usually have 3’-0“ x 3’-0" CC framing up to 3’-4“ x 5’-4"

13. The Sleeping Area Customary Room Sizes Continued
Bathrooms—Preferred Sizes
Minimum full bath -5’- 0“ x 8’-0" clear
Commonly used for secondary bedrooms
Medium bath adds 1-2’ to vanity width.
A second vanity is often used for shared bathrooms.
Master baths are generally larger with added features.
Two vanities with optional make-up vanity
Custom tubs
Free-standing shower
Compartment toilet area
Built-in cabinets