How “Safe” is Your Bathroom?

When you hear it said that bathrooms can be unsafe you might not think that a half ton of steel would be the answer. But bathrooms can be one of the most dangerous places in a home, with a multitude of potential hazards. Starting with tiled floors which can become slippery when wet to the glass in the windows.
All windows with glass that is less than five feet above the floor of a bath tub, must have safety glass fitted if installed after 1977, as does a shower enclosure. You can check the glass by looking in the corners for the word tempered in faint gray lettering.

All receptacles (outlets) in the bathroom must be protested by a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) which cuts the power should an appliance be dropped into water. GFCI’s can be identified by the two buttons test & reset on the front of them or a breaker type in the electric panel.
Whirlpool tubs must also be GFCI protected to prevent electrocution in the event the motor malfunctions. The GFCI must be readily accessible (not under the tub behind secured panels) in the bathroom area or at the breaker panel.

All faucets must have the hot faucet on the left and cold on the right. Mixer valves in showers must turn on starting with cold water and getting hotter as the valve is rotated to the left, this is to prevent unintentional scalding. Water temperatures from faucets should not be more than 125 degrees, this is to prevent scalding, water temperature can be adjusted at the water heater.

Water heaters have a visible knob on the front, electric water heaters have two panels on the front that must be removed, then the temperature can be lowered using a screw driver.

Light fixtures above the tub or shower must be enclosed, exposed light bulbs are not permitted. For those who are not sure footed it is advisable to have grab bars installed to aid using the toilet, shower and bath.

Getting back to that twenty seven cubic foot safe in a bathroom closet, we can only guess at what their idea of bathroom safety was.