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Modular Bathroom Problem Statement

OBI is undertaking Extreme Builds - 5 day build events of full sized homes from scratch - using parallel swarm building techniques. The build includes plumbing and electrical - which are typically time-consuming in the sense that utilities are typically ‘figured out’ on the go, instead of using specific blueprints for a tightly-engineered install. To complete a house in 5 days including utilities, the plumbing system must be re-designed away from installation inefficiency - in a modular fashion so that a team can build the modules using blueprints to exact dimensions - in parallel - and mount them rapidly into place as units. Here, we design a modular bathroom from the ground up - using standard off-the-shelf parts - which allow for a rapid parallel build by virtue of modularity.

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Bathroom Layout

6”

Shower

4’ wide

Toilet Panel

4’ wide

Toilet out to Utility Room, pumped

Macerating Pump

Sink

Openable Panel

To drain pit

P Line

3D Printed

3” Diverter

Valve

Commercial Version 2.5 slip in or 3” slip over

Detail Modeling requires 3D CAD

Requires o-rings

8’ long

2’2”

5’ long

4”

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Modular Bathroom Design Rationale

To enable a rapid parallel build, we start by breaking the bathroom into independent modules with clear interface design between the modules
Modular breakdown allows for decoupling of dependencies, thereby allowing parts to be built independently
Use of pedestals under the bathroom units allows for the sink, shower, and toilet to be treated as distinct modules. Plumbing components are placed inside these pedestals
Wall modules are prepared with plumbing elements in them already.
Quick couplers for water and waste connections are used whenever possible to allow for rapid connection of parts
Design for tolerancing (design for large, forgiving tolerances in places where parts fit together) is used to provide a tight fit - by using adjustability mechanisms wherever possible
Flexible tubing is used to allow for looser tolerancing
Poka yoke parts fit is used whenever possible
Ecological design involves reusing blackwater in a biodigester, and collecting urine for agricultural fertilizer, and recycling greywater for water table recharge.

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Modular Bathroom Systems Breakdown

Wall panels

(front view)

Separating Toilet

Shower Module

Bathroom Sink Module

Door Panel

(front view)

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Generalized Mechanical Interface Design of Bathroom

Connects to Digester, hot and cold water, urine collection, and greywater leach pit
Bathroom is screwed into floor, walls, and ceiling
Effluent goes to leach pit (outside), digester (inside utility room), and urine collection drum (outside)
Bathroom is located inside house on first floor

Bathroom

Hot

Water In

Cold

Water In

Connection to Walls

Connection to Floor

Drains connect to Utility Channel

Blackwater to Biodigester

Urine Collection

Greywater to leach pit

Connection to Ceiling