Modular Shower Index

1. Abstract
2. Design Rationale
3. Conditions of Satisfaction for Module Build
4. System Part Diagram
5. Bathroom Layout
6. Panels
1. Pedestal
2. Valve Panel
3. Separating Panel
4. Wall Panels
7. Pedestal Build Detail
8. Bill of Materials

Abstract

The modular shower is an open source, parallel-built module with well-defined interfaces which is part of a 5 day parallel build of a complete Seed Eco-Home from scratch with a team of 30-60 people. Designed for an Extreme Build workflow, it allows for building the module outside of the house and installing it rapidly by putting it into place and making 3 plumbing connections: hot + cold water in, and 2” drain out.

Cunning Plan 1

Tub Shell

Base

Valve Panel

Shower Head 78” from base

Water Inlet + Outlet

Drain + Overflow

Drain Pipe, 1.5”

Divider Wall

Note that Plumbing Panel and Divider Wall sits on top of Pedestal, while West Wall sits on floor

West wall

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Goes to 8’ Tall

West wall

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Cunning Plan 2

1. Build Pedestal
1. Plywood on base, except for south end for drains
2. Measure required length by length after toilet-divider wall, leaving space for a 2x6 wall

Pedestal Top View

Pedestal Side View

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31”

5’8”

5’

4’

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17”

[5] 1x4 lumber slats

¾” OSB or Plywood

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1.5” Hub to Slip Joint

1.5” PVC

Notch in OSB for plumbing

1.5” PVC

Extend this up so there is never standing water above mechanical joint

Do we really know this length?

Drain from sink?

2q

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Wall section to fit

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½” above X

X

Y

Bathroom Layout Concept

6”

Shower

4’ wide

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Toilet Panel

4’ wide

Toilet out to Utility Room, pumped

Macerating Pump

Sink

3’ or 4’ panel

To drain pit

P Line

Commercial Version 2.5 slip in or 3” slip over

8’

2’2”

5’

(60” stall)

4”

Openable Panel

South Shower Wall Sits on top of Pedestal. South shower wall 8’ tall minus pedestal height.

Plywood covering South Wall is 8’ tall minus the amount needed to connect to top plywood for connection to ceiling.

4’

4’

2x4 Wall with Plywood on toilet side

Utility Channel

4’

1’

2x6 wall

Over utility channel

North Shower Wall Sits on top of Pedestal

Length will be determined by end of shower stall

Design Rationale

• House plumbing is a complex interconnected system. To facilitate rapid parallel builds of plumbing systems, components are turned into modules.
• Modular elements have well-defined interfaces, so that they can fit with the rest of the system - while being built independently from the rest of the system.
• The shower is thus turned into a module with an interface of:
• [2] ½” PEX flexible pipes for water inlets (hot and cold water)
• [1] drain outlet that covers both the tub drain and tub overflow
• The module is built on a pedestal so that it can be built in the workshop in parallel and carried to the bathroom after the module is complete
• Since a shower module can be heavy, it can be made as 4 parts:
• Pedestal: functions as a container for drainage system, as well as a stepping platform for the person taking a shower. Serves as base for shell, North, and South walls.
• Valve panel: main part of shower system including the shower head
• Shower Shell: has holes for the faucet and valve
• Wall panels: just a placeholder for return plumbing
• Effluent goes into soak pit
• This module thus becomes a universal unit that can be fit into any modular house

Conditions of Satisfaction for Modular Build

• Module is built with Drain Outlet that plugs readily into the drainage system of the Seed Home -
• Preferred route is some form of telescoping pipe union which allows for several inches of module location tolerance
• Water inlets occur via PEX crimps
• PEX is flexible and thus allows for a flexible tolerance for making the connection
• Module can be put into place readily, with a few screws connecting the whole system so installation takes on the order of 1 hour including plumbing fittings
• Step 1: pedestal is installed next to toilet pedestal
• Step 2: Separating panel is installed
• Step 3: Shell, with drainage kit, is installed into place, and drainage kit is connected to pedestal drainage plumbing
• Step 4: Valve panel is added, with faucet and valve kit attached to white side of shell, and water source attached to the Valve Panel
• Step 5: West wall panels are added
• Step 6: Drainage PVC is mounted up to the Utility Channel
• Step 7: Valve panel is covered and trim is added to South and West wall modules.

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Pedestal + Panel Breakdown

6”

Shower Base

4’ wide

8’ long

2’2”

5’ long

4”

• Pedestal: functions as a container for drainage system, as well as a stepping platform for the person taking a shower
• Plumbing panel: guts of shower
• Shower Shell
• Wall panels: just placeholder for return plumbing

Pedestal 2

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Shower base includes exit of tub

5’

31”

5’8”

2x4 wall ends even with shower shell

2x6 bathroom wall panel stands on top of pedestal on South side. Next East panel is not even.

2x6 bathroom wall panel stands on top of floor on West side

Water source lines

Delta faucet valve

South panel includes valve plumbing, but is adjustable for final fit. Shell is predrilled for valve hole and faucet hole.

Shell is pre-drilled and leveling blocks are fixed to pedestal so that shell is simply placed on top of pedestal and fixed at bottom to East trim. Then South side is fixed by installing the South panel and fixing trim to vertical and top sides. Then W wall is fixed to floor and S panel

Move this over next to tub

Build + Install Workflow: Pedestal + Shell

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5’

31”

5’8”

Pedestal Build:

1. Shell is fit in place
2. Exit plumbing is fit in place
1. Overflow and drain kit connected
2. p trap, 1.5” PVC
3. Hole is out the West side of Pedestal, stubbed to the edge of the pedestal - ready to accept 90 deg angle

Valve assembly:

• Plumb the valve (next page)
• Valve plumbing determines separation between spout and mixing valve

Shower Shell:

• 1” Spout hole is drilled 4” above tub height in shell
• 3” Mixing valve hole is drilled above spout according to valve assembly separation (make valve assembly first)

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Valve Panel

Tub Height

48”

31” to edge of shower

Shower Head 78” from bottom of panel

Spigot

Adjustable plywood + cross members holding Valve Assembly

Valve

Steps for Fitting to Shower Shell:

1. Build valve panel
2. Build valve assembly. Use valve assembly for measuring subsequent holes
3. Set shower head location at 78” and mark 1” oversized holes:
1. 1 hole through plywood for shower head.
2. 2 holes in shower shell: valve + faucet

Plywood backing

No Plywood backing up to 2” above valve (drainage and plumbing through-access is needed)

P-Trap Stub

(in Pedestal)

10”

20”

Top of Shower

Shell

14.5” away from leftwall

Reinforcing

Block above tub

Overflow Location

Bottom Drain

Width = 8.5

Valve Assembly vBOM

3”

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Shower Head Screws in here

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Water inlet

Water inlet

Faucet slips over the PEX

48”

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Nip size should make for 5” vale-spigot separation

Visual BOM

Shower Shell