Appeal 32384

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The minimum number of showers to be provided in the use “Residential – Dormitories, fraternities, sororities and boarding houses” is 1 per 8 occupants. Count is based on “actual use” not just Chapter 10 occupant load.

Increase the ratio of required showers per occupant from 1:8 to 1:10

The project proposes a ratio of 1 shower per 10 residents. Ratios as high as 1 shower per 13 residents have proven successful at mass shelters within the City of Portland operated by the County.

Sleeping pods = (29) at 64 sf each = 1,856 sf
1,856 sf / 50 sf/occupant = 38 occupants

With ratio of 1:8 (per Code requirement) - 4.75 showers required
With proposed ratio of 1:10 - 3.80 (round to 4) showers provided

Construction of unneeded showers represents a hardship on this community service project. The facility will be used as an outdoor shelter operated by a nonprofit organization contracted by the owner (Multnomah County). Shower use by shelter residents occurs over a longer period of the day than in a typical residential building where most people are preparing within the same few hours for the start of a traditional work day, so fewer showers are needed.

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1110.2 Toilet and bathing facilities: Each toilet or bathing room shall be accessible.

Exception 6 – Toilet rooms or bathing rooms designed for bariatric patients are not required to comply with the toilet room and bathing room requirement in ICC A117.1.

ICC A117.1-608.2.2.3 Seat – A folding seat complying with Section 610 shall be provided on an end wall.

Requested to interpret bathing rooms in this outdoor shelter as being designed for bariatric “patients”.

Propose to provide showers without attached folding shower seats, and instead provide stand-alone, portable seats which are capable of supporting heavier patients and withstanding the harsh use of this congregate shelter environment.

Multnomah County has tried several manufactured shower stalls with heavy-duty fold-down seats, all with failures of the seats, resulting in injured residents and damaged shower stalls (see photos). Stand-alone, portable seats provide greater capacity and safety for users.

A study published by Public Health Reports in 2013 (Obesity Among Chronically Homeless Adults: Is It a Problem?) found that "The majority (57%) of chronically homeless adults were overweight or obese.”

Existing shelters designed with folding seats, even heavy-duty seats with high weight-capacity listings, have failed with safety and damage results. Portable free-standing seats provide a safer, more durable and better accommodation for congregate shelter residents.

BDS Temporary Outdoor Shelters Program Guide

III.D.3 A building code appeal through the BDS is required for a shelter to continue operating for more than two years.

Allow outdoor shelter to continue for five years under the conditions of the Temporary Outdoor Shelters Program Guide.

Extend the approval time frame for this Temporary Outdoor Shelter from two years to five years.

Sleeping spaces (‘pods’) will comply with the requirements of IV.A.2.b (having an electrical connection that provides a radiant heat source, smoke detector, light, light switch, and electrical outlet) allowing spacing between sleeping spaces to be reduced to six feet.

Construction of this sleeping pod village represents an investment of public resources. The County needs to maximize this investment by building an outdoor shelter for at least five years.