[QUOTE=Guilherme;8902314]
Before any installation it’s wise to check with your local zoning office to ensure you don’t get into trouble with The Authorities.
Since there is no effluent from an Incinolet I don’t think they require anymore than the permit necessary to run electricity.
If there is effluent, no matter how minor, then you’ll run into the Environmental Authorities. Some are reasonable; some are not.
In TN, AFAIK, a “holding tank” system needs to be permitted. It does not require a perk test but will require an inspection. The biggest risk with a holding system is a failure of “flushing system” component in the toilet tank and “waterlogging” your system. We have a low-water toilet in one bathroom and, after three years, had to replace the float valve as it would not fully close and would just keep running. We are on a standard septic system so it’s not a problem (except with the water bill). If you’re on a well then you have two problems.
In TN, a very low regulation state, permits outhouses but local authorities have the power to outlaw them. In doing some checking I found information that said Texas and New York don’t permit them but Alabama does. Didn’t verify any of that. I would think an outhouse might be a marketing negative for most folks today.
G.[/QUOTE]
I’m all for rules and regs, because there are a lot of people and businesses that don’t apply brain before hammer. Take into consideration how their actions effect others, the environment.
But I have little tolerance for unreasonable, unrealistic, unnecessary. overly expensive rules and regs.
The “code police” do not, can not come on someone’s non commercial property with out very good cause to check and see if everything is up to “code”.
Code Police;
“Your stair case risers are 1/8 of an inch too high, too low, you have to tear it out and rebuild to code. Your stair treads are 1/2 inch too wide you have to tear it out and rebuild to code”.
The Code books are guide lines. They are not written in stone. If someone wants/needs to do something that is not covered by “code” and or does not comply with existing code it doesn’t mean it can’t be done. They can go to the building department and get a type of “variance” by proving what is being done will accomplish the same thing that “code” requires.
It is a PITA and time consuming. You are dealing with bureaucrats who by nature of the job do not like dealing with anything that does not have a “box to check” on the paper work that has their signature at the bottom.
I know the drill because we went through the process in the 70s when building “unconventional housing” as it was referred to.
Dealing with Code when renovating old houses especially very old one can be a total nightmare and very expensive depending on the jurisdiction. So I and other who did this as a sideline preferred to go “stealth”, “undercover” on projects that were in a high visibility area. Because there are people in the building department that are paid to drive around looking for people to write a stop work order and fine. As a friend who worked in the building department told me it not as much about public safety as it is about getting permit money and or letting the property tax people know about an upgrade and so they can possibly up the property tax. To each their own on this.
“If there is effluent, no matter how minor, then you’ll run into the Environmental Authorities. Some are reasonable; some are not”
While this is true, I have found, not personally knowing people that were put through the ringer over ridiculously minor issues. Yes, the code police might give a property owner grief/disallow a holding tank system because there is a possibility of “over flow”. They’ll tell you a couple of gallons of effluent is going to contaminate the environment, ground water that could be hundreds of feet below. While they are giving their “speech” there could be a horse several feet away relieving itself dumping several gallons of urine. But I guess that falls under “natural causes”.
For most minor. low visibility, projects, upgrades, etc with/on property that is not in suburbia and sometime even when it is. It can be better not to ask for permission but rather ask for forgiveness. To each their own on this.
In the OP case and for most people who own farms these properties generally aren’t in a highly populated area. They can pretty much do what they want under the radar of the rules and regs police. Adding a bathroom in the barn certainly is not a high viability project. I’d take my chances and do it in a way that is most cost effective and safe.
I think it is absolutely absurd in rural areas that “holding tanks” can be difficult to have permitted if allowed at all. Had a friend who’s property didn’t “perk to code” for a standard leach field. The code police insisted that he had to put in a VERY expensive Engineered system in stead of allowing a large holding tank.
After doing the math the cost of over 35 years of pumping it out when needed was still cheaper than the cost of the required Engineered system.
As told by those who were part of the “system” a lot of code requirements are driven by industry stake holders, plumbers, electricians, unions and the companies that make stuff. A few years ago in Philly a new high rise was being built. The project was held up at great cost because a newly designed and approved “vent-less” water system was being used. The Plumbing Union got its panties in a twist because installing a vent-less system require a lot less billable hours and a lot less materials.
I can’t speak about the rules and regs for Outhouses in the various states, local jurisdictions. IME on an “off grid” property I had in the foothills of Boulder Co we were required to replace our old “two holer”, standard outhouse design set on top of a big hole with one that was set on top of a holding tank. The property/house was grandfathered in as “unconventional housing”. The only reason it became an issue was because we lost everything to the “Black Tiger” forest fire in 89.
Incinolet toilets work great but I they are not for everyone. It is a “lifestyle” change so to speak. The main thing to keep in mind when installing is how it is going to be vented. These things work by “frying, cooking, boiling/evaporating” what is deposited. Ever hang out in a kitchen when someone is boiling a pot of kidneys?
If not vented with this in mind the wafting smell of the process may become very unpleasant at times. Especially when a low pressure system moves in. It can the have the same effect that it does with wood fireplace, stoves, burning leaf smoke, it forces/keeps it close to the ground instead of “up and away”.
Composting toilets also work great for those who are comfortable with certain “lifestyle” changes. The Incinolet fills with ash composting toilets fill with what is/will be “compost”. Yes when the nasty stuff is fully composted the only thing “nasty” about it is knowing what it is composted with. But you have to keep in mind when it comes time to empty the thing not everything in it is going to be fully composted. Especially one that is being used on a daily bases by a lot of people.
Again either one requires the users to know and understand there are “lifestyle” changes that have to be followed for easy operation and maintenance for the BO, house owner, boat owner, RV owner. As Cheltenham pointed out the most important being the very judicious use of TP.
Based on my experience living with girlfriends.wife, women house guests and seeing how fast they go through the stuff this may not be an easy “lifestyle” change for most. Pretty hard to “police” and place blame on any one individual,lol. I know how my friends who have boats, RVs complain. These are not daily use, 7 days a week and certainly not being used 10-15 times a day.
I am not trying to say what to do/use just pointing out things to keep in mind, think about before committing.
If the OP and or anybody has to deal with the “code police” before installing any of these. Do not tell them it will be used by the “general public”, boarders. Even if it is just one. Tell them it is only for “me, myself and I” or and my small family of 3.5 people. Other wise I doubt very much it will be allowed. We are not talking about a “weekend cabin” get away.
Or worse yet, noticing sewage sludge overflowing said manhole cover.