The shelves in the steam room are needed for good rest and relaxation. Most often they are made in several tiers. Design features and dimensions depend on the quadrature of the steam room and the level of the upper floor. The height of the benches in the bath is chosen taking into account the convenience of placing a person at the time of sitting and lying. On the upper tier, people should not rest their heads against the ceiling or lie with one hand hanging.
- What you need to know about bathroom shelves
- Design features
- Pull-out shelves in the steam room, sauna
- Removable and collapsible shelves
- Differences between the conditions of the Russian bath and sauna
- What materials are suitable for manufacturing
- Types of wood used in the bath
- Optimal shelf dimensions
- Calculation of the length and width of the lounger
- At what height to place a bench in a Russian bath
- Sauna steam room width
What you need to know about bathroom shelves
Single-tier simple benches are portable or stationary structures. The dimensions of the shelves in the steam room are 40-50 cm wide, if they are for sitting. To lie down, the plane is increased to 90 cm, but finally take the size taking into account the complexion of the person.
Location features:
- shelves are built between the walls in small rooms or are L-shaped, if there is room for this;
- the height is chosen so that the knees of the person do not protrude beyond the line of the hips, but so that the legs are supported on the floor;
- The standard height for an adult is 30 - 50 cm.
Stepped shelf systems are installed in small baths. The height of the curtains in the steam room is chosen so that the next beds can be accessed from the bottom, standing on it with your feet. The benches are placed away from the stove so as not to burn yourself if the hearth is located in a steam chamber.
Design features
The two-storey design of the shelves increases the functionality of the steam chamber. Hot steam rises and the temperature is always lower in the floor area. A participant in the process, after lying on the upper shelf, can reduce the heating of the body on the bench below.
The height of the shelves in the steam room of a two-tier structure is chosen taking into account the fact that sometimes the structure is mounted permanently, it cannot be changed, and the support posts are fixed to the vertical plane. The lower parts can be retractable, collapsible for ease of maintenance and cleaning.
Three-tier benches are used in large baths, while the maximum width of the shelf in the bath at the highest height is chosen. There are rooms where multi-tiered structures are placed opposite each other, if there are no hoods and glazed windows in the adjacent walls.
Pull-out shelves in the steam room, sauna
It is problematic to make a retractable structure, since the wood swells from moisture, as well as the guides along which it travels. Metal parts must not be used due to the risk of burns. The heights of the sliding shelves in the sauna range from 20 cm to the standard size of 40 - 50 cm.
In the first case, the bench is considered as a foot support, and the width is taken as for sitting, since they do not lie on such benches. The pull-out bottom shelves are removed after several uses for airing and drying outdoors.
Movable benches are made in a direct arrangement, sometimes they are assembled opposite each other. The distance between opposite benches should be at least 80 cm so that people can move around comfortably in the steam room. The legs of mobile structures are provided with anti-slip rubber pads.
Removable and collapsible shelves
Structures do not differ in size from a standard multi-tiered frame.Thus, the owner of the bath saves space, frees up surfaces for cleaning. The choice of removable surfaces removes restrictions on the height and width of the sauna benches.
There is a variant of reclining benches at different levels, more often the shelves of the upper tier are made like that. In removable shelves, the entire structure or only the upper flooring is removed for drying and ventilation.
The frame is not made collapsible, it is permanently fixed to the wall, and jumpers are mounted on the side elements for strength and stability. In removable versions, the flooring is made in the form of an independent structure, and is attached to the base for operational safety. The seat backs are also collapsible.
Differences between the conditions of the Russian bath and sauna
The main differences are:
- Inside the sauna, a temperature regime is created in the range of +90 - + 120 ° С, humidity is about 20%. Air convection is difficult to control as the hot metal oven produces uncontrolled currents. The temperature is set for 10-15 minutes in the sauna.
- In the bath, the temperature does not rise above +60 - + 70 ° С, sometimes it warms up to + 80 ° С. Soft heat comes from the stove, and the percentage of humidity ranges from 60 - 70%. It is possible to regulate the air flow from the closed heater, and oxygen inside the steam room is not burnt out by hot stones.
They do not build a pool in the bathhouse, but in the sauna they often have one. In Russian baths, snow or an open pond nearby is used for cooling.
What materials are suitable for manufacturing
Raw wood, which is obtained after cutting and sawing trunks, is not suitable for shelves. Under the influence of temperature, the material warps, changes size, and saturation with moisture leads to swelling. A board with a large number of knots is discarded. The surface should be free of mold, cracks along and across, and rot.
Acceptable materials for making shelves:
- Linden;
- Pine;
- Birch.
For shelves, wood is used depending on thermal conductivity, taking into account moisture resistance, hardness and density. They take boards with the correct geometry; curved, bent, twisted lumber with different thicknesses at both ends is not suitable. Such elements, when setting the width of the shelves in the steam room, will give large gaps.
Types of wood used in the bath
Linden is a common option, and when heated, the tree produces a pleasant honey smell. The rock belongs to the group of soft materials, it is impregnated before installation from the action of moisture. Linden secretes substances that are popularly considered antiseptics. The wood does not heat up, so you cannot burn yourself on the shelf. The breed darkens over time.
Pine is an inexpensive, medium hard wood. The material is not suitable for a steam room, since at a temperature of + 40 ° C it releases resinous components into the surrounding space. Works great in the wash and shower chamber. Material of low thermal conductivity, well processed with a saw, milling cutter, plane.
Birch also has a medium density, when heated, it retains a pleasant to the touch warmth. Wood products serve for a long time, boards differ in light brownish and reddish shades. The fragrance belongs to the group of antibacterial odors. Wood from old trunks is more difficult to handle.
Optimal shelf dimensions
The height of the shelf in the bath, which is located below, is determined by the level of the location of the red-hot stones of the stone stove. Those sitting on the highest bench in the bath should be able to use a broom, so the height to the ceiling is made from 1.1 - 1.2 m.
The stones in the stove, according to the standard, are almost always one meter from the floor surface, which is why a steam room with one tier of benches is made 2.1 - 2.2 m high.The air temperature rises every 30 cm of height by about 10 ° C, and by the top tier becomes maximum.
The upper benches are made so that, while sitting on them, you can rest your feet on the shelves of the previous level.The lower limbs can withstand a higher temperature than the head, so a stand is made on the upper lounger. In a horizontal position, the legs will be on an elevation relative to the body.
Calculation of the length and width of the lounger
The length is chosen according to the formula L = b + 20, where:
- L - the length of the lounger (cm);
- b - person's height (cm).
If it is not possible to build shelves of the required length, calculate the size so that you can rest while lying on your back, bending your knees. Usually this size is taken as 1.5 m. The boards should be intact in length, without joints, and between them leave gaps of 1 cm for water drainage and ventilation.
The width is taken so that the person lies freely on his back, and his arms are located on both sides along the body.
At what height to place a bench in a Russian bath
If a bather is working in the room, it is more convenient for him to make a professional lounger at a height of 0.75 - 0.85 m from the surface of the floor covering.
This height is calculated by the formula: T = v + 0.5 cm, where:
- T - the height of the top of the bench (cm);
- V is the distance from the floor to the middle phalanx of the index finger (cm).
The height of the bench in the bathhouse on the first tier is made at the level of movement of the heat flow from the stove, so that the person fully uses the heat to release sweat and relax. The second tier and subsequent ones are performed at a height of 45 - 50 cm from the top of the first floor. This will allow your feet to rest freely on the previous bench at a 90 ° angle.
Sauna steam room width
People are in the sauna for a short time, so a bench width of 40 cm is sufficient if you sit with your back straight. For a more comfortable position, when you can lean back, they take a width of 60 cm.A gap of 60 cm is made between the seat and the front door in order to put your legs and turn around at the entrance.
People often sit in the sauna rather than lie down, so the length of the bench does not really matter, but it is taken, if necessary, at a level of 1.5 m. Foot rests are made on the wall in front of the seat. The dimensions of the sauna booth are small, the shelves take up space along one wall, the rest is allocated to the heating stove and doors.
