grooves around the outer edge of its face. The spray in this type of head can be regulated. The economy head, also shown in figure 5-29, has a restricted nozzle that provides a finer spray and uses less water. Both shower heads have a ball-and-socket joint for adjusting the direction of the spray.

Shower heads are usually made of chrome- or nickel-plated brass. Newer types of shower heads are made of noncorrosive plastic. Deposits tend to form on the shower head because of the chemical content of the water; therefore, occasional maintenance is required to keep them functioning properly.

The most important requirement in a shower installation is the absolute waterproofing of walls and floors. Walls are less of a problem than floors since they are subject only to splashing of water and do not have water standing or collecting on them. Careful installation of tile or other impervious material with waterproof cement generally suffices to provide a waterproof wall installation. In the installation of the floor, an impervious waterproof subbase must be put under the shower floor, or water standing on the floor will gradually seep through and cause leaks.

Concrete shower pans, used with prefabricated steel shower stalls, are relatively easy to install. In many cases, steel shower stalls are set up after the original construction. In this case, the cement base is usually not recessed into the floor but is laid directly on top of the floor.

Generally, steel fabricated shower stalls are being replaced with fiber glass and plastics. All of the units are installed in the same manner. The dimension for the finished interior of a shower stall should be at least 30 inches. The shower head should be a minimum of 68 inches above the level of the drain on the shower pan (fig. 5-30). Figure 5-31 shows a cutaway view of a shower pan. All seams should be caulked to prevent leaking, and all pipe openings in the wall of the stall should be sealed. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions that accompany the fixtures and trim. In

Figure 5-30. - Shower stalls and sections.