Plumbing: Fine-Tuning Fixture Specification

Part 1: Plumbing: Specification Tips for High-Efficiency Toilets, Urinals

Part 2: Plumbing Fixtures: WaterSense Label Provides Guidance

Part 3: High-Efficiency Toilets: Consider Drain-Line Carry

Part 4: The Three Applications of Lavatory Faucets

Part 5: PRODUCTS: Plumbing & Restrooms

The Three Applications of Lavatory Faucets

By Winston Huff - May 2010 - Plumbing & Restrooms

Managers typically specify lavatory faucets for three broad applications.

The first category is hand washing in public restrooms. Most codes require flow rates of 0.5 gallons per minute (gpm), a minimum to earn LEED credits.

The second category is private fixtures used for moderate hand washing and light bathing — face washing, shaving, or teeth brushing. Codes usually refer to these facilities as private lavatories. Managers typically specify fixtures that use 1.8 gpm or less for these applications.

The third category is private fixtures used for heavy hand washing, such as medical, culinary, and maintenance applications. These applications require more water, so managers can specify fixtures that use 1.8-2.2 gpm. Most codes restrict these fixtures to less than 2.2 gpm.

Winston Huff, CPD, LEED AP, is a project manager, system designer, and sustainability coordinator with Smith Seckman Reid, a consulting engineering firm in Nashville, Tenn.