12.7 PLUMBING FIXTURES A plumbing fixture is an approved receptacle, device, or appli~ ance that uses water and discharges wastewater such as a water closet, urinal, faucet, shower, dishwasher, drinking fountait hose connection, hose bibb, water heater, water softener, under- ground sprinkler, hot tub, spa, and clothes washer. They must ‘be made of dense, durable, nonabsorbent materials with smooth, impermeable surfaces. Plumbing fiatures are the only part of the plumbing system that the owners or occupants of the build- ing will sce regularly, because most of the plumbing piping is soncealed in walls and floors. ‘The designer of the plumbing system, the architect, the engineer, the plumber, and/or the owner may select plumbing fixtures. It is important that the designer of the plumbing sys- tem know what fixtures will be used (and even the manufac- turer and model number, if possible) in onder to do an accurate job in designing the system. All fixtures should be carefully selected as they will be in use for years, perhaps for the life of the building. The available sizes for each fixture should be carefully checked in relation to the amount of space available. Most man- ‘ufacturers supply catalogs that show the dimensions of the fix- tures they supply. Whoever selects the fixtures should check with the local supplier to be certain that those chosen are read- ily available; if nol, they may have to be ordered far in advas ‘of the time they are required for installation. Most of the fixtures are available in white or colors, so the color must also bbe selected. Plumbing fixtures are classified according to their use. Groups of two or more like fixtures that are served by a common drainage branch are known as a group of fixtures. ‘Types of plumbing fixtures and related design concerns are as follows. Water Closets A water closet is a plumbing fixture that serves as an indoor re- ceptacle and removal system for human waste. Although this fixture is commonly called a roiler or commode, the building code specifically refers to it as a water closet. Water closets are typically made of solid vitrified china cast with an inte- gral (built-in) trap. They are also available in stainless steel that is typically specified for high-vandalism installations Such as at highway rest stops, outdoor recreation areas, jails, and detention centers. Examples of water closets are shown in Photos 12.10 and 12.11 In North America, water closets are available as single ‘flush, flush tank, or flush valve fixtures. Present require- ments limit average water consumption to 1.6 gal (6.0 L) per flush. These are known as ultra-low flush (ULF) water closets. Infrared and ultrasonic sensors can be built into the flush valve to automatically flush and avoid nonflushing or double flushing.PHOTO 42.10 A must tank water closet (Ue with permission of ANC} PHOTO 12.11 A walt mount, mst val walle ch Not tho ‘al cloanex caver a he oor fo ko thigh of wear chon (Used with pormision of ANC) AA flush tank water closet has a water tank as part of the fix- ture. (See Figure 12.12.) As the handle or bution on a water closet is pushed, it lifts the valve in the tank, releasing the water to flush out the bowl. Then, when the handle is released, the valve drops. and the tank fills through a tube attached to the bottom of the tank. ‘This type of water closet cannot be effectively flushed again until the tank is refilled, Foam lining can be installed in the tank to min- mize condensation on the outside of a toilet tank by insulating the cold water in the tank from warm, humid air. Flush tank models range from those having the tank asa separate unit set on the closet bowl to those having a low tank silhouette with the tank cast as an integral part of the water closet. Generally, clients prefer this low-slung appearance but it is considerably more expensive.Flush valve water closets have no tank to supply water. Instead, when the handle is pushed, the water to flush the bow! comes directly from the water supply system al a high rate of flow. When used, itis important that the water supply system be designed to supply the high flow required. Although most of the fixtures operatc effectively at a pressure of 20 psi (140 kPa), the manufacturer's specifications should be confirmed because higher pressure is often required. Water closets may be floor or wall mounted. The floor mounted fixture is much less expensive in terms of initial cost, but the wall-mounted fixture allows easier and gencrally more effective cleaning of the floor. It is acceptable for most residen- lial applications. Wall-mounted fixtures are considered de: able for public use, and some codes even require their use in public places. When wall-mounted fixtures are used in wood stud walls, a wider wall will be required than is sometimes used with foor-mounted fixtures. ‘The dual-flush water closet, a technology first developed in the early 1980s, takes water conservation one step further by using 1.6 gal (6.0 L) of water to flush solid waste but only 08 gal (3.0 L) to Mush liquid waste. Although this technology is mandated in some countries (¢.g., Australia and Singapore), iL is optional in North America. ‘The National Association of Home Builders Research Center (NAHB) completed performance tests on 49 popular toilet models. One element of this study provided a relative rat- ing called the Flush Performance Index (KPI). EPI ratings ranged from 0 to 82, with lower numbers being beer, The FPI for cach toilet was calculated from the ability of a toilet to flush varying amounts of sponges and paper. The study was limited: Only two specimens of cach toilet model were tested, and the sponges and paper used in the testing may not be a suitable sub- stitute for measuring real-world toilet performance, ‘Thus, the {esting results do not serve as an exact measure of how specific 1 oO YY ot rT Two pce One piece FIGURE 12.12 Fushtark water closets. rr fe Floor mounted Wal mounted FIGURE 12.13 Flush valve wale closats.— 7] Washdown Reverse trap Least expensive Efficient Least efficient Moderately noisy Noisiest Siphon jet Efficient Quietest Fairly quiet ‘Most expensive FIGURE 12.14 Types of flushing actions used in a water doset. Water flows into the bow! from the bow! rim. This raises the water level in the bow! to fil the gooseneck pathway. As water fills the gooseneck, the water and waste remaining in the bow! is sucked up and into the gooseneck by a siphoning action. Urinals Urinals are plumbing fixtures that are commonly used in public restrooms where it is desirable to reduce possible contamina tion of the water closet seats. They are commonly available in vitreous china and sometimes in enameled iron. They are also available in stainless steel for high-vandalism installations Floor and trough-type urinals are no longer allowed in new construction. Examples of urinals are shown in Figure 12.15 and Photos 12.12 and 12.13. Urinals are available as flush tank or flush valve fixtures. Present requirements typically limit average water consump- tion to 1.0 gal (3.8 L) per flush. These are known as the ULF urinals, Special metal urinals with straight drain lines limit av- erage water consumption to 0.5 gal (1.9 L) per flush.Stall FIGURE 12.15 1ypos of uinais. PHOTO 12.12 Awallmounted, ush valve urn, (Used with permission of AIC) PHOTO 12.13. group of urinals soparated by partons. (Used with permission f ABC)PHOTO 12.14 Awateress unnal, which represents the most ‘water offciont trina! option because they provide frst cost savings {(09.,oliminating tho need o provide a water ino and ash valve) ard less maintenance (0.0. leaks, valve repairs, and watsr overflows) ‘vor tho conventional urinals, (Cars of NRELZDOE) Bidets Bidets are personal hygiene plumbing fixtures used for genital and perineal cleanliness. Its typically used after using the water closet. Equipped with valves for hot and cold water, the inside walls of the bow! are washed the same way as a standard toilet. ‘The bidet is not designed or intended to carry away solid human ‘waste. It is installed alongside the water closet. The user sits on the fixture facing the wall (and the water controls) and cleansed by a rinsing spray. Bidets are available in vitreous china. Some bidets have a warm air dryer that is used to blow dry the genital and perineal area after washing. The bidet is used ex- tensively in Europe and South America and is enjoying increased usage in Canada and the United States. (See Figure 12.16.) FIGURE 12.16 bidet. Bathtubs Bathtubs are plumbing fixtures used for bathing. See Photos 12.15 through 12.17. They are available in enameled iron, castiron, or fiberglass. ‘Tubs are available in a variety of sizes, the ‘most common being 30 or 32 in (760 or 810 mm) wide; 12, 14, ‘or 16 in (300, 350 or 400 mm) high; and 4 to 6 fi(1.2 to 18 m) long. Whiripool bathtubs are fitted with jets that propel a cur- reat of warm water in a swirling motion. Enameled izon tubs are formed of steel that is clad with a porcelain enamel finish. They are generally available in lengths of 4 and 5 fi (1.37 and 1.53 m); widths of 30 to 31 in (760 to ‘785 mm); and typical depths of 19 to 15%in (375 to 387 mm), The most commonly available length of fiberglass bath- luis s 5 11 (1.3 m), and it takes 34 to 36 in (865 to 915 mm) of ‘width to install. Generally, the fiberglass units are castin a sin- tele piece. Many include three walls (eliminating the need for a ‘ceramic ile tub surround), Is this single-piece feature, with no cracks or sharp corners lo clean, which makes the fiberglass tub so popular with clients, ‘The size of the fiberglass unit typically makes it almost impossible to fit it through the standard bathroom door, it must therefore be ordered and delivered early tobe set in place before ‘wallsand doors are finished. In wood frame buildings, these units © usally delivered to the job and putin place hefore the plas- ter or gypsum board is put on the walls or the doors installed. When selecting fiberglass tubs, be certain to specify only ‘manufacturers who are widely known and respected, with long experience in the plumbing fixture field. Off-brands often give unsatisfactory results in that the fiberglass “gives” as it is stepped on, making a slight noise. In addition, some may be far ‘more susceptible (o scratching and damage. Bathtub fittings may be installed on only one end of a tub, and the end at which they are placed designates the tub. As you fave the ub, ifthe fitings are placed on the lei itis ealled a left- ‘handed Wu, and if placed on the righ, itis right-handed. PHOTO 12.15 A luxurious bathtub with power jets in a residential bathroom. (Used with permission of ABC)PHOTO 12.16 A bathtub for a master bathroom, (Used with permission of ABC) Showers A showerhead is an overhead nozzle that sprays water down on the bather. Shower fittings may be placed over bathtubs instead of having a separate shower space; this is commonly done in residences, apartments, and motels. However, it is important that when a showerhead is used with a bathtub fixture, the walls be constructed of an impervious material such as ceramic tile. See Photos 12.18 through 12.21, Present requirements for average water consumption by a showerhead are that flow rates not exceed 2.5 gpm (9.5 L/min). These are known as low-flow showerheads. A handshower is a showerhead attached to the end of a flexible hose, which the bather can hold during bathing or showering Shower surrounds cover the walls that enclose a shower stall. A shower enclosure consists of glass panels, either framed or frameless, used to enclose bathtubs, shower modules, shower receptors, and custom-tiled showering spaces. A receptor or shower pan is a shallow basin used to catch and contain water in the bottom of a showering space. They are available in units of porcelain enameled steel, fiberglass, tile, terrazzo, marble, cement, or molded compositions. Special shower surrounds available include comer units and gang head units. A gang head shower has multiple showerheads extending from the top of a post. It is commonly used in institutions, schools, factories where workers must shower after work, and other locations where large numbers of people must shower. Shower surrounds and receptors of tile, concrete, or mar- ble may be built to any desired size or shape. Typically lead or plastic sheets are site-formed into shower pans on custom-made showers, Preformed shower stall surrounds are most commonly available in sizes of 30 in by 30 in (760 mm by 760 mm) and 30 in by 36 in (760 mm by 915 mm). Other sizes may be ordered Steel shower surrounds are usually available in sizes of 30 in by 30 in (760 mm by 760 mm) and 30 in by 36 in (760 mm by 915 mm), Special sizes may also be ordered. Fiberglass shower surrounds are commonly available in sizes of 36 in by 36 in (915 mm by 915 mm) and 36 in by 48 in (915 mm by 1220 mm)Lavatories A lavatory is a bathroom basin or sink used for personal hygiene. Lavatories are generally available in vitreous china or enameled iron, or they may be cast in plastic or a plastic com- pound with the basin an integral part of the countertop. They are also available in stainless steel for high-vandalism applica tions. See Figure 12.17 and Photos 12.22 through 12.24. Present requirements for nonmetered lavatory faucets limit the average water consumption to 2.2 gpm (8.4 L/min). Metered lavatory faucets are designed to shut off after a short period of time. They are used in public restrooms such as in transportation terminals, restaurants, and convention halls to ensure that water is shut off and not flowing freely. Metered faucets used on lavatories should not deliver more than 0.25 gal (1.0L) per use. Infrared and ultrasonic sensors can be installed to operate faucets and limit waste. Ooo W VW WS CCountontep Commer, wall Floor mourned or flge mounted FIGURE 12.17 ypoe of lovatorbs. PHOTO 12.22 Luxurious lavatories in a residential bathroom. (Used with permission of ABC)PHOTO 12.23 A pedestal lavatory. (Used with permission of ABC) Sinks Kitchen sinks are most commonly made of enameled cast iron or stainless steel. Sinks are usually available in a single- or a double-bow! arrangement; some even have a third bowl, which is much smaller. A waste disposal is typically connected to ‘one of the sink drains. Kitchen sinks are generally flush- mounted into a plastic laminate or into a composition plastic counter. Present water conserving requirements for residential kitchen sink faucets limits the average water consumption to 25 gpm (9.5 L/min). A common sink width for the kitchen is 30 in. A utility or service sink has deep, fixed basin that is supplied with hot and cold water and is used for rinsing mops and disposing cleaning water. They are often called slop sinks or mop sinks. These sinks are made of enameled cast iron or vitreous china. Most service sinks have high backs, and there may be two or as many as three bow! compart- ments. Other sinks commonly used are laundry trays, pantry sinks, bar sinks, and surgeon’s sinks. Service sinks are gener- ally available in enameled iron or in stainless steel. A floor- ‘mount sink is installed into the center of a concave floor to dispose of water. The dome strainer and grate provide a con- venient drain and catch basin for general cleaning and main- tenance tasks. Examples of types of sinks are shown in Photos 12.25 through 12.28.PHOTO 12.25 An enameled cast iron kitchen sink. (Used wilh permission of ABC) PHOTO 12,26 A stainless steel kitchen sink. (Used with permission of ABO) PHOTO 12.27 A stainless wet bar with sink. (Used with permission of ABC)