3.1: Plumbing Fixtures

(54 points)

GREEN GLOBES #3.1.1 Are any plumbing fixtures and fittings dedicated to the space certified as being compliant with the requirements of the U.S. EPA’s WaterSense® program?

Assessment Guidance

Plumbing engineers and architects for the project should specify plumbing fixtures that comply with the WaterSense® program. WaterSense® is a program that partners with the U.S. EPA in hopes to reduce water usage by providing information on water-efficient fixtures, new homes and services. WaterSense® created a certification program that provides third-party validation that plumbing fixtures utilize at least 20% less water than the average peer product without sacrificing performance. Products that go through this certification can display the WaterSense® label.

Currently, not all plumbing products can be certified through WaterSense®. The following items can be found with the label: 

• Lavatory faucets and accessories 
• Showerheads 
• Toilets 
• Urinals
• Weather-based irrigation controllers

Designers can verify with their fixture manufacturers which of their products have the label or can check online at http://www.epa.gov/watersense/product_search.html.

Early in the green building timeline, some building engineers were hesitant about using lower flow fixtures, especially toilets. It was feared the performance would not be comparable to its higher flow counterpart and that plumbing drain lines would get clogged more frequently. Unfortunately there was insufficient industry data at the time to prove performance in existing buildings would not suffer. Finally, a study was conducted by the Plumbing Efficiency Research Coalition and a report released in November 2012. This report concluded that the use of 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf) toilets perform similar to 1.6 gpf when all other factors, including pipe slope, are considered.

Large advances have been made in plumbing fixture design and users can be more confident that the low-flow/high efficiency products on today’s market have been tried and tested. However, this is not to say that all products perform alike. Designers should carefully consider which products to use and weigh the anticipated use, ease of maintenance, warranties, and published performance criteria for all fixtures. Once a decision has been made, the required maximum flow and flush rates should be called out for the project on the design drawings (in a plumbing fixture schedule) or in the specifications.

To avoid performance and maintenance problems, it is important to adhere to manufacturer recommendations and guidelines for the installation and operation of low-flow fixtures and connected plumbing components. When specifying lower flow fixtures, there are some recommended design tips that should be considered to ensure the plumbing drainage system is easy to maintain and kept clear of blockages. For example, drain lines for low flow toilets should be sloped at 2% (standard is 1%). Also, toilets should be placed at the end of the drain line, with low flow urinals and lavatory faucets placed closer to the riser.

Waterless urinals are available for even greater water savings but some authorities having jurisdiction do not allow their use and they should only be used in applications where the special trap fluid will be adequately maintained.

Public lavatory faucets should be kept to 0.5 gallons per minute or less and metering faucets with a flow rate of less than 0.25 gallons per 10 second cycle.

For the review, the Green Globes Assessor will be looking for published fixture flush and flow rates for all plumbing fixtures utilized in the design. The assessor will also verify that these fixtures were installed during construction.

References 

• The Green Spotlight - Switch to High-Efficiency Plumbing Fixtures to Save Water, Energy, and Money, August 25, 2010 
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - WaterSense Program

GREEN GLOBES #3.1.1.1 Toilets (maximum effective flush volume 1.28 gallons)? 

• Yes (18 points) 
• No (0 points) 
• N/A

Tooltip

Mark “N/A” where there are no toilets dedicated to the project space and/or they are centralized and not under control of the tenants.

GREEN GLOBES #3.1.1.2 Urinals that achieve one of the following: 

Use no water?

OR 

Maximum effective flush volume of 1 pint?

OR 

Maximum effective flush volume of 0.5 gallons? 

• No water (18 points) 
• Max flush ≤ 1 pint (16 points) 
• Max flush ≤ 0.5 gallons (14 points) 
• No (0 points) 
• N/A

Tooltip

Mark “N/A” where there are no urinals dedicated to the project space and/or they are centralized and not under control of the tenants.

GREEN GLOBES #3.1.1.3 Showerheads (maximum effective flow rate 2.0 gallons per minute)? 

• Yes (10 points) 
• No (0 points) 
• N/A

Tooltip

Mark “N/A” where there are no showerheads dedicated to the project space and/or they are centralized and not under control of the tenants.

GREEN GLOBES #3.1.1.4 Non-residential lavatory faucets (maximum flow rate 0.5 gallons per minute)? 

• Yes (8 points) 
• No (0 points) 
• N/A

Tooltip

Mark “N/A” where there are no non-residential dedicated to the project space and/or they are centralized and not under control of the tenants.

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