5.303 Indoor Water Use – Above Green

5.303.1 Meters

Separate submeters or metering devices shall be installed for the uses described in Sections 5.303.1.1 and 5.303.1.2.

5.303.1.1 New Buildings or Additions in Excess of 50,000 Square Feet

Separate submeters shall be installed as follows:

For each individual leased, rented, or other tenant space within the building projected to consume more than 100 gal/day (380 L/day), including, but not limited to, spaces used for laundry or cleaners, restaurant or food service, medical or dental office, laboratory, or beauty salon or barber shop.
Where separate submeters for individual building tenants are unfeasible, for water supplied to the following subsystems:
1. Makeup water for cooling towers where flow through is greater than 500 gpm (30 L/s).
2. Makeup water for evaporative coolers greater than 6 gpm (0.04 L/s).
3. Steam and hot-water boilers with energy input more than 500,000 Btu/h (147 kW).

5.303.1.2 Excess Consumption

A separate submeter or metering device shall be provided for any tenant within a new building or within an addition that is projected to consume more than 1,000 gal/day.

5.303.2 Reserved

5.303.3 Water Conserving Plumbing Fixtures and Fittings

Plumbing fixtures (water closets and urinals) and fittings (faucets and showerheads) shall comply with the following:

5.303.3.1 Water Closets

The effective flush volume of all water closets shall not exceed 1.28 gallons per flush. Tank-type water closets shall be certified to the performance criteria of the U.S. EPA WaterSense Specification for Tank-Type Toilets.

Note: The effective flush volume of dual flush toilets is defined as the composite, average flush volume of two reduced flushes and one full flush.

5.303.3.2 Urinals

5.303.3.2.1 Wall-Mounted Urinals

The effective flush volume of wall-mounted urinals shall not exceed 0.125 gallons per flush.

5.303.3.2.2 Floor-Mounted Urinals

The effective flush volume of floor-mounted or other urinals shall not exceed 0.5 gallons per flush.

5.303.3.3 Showerheads. [BSC-CG]

5.303.3.3.1 Single Showerhead

Showerheads shall have a maximum flow rate of not more than 1.8 gallons per minute at 80 psi. Showerheads shall be certified to the performance criteria of the U.S. EPA WaterSense Specification for Showerheads.

5.303.3.3.2 Multiple Showerheads Serving One Shower

When a shower is served by more than one showerhead, the combined flow rate of all showerheads and/or other shower outlets controlled by a single valve shall not exceed 1.8 gallons per minute at 80 psi, or the shower shall be designed to allow only one shower outlet to be in operation at a time.

Note: A hand-held shower shall be considered a showerhead.

5.303.3.3.3 Showerheads. [DSA-SS]

5.303.3.3.3.1 Single Showerhead

Showerheads shall have a maximum flow rate of not more than 2.0 gallons per minute at 80 psi. Showerheads shall be certified to the performance criteria of the U.S. EPA WaterSense Specification for Showerheads.

5.303.3.3.3.2 Multiple Showerheads Serving One Shower

When a shower is served by more than one showerhead, the combined flow rate of all showerheads and/or other shower outlets controlled by a single valve shall not exceed 2.0 gallons per minute at 80 psi, or the shower shall be designed to allow only one shower outlet to be in operation at a time.

Note: A hand-held shower shall be considered a showerhead.

5.303.3.4 Faucets and Fountains

5.303.3.4.1 Nonresidential Lavatory Faucets

Lavatory faucets shall have a maximum flow rate of not more than 0.5 gallons per minute at 60 psi.

5.303.3.4.2 Kitchen Faucets

Kitchen faucets shall have a maximum flow rate of not more than 1.8 gallons per minute at 60 psi. Kitchen faucets may temporarily increase the flow above the maximum rate, but not to exceed 2.2 gallons per minute at 60 psi, and must default to a maximum flow rate of 1.8 gallons per minute at 60 psi.

5.303.3.4.3 Wash Fountains

Wash fountains shall have a maximum flow rate of not more than 1.8 gallons per minute/20 [rim space (inches) at 60 psi].

5.303.3.4.4 Metering Faucets

Metering faucets shall not deliver more than 0.20 gallons per cycle.

5.303.3.4.5 Metering Faucets for Wash Fountains

Metering faucets for wash fountains shall have a maximum flow rate of not more than 0.20 gallons per cycle/20 [rim space (inches) at 60 psi].

Note: Where complying faucets are unavailable, aerators or other means may be used to achieve reduction.

5.303.4 Commercial Kitchen Equipment

5.303.4.1 Food Waste Disposers

Disposers shall either modulate the use of water to no more than 1 gpm when the disposer is not in use (not actively grinding food waste/no-load) or shall automatically shut off after no more than 10 minutes of inactivity. Disposers shall use no more than 8 gpm of water.

Note: This code section does not affect local jurisdiction authority to prohibit or require disposer installation.

5.303.5 Areas of Addition or Alteration

For those occupancies within the authority of the California Building Standards Commission as specified in Section 103, the provisions of Sections 5.303.3 and 5.303.4 shall apply to new fixtures in additions or areas of alteration to the building.

5.303.6 Standards for Plumbing Fixtures and Fittings

Plumbing fixtures and fittings shall be installed in accordance with the California Plumbing Code, and shall meet the applicable standards referenced in Table 1701.1 of the California Plumbing Code and in Chapter 6 of this code.

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