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CI-2009 WEp1:Water Use Reduction—20% Reduction

Fixture Replacement

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Patrick Salmon
EIT, LEED AP BD+C
Highland Associates
LEEDuser Basic Member
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Our project will be pursuing the thirty percent (30%) savings threshold by including fixtures both within and outside the LEED project boundary. Based on the use of existing waterless urinals and metering faucets, we can achieve this goal even when considering existing 2.0 gpm kitchen hand-washing faucets. Per the CI reference guide, these faucets are well over the 0.5 public lavatory faucet baseline. Are we required to replace these in order to fully demonstrate EPAct compliance despite the thirty percent (30%) savings? Thanks! Patrick

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Mon, 04/07/2014 - 15:37

Hi Patrick, Kitchen sink faucets have a baseline flow rate of 2.2 gpm; whereas commercial lavatory (restroom) faucets have a baseline flow rate of 0.5 gpm.
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Patrick Salmon
EIT, LEED AP BD+C
Highland Associates
LEEDuser Basic Member
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Mon, 04/07/2014 - 15:46

Hi Carlie, That's what I originally thought. However, page 106 of the LEED CI reference guide states the following that I believe our project falls under: "The 'Public lavatory faucets' and 'Private lavatory faucets' categories encompass all sinks used primarily for hand-washing regardless of location." Therefore, I don't know whether we need to install improved aerators per LEED simply because the flow rates are greater than the baseline. We already meet the threshold, so it would be great if we could leave them untouched. Thanks! Patrick

Mon, 04/07/2014 - 16:09

Hi Patrick, This comment is specifically addressing lavatory faucets (public or private) used for hand washing. Kitchen sinks have a different baseline; based on a 2.0 gpm kitchen sink you are below the 2.2 gpm baseline. Note that each fixture does not need to individually meet the 20% minimum requirement. Hope helpful!

Mon, 04/07/2014 - 16:48

Hi Patrick and Carlie, It is likely that Carlie is right and you can characterize this sink as a kitchen fixture with a 2.2 gpm baseline. However, we have hand washing sinks in commercial kitchens in some of our projects which do in fact use the 0.5 gpm baseline to reflect the hand washing issue that Patrick notes. These are distinguished from process water uses like pot filling or washing produce etc. In either event, Patrick, you do not have to modify the flowrate of that fixture if you are achieving your goal with the other fixtures. Pick your baseline flowrate with the "kitchen" fixture with respect to how it is used in your facility and make sure you can back it up in narrative if necessary.

Mon, 04/07/2014 - 18:44

ah-ha! Michelle is correct, if this is simply a sink located in a kitchen but primarily used just for hand washing, then it would fall under the 0.5 gpm baseline (if this is the case, then I misunderstood the scenario).

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