Has anyone worked with low flow aerators instead of metering since metering is no longer allowed for v4? I have a project where I previously did my calculations using 0.1 gpc for 12 seconds for a nonresidential lav and am wondering what are some plausible low flow rates to use with a 30 second duration, which is the baseline, while preventing my savings from dropping too sharply.
Thanks!
Chris Edmonds
Sustainability CoordinatorWSP Built Ecology
1 thumbs up
June 9, 2017 - 12:44 pm
Hi Sarah,
The Reference Guide has some helpful guidance regarding the shift away from metered rates. For example, Equation 2 provides a conversion between gallons per cycle and flow rate in gallons per minute. If you take the maximum installed flow rate for private lavatory faucets of 1.5 gpm for 30 seconds, you get .75 gpc. For public lavatory faucets which have a maximum flow rate .4 gpm, a 30 seconds cycle duration equates to a gallons per cycle is .2. Hope this helps!
Nathan Gauthier
Director of FM Integration and SustainabilityShawmut Design and Construction
22 thumbs up
July 24, 2017 - 3:42 pm
The new "efficient" low-flow aerator for bathroom lavatories is 0.35 GPM. All major manufacturers have this option.
Kimberly Schlaepfer
Sustainability Coordinator LEED AP O+M, BD+C74 thumbs up
November 2, 2017 - 3:35 pm
Question to follow up on this. We have not found any aerators that are WaterSense labeled that provide the flow reduction we are targeting for certification. Has anyone had any luck in finding WaterSense aerators? The reference guide seems to specifically state aerators must have the WaterSense label.
Thanks!
Katie Herber
rand* construction corporation3 thumbs up
November 3, 2017 - 2:04 pm
If you download the product spreadsheet from the EPA's Watersense Product Search, you'll find a number of labeled aerators from several manufacturers. The spreadsheet makes it much easier to sort than the online search option.