I am working on two elementary schools, and the lower grade levels have private restrooms intended for individual student use in each classroom. The baseline for private lavatory faucets is 2.2 gpm, so installing 0.5 gpm faucets in these areas will help us to achieve a greater water savings, as long as these faucets are actually considered private. Page. 174 of the LEED for Schools 2009 reference guide states, "restrooms in commercial establishments where the fixtures are intended for the use of a family or an indivducal are considered private or private-use facilities." However, it also says, "If the classification for public or private use is unclear, default to public-use flow rates in performing the calcualtions associated with this credit.
Has anyone else encountered a similar situation and if so, how did you handle it?
Karen Blust
Green Building ConsultantThe Cadmus Group
124 thumbs up
March 30, 2011 - 12:29 pm
Since the lower grade bathrooms serve the same function as the upper grade bathrooms, and since they are not intended for the use of a family or an individual, I would guess that they should be characterized as public lavatories for the purposes of this prerequisite/credit.
Carlie Bullock-Jones
PrincipalEcoworks Studio
LEEDuser Expert
220 thumbs up
September 11, 2012 - 11:38 am
Hi Alison,
Not sure if you still need this info but private lavatory use applies to: plumbing fixtures in residences, apartments, and dormitories; to private (non-public) bathrooms in transient lodging facilities (hotels and motels); and to private bathrooms within hospitals and nursing facilities. All other facilities are considered to be public or public use.
The lower grade level classroom sinks you describe are considered public fixtures.
Hope helpful!