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

Healthcare Prereq 1 Fixtures and Calcs

This is my first time doing the LEED paperwork. I'm not sure I'm using all the correct fixtures while filling out prereq 1. Currenly I only have water closets and lavs filled out. There are no urinals on the project. Should I include kitchen sinks (break rooms) and showers (staff & Patient)? I ask because they are available in the pull down menu of the form, but the leed reference document I found only states "Calculations are based on estimated occupant usage and must include ONLY the following fixtures and fittings: water closets, urinals, lavatory faucets and prerinse spray valves. After reading that statement I only used water closets and lavs. I input all of the information, including my calculation for the dual flush toilets. I could not use the standard calculation since it is based on water closets and urinals. After inputing the numbers for staff, visitor, and patient usage and uploading the required documents, I meet the 20% reduction required for the prequisite. However, what through the red flag was my numbers did not meet the 30% reduction required for 1 LEED point. Because of this the Architect is questioning why I do not have other fixtures in the list. My installed flush rate for the dual flush toilets came out to be 1.27 gpf and my lav installed GPC is .1.

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Erin Holdenried
Sustainability Architect
LEEDuser Basic Member
88 thumbs up

Thu, 05/23/2013 - 19:06

For Healthcare facilities, I believe only sinks used for clinical purposes are exempt from the calculations. You should still include kitchen/break rooms sinks and showers.

Thu, 05/23/2013 - 19:24

You should have the break room sinks and the showers in the calculations no matter what use group the project is because those fixtures are regulated in the EPAct of 1992 (see reference guide). How you calculate them is another matter in healthcare. You do not say what type of healthcare your project is. It makes a difference. That you do not get to 30% savings in healthcare is not a shocker to me. I'm surprised your architect is surprised by that.

Thu, 05/23/2013 - 19:36

The project is an oncology center. I added the showers and break/kitchen room sinks to see how it would affect the numbers. If I use 1.5 gpm vs 2.5 gpm for showers, and .5 gpm vs 2.2 gpm for break room sinks, there is a significant savings. Actually above the 30%. I see that exam rooms are exempt. The other fixture I have left are sinks in Soiled Work Rooms, Nourishment, Consult, and meds room. Would these also be considered "clinical use" and therefore exempt? I'm leaning toward they are exempt, except for maybe the nourishment sink.

Tue, 05/28/2013 - 21:45

Good! But I notice you are using the 'if'. Are you trying to figure out how to achieve the credit or documenting what you did? The showers look good but I would want to know that the results are with the break room sinks at a higher flow rate. Your facility manager may have an opinion and you should know the impact. Exam room sinks are process but so are the soiled utility, nourishment, consult (another word for exam) and medication room.

Thu, 05/30/2013 - 11:39

Thank you Susan. The project has bounced back and forth about going LEED or not. Now we are going to pursue LEED accredidation, however, most of the plumbing fixtures are installed already. I'm tasked with identifying what changes to the plumbing fixtures will need to be made to achieve a 30% water reduction. For instance, swaping out aerotors or changing shower heads. Ideally this would of all be chosen in begininning, but we're stuck working backwards on this one. Thanks again.

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