I was wondering if fixtures at patient rooms can be classified as residential or private? given that it is a public institution, I'm guessing it would gear more towards "private" but this would apply only to lavatories, what about water closets and showers?
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Michelle Robinson Schwarting
148 thumbs up
April 16, 2015 - 3:17 pm
There was an addenda last fall (Oct. 2014) that hopefully clarifies it for you - Addenda ID#100001966 :
http://www.usgbc.org/leed-interpretations?keys=ID%23100001966
"For healthcare projects, ... Lavatories in hospital inpatient bathrooms and inpatient rooms are considered private. The inpatient lavatory and water closet should use the default residential usage assumptions (of five times per day per residential occupant), unless specific project conditions warrant an alternative. Lavatories in hospital inpatient rooms (outside the bathrooms) are considered private if used by patients and/or staff similarly to a residential lavatory, or can be exempt if they are used by staff primarily for medical or clinical use..."
Susan Walter
HDRLEEDuser Expert
1296 thumbs up
April 16, 2015 - 4:38 pm
The LI Michelle correctly brings up is based on the assumption that these patient rooms are private sleep rooms. Rehab facilities often have semi-private sleep rooms. Since we don't know your floor plan, I thought this was pertinent to this conversation.
Saju Varghese
SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATORJALRW Eng. Group Inc.
39 thumbs up
April 17, 2015 - 10:00 am
Thanks, it is very helpful information. We have 2 rooms (with 2 patients each) that are served by one joined bathroom (Water closet, lavatory and shower). The CIR is very explicit, however they don't mention showerheads. Since these are a big water consumers could you clarify? Thanks
Susan Walter
HDRLEEDuser Expert
1296 thumbs up
April 17, 2015 - 1:16 pm
i would say that the shared bathroom is public and that the shower head counts in the calculation. It is a regulated fixture.
Michelle Robinson Schwarting
148 thumbs up
April 17, 2015 - 3:59 pm
I don't know, but my gut would say the shared bathrooms are still "used by patients ... similarly to a residential" bathroom and should therefore be calculated based on residential usage. And I would assume the showers would be used the same as the toilets and bathroom sink -- i.e. residential usage. But that's just what my gut says. I think it really depends on how it's being used. Is this similar to the bathroom that the Brandy Bunch had -- you know one bathroom in between two bedrooms like in a house? Are the patients "living" in these bedrooms that the bathroom is connected to? Do the usage patterns listed in the LEED Ref. Guide seem like they are appropriate or inappropriate for how they'll be used?
That said, if they are considered public, the water calculations will allow for a lot less water (particularly on the lav), which would be your worst case calculations, so assuming that for the calculations would be "safer."
Personally, with my limited knowledge of how they're being used, I'd probably try to make the argument that they're residential (assuming the people using them are "living" there for multiple nights in a row) and cross my fingers...
Good luck!
Michelle Robinson Schwarting
148 thumbs up
April 17, 2015 - 4:12 pm
[Sorry, Internet Explorer gave me problems and apparently posted twice even though it looked like it didn't post at all. Hopefully someone "official" can delete this comment?!?!?!]