Aerator with no WaterSense label

Hi Victoria, 

There's a section in the online Ref Guide in the Prereq under Further Explanation that states the following:

"For fixtures that require the WaterSense label in countries where the label is unavailable, look up acceptable WaterSense substitutes at usgbc.org. Project outside the U.S. must meet WaterSense flush and flow rates. Projects served by water supply pressures different than specified in LEED v4 may install pressure compensating aerators in flow fixtures to achieve the desired flow rate without compromising user satisfaction. For appliances that require the ENERGY STAR label, a project outside the U.S. may install products that are not labeled under the ENERGY STAR program if they meet the ENERGY STAR product specifications, available on the ENERGY STAR website. All products must meet the standards of the current version of ENERGY STAR as of the date of their purchase. For appliances that require the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) label, a project outside the U.S. may purchase products that have not been qualified or labeled by CEE if they meet the CEE product criteria for efficiency."

I think that should answer your question, but if not, please respond.

Dear EMILY,

Thank you so much.
Following your answer, I have a question:
If for example an African country which does not appear on this USGBC list of countries which has equivalences. Can we use other labels equivalent to WaterSense which are valid for asutralia, European Union ...?

I will appreciate your reply, 

For countries that aren't specifically listed, compliance would be shown by meeting the same flush/flow rate that is used by WaterSense. So, don't focus on documenting other certifications, it's just about the water flow rates.

If there is a certification available, you can provide that backup if that's what shows the water rates the reviewers want to see, but it is more likely shown via cut sheets or a webpage.

Hi emely, 

Thanks for your return and time; 

So, i undrestand from your answer that for projects in Countries does not appear on the USGBC countries list of sustitutes for WaterSense Label. We must Just do not exceed the flow limits set for LEED , therefore accordingly, Watersense is not required to achieve this prerequisite?

Could you please clarify me? 

Dear All,

I hope the following information helps. This is taken from a communication with our LEED Coach in May 2020:

ORIGINAL INQUIRY:

As you know, this Project is located in a country in South America where there is no local equivalent to WaterSense label.
We are verifying that all the fixtures are equal or bellow the TABLE 6. Maximum installed flush or flow rates.
To be able to reach better efficiencies as possible we might incorporate aerators to private faucets.

• Do aerators have to comply with the Water Sense Label?
• Since there is no local equivalent to WaterSense label is it acceptable to comply with the minimum flow rate (0.8gpm)?

Page 272 bottom lines, August 2019 reference guide: "The installed fixtures in the design case must use the rated flow rate from the manufacturer, and the underlying assumptions must remain consistent between the baseline and design cases."

• Then it means that for the usage based calculation, should we use the faucet consumption or the aerator consumption?

LEED Coach Reply:

Yes, aerators installed on private lavatory faucets must meet WaterSense flow rate requirements, but are not required to be labeled in projects located in countries without a WaterSense equivalent labeling program.  

All fixture types that are eligible for the US EPA WaterSense label (showerheads, private lavatory faucets, tank-type toilets, and urinals) must be labeled, or must meet WaterSense flush and flow rates in countries without a WaterSense equivalent labeling program, as noted under Further Explanation, International Tips in the reference guide (see https://www.usgbc.org/leedaddenda/100001914).  Step 2 of the Step by Step Guidance in the reference guide indicates that the WaterSense requirement also applies to aerators:  "Newly installed aerators or flow restrictors added to private lavatories or showers must be WaterSense labeled."

WaterSense maximum acceptable flush and flow rates for the eligible fixtures are the same as the values in Table 6 in the reference guide.  Projects must also meet WaterSense minimum acceptable flow rates for private faucets and showerheads. The reference guide states, "For private lavatories, WaterSense requires a maximum flow rate of 1.5 gallons per minute at 60 pounds per square inch and a minimum flow rate of 0.8 gallons per minute at 20 pounds per square inch. The installed fixtures in the design case must use the rated flow rate from the manufacturer, and the underlying assumptions must remain consistent between the baseline and design cases."

The second sentence in this guidance means that the design case flow rate and the baseline case flow rate used in the calculation should be based on the same assumption for water pressure. 

If aerators are installed, then the aerator flow rate must be used in the usage-based calculation.

Hello Olga,

Thank you for your sharing of experience and for this precious clarification which saved us a lot.