To reduce the overall use of potable water within the building. Reduction of water use also results in decreasing the amount of energy needed to transport, process and treat water, thereby contributing to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
CALGreen Code Section 5.303.3.4: Faucets and fountains
CALGreen Code Section 5.303.3.4.1: Nonresidential lavatory faucets.
Lavatory faucets shall have a maximum flow rate of not more than 0.5 gallons per minute at 60 psi.
CALGreen Code Section 5.303.3.4.2: Kitchen faucets.
Kitchen faucets shall have a maximum flow rate of not more than 1.8 gallons per minute at 60 psi. Kitchen faucets may temporarily increase the flow above the maximum rate, but not to exceed 2.2 gallons per minute at 60 psi, and must default to a maximum flow rate of 1.8 gallons per minute at 60 psi.
CALGreen Code Section 5.303.3.4.3: Wash fountains.
Wash fountains shall have a maximum flow rate of not more than 1.8 gallons per minute/20 [rim space (inches) at 60 psi].
CALGreen Code Section 5.303.3.4.4: Metering faucets.
Metering faucets shall not deliver more than 0.20 gallons per cycle.
CALGreen Code Section 5.303.3.4.5: Metering faucets for wash fountains.
Metering faucets for wash fountains shall have a maximum flow rate of not more than 0.20 gallons per cycle/20 [rim space (inches) at 60 psi].
Note: Where complying faucets are unavailable, aerators or other means may be used to achieve reduction.
CALGreen Code Section 5.303.4: Commercial kitchen equipment
CALGreen Code Section 5.303.4.1: Food waste disposers.
Disposers shall either modulate the use of water to no more than 1 gpm when the disposer is not in use (not actively grinding food waste/no-load) or shall automatically shut off after no more than 10 minutes of inactivity. Disposers shall use no more than 8 gpm of water.
Note: This code section does not affect local jurisdiction authority to prohibit or require disposer installation.
CALGreen Code Section 5.303.5: Areas of addition or alteration.
For those occupancies within the authority of the California Building Standards Commission as specified in Section 103, the provisions of Section 5.303.3 and 5.303.4 shall apply to new fixtures in additions or areas of alteration to the building.
Intent:
The intent of this regulation is to reduce the overall use of potable water within the building. Reduction of water use also results in decreasing the amount of energy needed to transport, process and treat water, thereby contributing to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Assembly Bill 715 (Chapter 499, Statutes of 2007) modified the Health and Safety Code to allow only high efficiency toilets and urinals to be sold or installed after January 1, 2014.
Note: See Chapter 8 for sample forms and templates.
Compliance Method:
Indicate on the construction documents the prescriptive water reduction fixture flow rates from Section 5.303.3.4
Enforcement:
Plan intake: The plan reviewer should confirm that the construction documents show the appropriate reduced flow rates for the listed fixture types.
On-site enforcement: The inspector should verify that the specified plumbing fixture is installed. The inspector may review the fixture specifications to verify compliance or accept a self-certification form.
(Excerpted from ‘Guide to the 2019 California Green Building Standards Code Nonresidential’ – Chapter 5)
