Plumber's Licensing Exam: Fixtures

This is one of the areas of the plumbing trade where your work will be on display to the public. The requirements for the number of fixtures provided in public restrooms for each of the sexes has been debated exhaustively over the years. The IPC and the UPC have differing numbers throughout each of their charts, which demonstrates the intensity of the debates. Both codes have workable numbers, but you must be familiar with where to locate them in your respective codebook before you enter the testing room. Chances are you will need to pull some information from these charts.
The UPC explains some general requirements for fixtures, while the IPC goes into detail on a number of specific fixtures. The IPC includes as fixtures receptacles and devices that do not require connection to a water supply, such as waterless urinals and floor drains. (Refer to IPC 202) The IPC also clarifies the distinction between plumbing fixtures and appliances. Appliances are defined as having their operation or control dependent upon one or more energized components, such as motors, controls, and heating elements, manually adjusted or controlled by the owner-operator or operated automatically through one or more of the following actions: a time cycle, a temperature range, a measured volume or weight. (Refer to IPC 202, 2012) The results of both codes are approximately the same. The differences illustrate “design-by-committee” approach to code writing. We really wouldn’t want it any other way. The folks involved in writing these plumbing codes are experts who bring a variety of experience and disciplines to the table.

Objectives
- Understand fixture material selection
- Explain the importance of access to facilities for all people
- Make appropriate connections of fixtures to plumbing systems

Key Terms:
ADA
air break
closet carrier
concealed fouling surface
GPF
Fixture Material

Both the IPC and the UPC agree that plumbing fixtures need to have acid-resistant, waterproof surfaces that are smooth and have no defects. There is a slight difference between the IPC and the UPC regarding the issue of hidden fouling surfaces in fixtures. The IPC states that concealed fouling surfaces are prohibited. The UPC says that unnecessary concealed fouling surfaces are prohibited. The UPC leaves the discussion open for who decides what is unnecessary. Be aware of the concealed fouling surface issue with respect to the code used in your area, but realize that it’s something you will probably never be involved in. Those issues are settled between code officials and the fixture manufacturers long before you handle the finished product. (Refer to IPC 402; UPC 401)
The IPC goes on to state that any specialty fixture must be made of materials suitable for its use. That keeps manufacturers from making, for instance, leather lavatories; that might be stylish, but certainly not appropriate for the function they are intended to perform.

Real-Life Situation: Ace Plumbing Company has been invited to bid on the renovation of two separate, permanent bathroom facilities on the County Fairgrounds. The fair committee wants the contractors to carefully remove all of the old fixtures, replace all of the dividers, install new tile walls and floors, replace all of the supply and drain piping, install all new electrical wiring, and then reinstall all of the plumbing fixtures. The existing fixtures include wall-hung lavatories, water closets, and trough urinals. The lavatories and water closets in all the women’s and men’s rooms are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Do you think Sophia, the Ace Plumbing Company estimator, will want to bid on this project?

Fixture Requirements in Various Buildings
There is certainly a need for the requirements displayed in the tables below Table 1 is Table 403.1 of the IPC, and Table 2 is the UPC’s Table 4–1. If the numbers of appropriate fixtures were not a requirement, imagine the lines you could face at a ball field or movie theater. Minimum numbers of plumbing fixtures must be provided according to the type of building occupancy as shown in UPC Table 422.1 and UPC 412.1.1, 422.2. The tables are included in this guide for your reference and comparison. The table you need will also be found in your plumbing codebook. (Refer to IPC 403.1–403.4; UPC 412.1–413)

In the IPC code, when a unisex bathroom that is intended for use by people who need assistance is provided, the fixtures in that bathroom can be counted toward the total number of fixtures in the women’s and the men’s bathrooms in the building. An example would be a movie theater where perhaps six women’s water closets and three men’s water closets would be required. If there were a unisex bathroom provided, the one water closet in that bathroom would count as one women’s water closet and as one men’s water closet. Now the separate bathrooms would only be required to have five women’s and two men’s water closets. The total number of water closets in the building would now be eight, rather than the nine that would have been required if there was no unisex bathroom.
For family or assisted-use bathroom facilities serving as separate facilities, the IPC recently mandated the substitution of two-family/assisted-use bathrooms for each sex. It’s more efficient to allow two-family or assisted-use bathrooms to serve as the required separate facilities because either bathroom can be used by either sex. (Refer to IPC 403.2.1)
The UPC does not have a provision similar to this. In general, the UPC requires a few more fixtures to be provided than the IPC. Each has their own scientific formulas for evaluating fixture needs and they both provide for toilet facilities that serve the public well.

Fixture Locations
Buildings that are not covered malls must have bathrooms for both employees and the public that are no more than 500 feet from any location in the building and the bathrooms must be no more than one floor away. If you are located on the third floor, for instance, the bathrooms would have to be no further away than a 500-foot trip, and they would have to be on the third floor where you are, or on the second or the fourth floor. This still seems like a long way, but at least a maximum distance has been established for the architects and engineers who design buildings. (Refer to IPC 403.4.1–403.5)

Fixtures for the use of the public must be accessible without going through any area of the building that is intended to be only for the employees. That means the public must be able to get to the bathrooms without going behind sales counters, through kitchens, through warehouse areas, or any other part of a building that is intrinsic to the operation of the business but is not a sales area. Also, bathrooms must not open directly into a room used to prepare food for public consumption. (Refer to IPC 403.3.2–403.31)
Covered malls are treated a little differently because malls can be very crowded at times and many people in a mall will not be familiar with the location of bathroom facilities. Therefore, the distance one must travel in a covered mall is reduced to 300 feet while the rule requiring no more than one story above or below is retained. This distance is measured from the front door of each store. For employees, the distance is measured from their individual work areas.

Real-Life Situation: One of the ladies’ rooms at the County Fairgrounds has eight water closets in a row installed along a wall that measures 19 feet 8 inches. These are all of the water closets in that bathroom. Can Ace Plumbing put them back in the same configuration and meet code? There is more than one issue here.
The IPC now requires that any pay toilets must be additional fixtures beyond the number required for a certain area. Regarding the locking of bathroom doors, the IPC now requires that the door at the entrance to a multiple-occupant bathroom not have a lock on the inside. This is intended to reduce the possibility of inappropriate activities that are more likely to occur when someone can lock others out of the bathroom. (Refer to IPC 403.3.6)

Bathroom Design Relative to Fixtures
Bathrooms in public areas must comply with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards. These rules make it possible for individuals with a variety of physical disabilities to use public restrooms unrestricted by the structure. This includes the allowance of room for wheelchairs. Before the ADA, people with disabilities had a very difficult, if not impossible, time simply using a bathroom; the ADA gives these individuals far more independence than they previously had. The content of the ADA that directly relates to plumbing is included in the appendix of this book. (Refer to IPC 404.1–405.3.2; UPC 413.0)

Section 405.1 of the IPC stresses the importance of protecting all water supplies to fixtures from back-flow. There are no specifics explained in Section 405.1. If you are answering questions on your licensing test, and you are unsure of an answer, try to remember that the protection of all water supplies from any sort of contamination is one of the most important aspects of both codes. This concept may help you pick a correct answer.

Ease of cleaning any fixture and the area around it is necessary for proper sanitation. The IPC makes it a requirement in Section 405.2.
The specification of space between and around fixtures helps a bathroom look neat and allows most people to have normal access to all the fixtures. On your test, you will probably be expected to know that according to the IPC, water closets and urinals need to be a minimum of 15 inches from a wall to the left or right of the fixture, and there must be 30 inches from the center of one water closet to the center of the next water closet when there are multiple fixtures in a bathroom. The IPC requires a minimum of 21 inches clear area in front of a water closet, urinal, bidet, or lavatory. This means a completely open area with no door, wall, or fixture encroaching on that area (Figure below).

A wall-hung, nonaccessible water closet compartment is permitted to be 56 inches in depth, which is 4 inches less than is required for a compartment containing a floor-mounted water closet.

Figure: Fixture Clearances (IPC Figure 405.3.1)

Tips
Always remember that the spacing dimensions for fixtures required by the codes are the bare minimum allowed. If space permits, and the building owner approves, spread your fixtures out a little more to give people more room than they may need or prefer. People may need to carry packages, luggage, or heavy winter coats into a stall with them. They will appreciate some extra room.
The UPC measurement requirements are a little different. The UPC agrees with the IPC on water closet spacing, but for urinals the UPC only demands 12 inches from the center of a urinal to any wall or partition next to it, and 24 inches from the centerline of one urinal to the next. The UPC allows a little more room in front of all of these fixtures than the IPC: 24 inches is the space required by the UPC.
Section 405.3.2 of the IPC states that a required lavatory must be in the same room with the required water closet. It doesn’t seem necessary that a statement like that would have to be part of the regulations, but it could be inconvenient or embarrassing for the lavatory to be installed outside the bathroom or in some other area of the building.

Approved Fixture Connections
This seems almost too obvious to require a code section, but is it really? All of us who have worked on plumbing fixtures in the field have our own fond memories of rocking toilets and leaking urinal flanges (Refer to IPC 405.4–405.9; UPC 404.2– 404.4, 406.1)

Figure: Leakage from a Poorly Set Water Closet

Let’s get specific. Part of IPC 405.4 states, “the flange shall be attached to the drain and anchored to the structure.” Generally, we find the flange anchored to the drain, but all too often there has been a tendency to overlook or ignore the “anchored to the structure” part. Perhaps the installer cut the hole a little too big and was only able to get a couple of screws to hold to the floor. A little leakage and some corrosion, combined with a little wood rot, and the floor flange under the water closet no longer mates to the floor. The floor needs to be rebuilt when the repair is made for the leakage problem, or the source of the problem will persist. Being an attentive installer will eliminate most of those issues. Remember, those closet bolts must be brass.

Wall-hung water closets have to be mounted on a closet carrier, which is a cast-iron and steel structure concealed in the wall. The carrier supports the entire weight of the closet and provides a secure means for making a leakproof seal for the outlet of the water closet. The carrier is essential to make a secure and consistent mount.

Figure: Wall-Hung Water Closet Carrier

Caution: Closet carriers and lavatory carriers must be securely installed. Anticipate that unreasonable loads will be placed on them. Expect the fixtures to be broken by extreme force, but install the carriers so that a new fixture can easily reuse the existing, secure, and solid carrier that was installed.
Wherever a fixture makes contact with a wall or floor surface, it must be sealed with a material that will minimize movement and keep out water and bugs. So seal those edges with silicone caulk, plaster of paris, grout, or some other suitable material that will help prevent the creation of a concealed fouling surface.
Mental health facilities have special needs with respect to plumbing fixtures. In order to eliminate the plumbing as a means by which clients could harm themselves or others, all the piping must be concealed and the fixtures must be bolted through the wall from the back.
The overflows for fixtures must be able to handle the capacity of the filler to prevent overflow and it must drain out completely after use to eliminate trapped wastewater. The overflow must also drain into the drainage system on the fixture side of the trap. That way, the overflow is also protected from sewer gas by the fixture trap. In the case of flush tanks for water closets or urinals, the overflow drains directly into the fixture to which it is connected.
Slip-joint connections can be used on drains from the fixture to the trap. After the trap, only one slip-joint connection is allowed. This makes good sense, since slip-joint connections are the most susceptible to dislocation and leaking. No slip-joint connection can be in any inaccessible location. Most slip-joint connections are found under a sink or lavatory. They are easily handled in that location. If a slip joint happens to be located behind a wall, it must be made accessible with an access panel.

Regulations for Specific Fixtures
Up to this point, the fixture regulations have been worded in generalities. Following are regulations that control the design and installation of specific fixtures.

Automatic Clothes Washers
The most important aspect of the code dealing with automatic clothes washers is the prevention of back-flow. All new residential washers are shipped with an integral air gap or backflow preventer. No extra back-flow prevention is needed. Some commercial washers are not supplied with a backflow preventer. If that is the case, a backflow preventer must be added. The drain of an automatic clothes washer must have its outlet discharge through an air break into a standpipe that is at least 2 inches in diameter and no more than 30 inches high above the trap weir. (Refer to IPC 406.1–406.3)

Bathtubs
All bathtubs must be manufactured with a slip-resistant surface on the bottom. The waste outlet must be a minimum of 11/2 inches in diameter. An overflow must be installed on all bathtubs. The waste outlet should be equipped with a water-tight stopper. (Refer to IPC 407.2 and UPC 409.0) If shower doors or solid glass panels surround a bathtub or shower, that glass must be safety glass. The hot water must not exceed 120°F and be controlled by a device that is in accordance with ASSE 1070 or CSA B 125.3, not by the thermostat or water heater. The filler valve must be protected by an air gap in order to protect against backflow. (Refer to IPC 407.1–407.4; UPC 414.5)

Bidets
The water outlet in a bidet is located below the flood-level rim of the fixture. Therefore, the bidet presents a high-risk possibility of backflow and contamination of the supply system. A bidet must be equipped with independent backflow prevention. The water supply to a bidet must be protected by an air gap. (Refer to UPC 410.1, Section 704.3) The water temperature of a bidet must be limited to 110°F by an approved tempering valve. The thermostat on the water heater is not considered to be the tempering valve. (Refer to IPC 408.1–408.3)

Dishwashers
The water supply of a dishwasher must be protected against backflow. New residential dishwashers have integral backflow prevention so no further backflow device is needed. Commercial dishwashers need an air gap or a backflow preventer installed on the inlet pipe. The waste from a residential dishwasher can be connected to a Y-tailpiece under a sink on the inlet side of the trap as long as the discharge hose is connected with a strap at a point as high as possible under the cabinet. Commercial dishwashers must discharge indirectly through an air gap or by a direct connection with floor drain protection. (Refer to IPC 409.1–409.3; UPC 414.0, Section 704.3)

Drinking Fountains
In any building where water fountains are required, no fewer than two drinking fountains shall be installed, with at least one being in compliance with ADA standards. A restaurant that provides drinking water is exempt from this rule. (Refer to IPC 410) The outlet of a drinking fountain must be above the flood-level rim of the fixture and a guard must be installed on the outlet to reduce direct human contact with the outlet. Thankfully, it is prohibited to install a drinking fountain in any bathroom. With respect to the location of drinking fountains, the IPC requires that the travel distance in multiple tenant facilities should not be more than 300 feet and not more than one floor above and below. (Refer to IPC 403.5, 410.1–410.2)

Floor Drains
The strainer on every floor drain must be removable to allow access to the drain for cleaning. The nominal pipe size for a floor drain must be a minimum of 2 inches. When a floor drain is in a public laundry or a central laundry for a multifamily residential unit such as an apartment complex or dormitory, the floor drain must be a minimum of 3 inches in diameter. (Refer to IPC 412.1–412.4; UPC 411.1)

Tips
If a floor drain is in an area that is unlikely to receive a regular flow of water, the water in the trap seal will evaporate and sewer gas will enter the building. It will be difficult for a building owner to find the source of the smell. A floor drain such as this should be equipped with a trap primer. This is a fitting that sends a small amount of water into the floor drain whenever a nearby fixture is used. Thus, a trap seal is maintained.

Food Waste Grinders
In a residence, the food waste grinder is connected to the kitchen sink. That installation satisfies the need for a water supply to carry the waste down the drainpipe and the requirement of connection to a 11/2-inch drain. Commercial food waste grinders are connected to a 2-inch drain. The commercial grinder has a sink attached on top of it with a cold water supply equipped with a vacuum breaker to prevent contamination of the water supply. The commercial food waste grinder must have its own independent trap. (Refer to IPC 413.1–413.4)

Garbage Can Washers
The lowly garbage can washer is a fixture with no third-party standards established for it. The basic design is a modified floor drain with a washing spray nozzle aiming up through the center of it (Figure below). This creates a high-risk possibility for a backflow situation. To guard against backflow, the code calls for a backflow preventer to be installed on the water supply to the nozzle. The drainage part of the garbage can washer is a floor drain that must be equipped with a basket to collect the solids before they go down the drain. The basket must be removable to make it easy to lift out and clean. (Refer to IPC 414.1–414.2)

Figure: Combination Garbage Can Washer and Drain
 

Laundry Trays
As with other fixtures, laundry trays must have a smooth, impervious surface. The drain must be a minimum of 11/2 inches in diameter. Laundry trays have many uses that can range from washing out socks to cleaning paintbrushes to potting plants. Large debris is practically guaranteed to get into the drain. The outlet of a laundry tray must have a strainer or at least a crossbar to prevent large items from going down the drain. (Refer to IPC 415.1–415.2)

Lavatories
Surprisingly, lavatories are no longer required to have an overflow. The reason given is that bacteria can grow easily in this area where the surface is rarely washed. That reason has merit, but some believe an additional reason was pressure from the manufacturers who want to produce stylish products, such as above-the-counter vessels without the encumbrance of an overflow (that is strictly my opinion).
The required size of the lavatory waste is 11/4 inches. Once again, as in the laundry tray, a strainer or crossbar is required. Public lavatories must provide tempered water through a temperature-limiting device. (Refer to IPC 416.1–416.5)

Showers
A practical provision of this section is the requirement that the riser pipe to the shower head must be fastened to the building. The waste outlet and trap must be a minimum of 11/2 inches in diameter according to the IPC. The UPC requires a minimum trap size of 2 inches. I strongly recommend always using 2 inches on a shower unless structural problems make the use of a 11/2-inch drain more practical for the situation.
The walls in a shower stall have to be smooth, impervious, and noncorrosive to a height of 6 feet above the floor of the room and at least 70 inches above the floor of the shower. The floor of the shower also needs to be an impervious and noncorrosive material. No surprise there, but one surprise in the IPC is that a nonslip floor surface is not required. The UPC does require a nonskid surface on the floor. The IPC has recently recognized, for the on-site construction of shower floors, another form of waterproofing. It is a self-curing liquid rubber polymer and a reinforcing fabric that is quickly applied to form a flexible, seamless waterproofing membrane that bonds to a wide variety of surfaces. (Refer to IPC 417, 417.5.2.6; UPC 411.5–411.9)

Sinks
Sinks come in many forms, like kitchen sinks, service sinks, mop sinks, bar sinks, and wash sinks. Sinks of all types have the usual impervious material provision. The outlet must be 11/2 inches at a minimum. (Refer to IPC 418.1–418.3)

Urinals
Urinals can have either integral or external traps. The water usage per flush is limited to 1 GPF, or gallon per flush. The newer waterless urinals have been assigned a drainage fixture unit, or DFU, of 0.5 since they use no water for flushing (Figure below).

Urine passes through a sealing liquid that is less dense than water, passes through a traplike cartridge, and into the drainage system. Standard 1 GPF urinals have a DFU of 2. The surrounding wall areas must be covered with an impervious, easily cleaned surface to help prevent bacteria growth.

Figure: Representative Cartridge for a Waterless Urinal

Water Closets
Water closets must flush with an average water usage of 1.6 GPF. In the IPC, one exception is the blowout toilet, which may use up to 3.5 GPF. The UPC allows no such exception. Any public-use water closet must be elongated. The bowl is made longer by 2 inches in the front, helping to protect the user from contact with pathogens. Public-use seats must be open front for the same reason. Water closets and other personal hygiene devices must conform to ASME A112.4.2 standards that ensure the protection of the public by setting temperature limits and minimum acceptable backflow protection requirements. (Refer to IPC 424.9)
Although the plumbing codes do not allow any reduction in the size of a drainage pipe, the use of a 4 × 3 inch closet flange or a 4 × 3 inch closet elbow is not considered a reduction in size. No reason is given for this, but one possible explanation is that the closet flange or closet elbow is being viewed as a type of receiver. The outlet of most water closets ranges from 17/8 inches to 21/2 inches. Therefore, the waste is actually discharging into a larger pipe than the outlet. (Refer to IPC 420.1– 420.4; UPC 408.0)

Fact: The term “water closet” began with early indoor plumbing when an enclosed wooden chair would allow waste to drop through the floor into a cistern located below. “Water closet” gained popularity as the reference of choice since the room where the commode was located was generally about the size of a closet. The term has evolved into the present technical term for what some would consider to be the most important fixture in a building.

Whirlpool Baths
The installation instructions are considered a part of the plumbing code for whirlpool baths. The great variety in designs accounts for this. The circulation pump must be at a level above the weir of the trap to ensure that the pump drains out whenever the tub is drained. Once again, this regulation displays the primary purpose of plumbing codes, which is to protect people’s health. If the pump had water remaining in it all the time, it would become the most popular vacation home for bacteria. People immerse themselves in these things, so it’s important to keep them sanitary and safe. The codes require that the whirlpool’s pump be accessible for servicing. The hot water must not exceed 120°F and be controlled by a device that is in accordance with ASSE 1070 or CSA B 125.3, not by the thermostat or water heater. The filler valve must be protected by an air gap in order to protect against backflow. The waste outlet should be equipped with a water-tight stopper. (Refer to IPC 407.2, 421.1–421.6; UPC 409.1–409.6)

Specialized Healthcare Fixtures
Some general rules govern healthcare fixtures. All the fixtures and devices that are connected to a water supply or drainage system must have backflow protection for the water supply system and from the drainage system. Any fixture that needs to be cleaned with hot water in excess of 180°F must be designed to withstand those temperatures with no damage. All working parts and parts that may need to be serviced must be accessible.
A clinical sink, or bedpan washer, is a primary fixture in healthcare facilities. It has an integral trap and rim flush like a water closet, and allows for complete elimination of the contents by a siphon action like a water closet. The only real difference between the clinical sink and a water closet is that a clinical sink has a flexible rinser available to clean out bedpans and the like. Sometimes water closets double as clinical sinks, which reduces the number of fixtures needed.
Steam supplied to sterilizers must have the condensate drained to prevent it from entering the sterilizer. Condensate could contaminate a sterilizer due to its lower temperature than the steam. (Refer to IPC 422.1–422.10)
 

Specialty Fixtures
There are many fixtures that are of a special design in nature, which makes it difficult to meet many provisions of plumbing codes. Some of these are baptisteries, fountains, aquariums, ornamental pools, and fountains (Figure below).
The overriding principle concerning this type of fixture is protection of the water supply. Any such fixture requires the installation of a backflow preventer. Any special fixture with a water and/or a drain connection must be offered for approval to the authority having jurisdiction. (Refer to IPC 423.1–423.2)

Emergency Eye Wash and Shower
An emergency eye wash and shower must be of the type approved by American National Standard and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA Z 358.1). It is to be located in a workplace where people may be exposed to fire, chemicals, and products that could cause harm to the body and eyes. The water flow rates, discharge pattern, and temperature of the flushing fluid must be in accordance with ISEA Z 358.1 based on the type of hazardous material. The manufacturer’s installation instructions must be adhered to. Its location must be at the same level as the potential hazard and immediately accessible. A drain is not required. If a drain is provided, it must be in accordance with Section 811.0. (Refer to UPC 416.0–416.5)

Figure: A Baptistery