October 2012
3-19
••
For lavatory faucet retrofits in public restrooms, install faucet aerators or laminar
flow devices that achieve 0.5 gpm.
••
For lavatory faucet retrofits in private restrooms, look for WaterSense labeled sink
faucets and accessories
19
(
aerators or laminar flow devices), which have flow rates
of 1.5 gpm or less at 60.0 psi and no less than 0.8 gpm at 20.0 psi.
••
For kitchen faucet retrofits, install aerators or laminar flow devices that achieve a
flow rate of 2.2 gpm.
••
Install temporary shut-off or foot-operated valves for kitchen faucets in commer-
cial facilities. These valves stop water flow during intermittent activities, such as
scrubbing or dishwashing. The water can be reactivated at the previous tempera-
ture without the need to remix hot and cold water.
••
Medical facilities should consider facility-specific health and safety needs before
installing low-flow faucets or faucets with automatic sensors. For example, medi-
cal facilities may want to install laminar flow devices instead of faucet aerators;
since laminar flow faucets do not inject air into the water, there is a lower risk of
bacterial contamination.
20
••
For service sinks, install retrofit devices that reduce the water flow as much
as possible without inhibiting the use of the sink (i.e., if the sink’s function is
volume-dependent, do not reduce faucet flow rate to the point that it has to be
used significantly longer).
Replacement Options
If installing a new faucet fixture, consider the following:
••
In public restrooms, install lavatory faucet fixtures that flow at 0.5 gpm (with or
without the self-closing feature) or metered faucets that use no more than 0.25
gpc.
••
In private restrooms, select WaterSense labeled sink faucets and accessories,
21
which have flow rates or 1.5 gpm or less at 60.0 psi and no less than 0.8 gpm at
20.0
psi.
••
In kitchens, install faucet fixtures that flow at 2.2 gpm. Consider installing tempo-
rary shut-off or foot-operated valves for kitchen faucets in commercial facilities.
••
Medical facilities should consider facility-specific health and safety needs before
installing low-flow faucets or faucets with automatic sensors. For example, medi-
cal facilities may want to install laminar flow devices instead of faucet aerators;
since laminar flow faucets do not inject air into the water, there is a lower risk of
bacterial contamination.
22
3.4
Faucets
19
Ibid.
20
U.S. Energy Department (DOE), Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE), Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). Water Management Training, Faucets
and Showerheads.
21
EPA’s WaterSense program,
op. cit
.
22
DOE, EERE, FEMP,
op. cit
.
