Do I need a Drinking Fountain?

Do I need a drinking fountain?  As an Architect, I interact with clients, engineers and contractors who have acquired bits of information about Building Codes.  Sometimes, those bits are misconceptions and regurgitated information.  The building codes can be intimidating and have no beginning or end. To learn the code, the best way is jumping in feet first.  

Upcoming Blog Posts

In the next series of blog posts, I will explore common Building Codes.    Each City has adopted a code but most in Arizona use the IBC (International Building Code).

The following blog posts are:

1. Door swing direction.  Which way should the door swing, out of a room or in?
2. Number of exits within a room?
3. Door Size.  Who said “size doesn’t matter.”
4. Exit corridor width.  How narrow can a hallway be?
5. Clearances around a door?  Door arrangement between two doors.  
6. Door fire ratings.  What is the rating?
7. Exit Travel Distance  
8. Do I need an elevator?
9. Should my door have panic hardware? 
10. Do I need a drinking fountain?
11. Minimum size of a single person toilet room?
12. Small commercial space, is one bathroom enough? 

The item in bold are addressed in this post.  As an Arizona Architect, most City’s jurisdictions work with the IBC (International Building Code).   This code analysis is based upon the IBC.

Do I need a drinking fountain?

Do you ever wonder when you need an automatic drinking fountain in your office, your store, your warehouse? 

The building codes IBC  (International Building Code) and IPC (International Plumbing Code) both discuss when a drinking fountain is required.  Local jurisdiction may have overriding amendments.  The information below states the requirements as interpreted from the current 2018 IBC/IPC.

CODE

Drinking fountains are required in all occupancy types except:

• Hotels
• Motels
• Boarding houses
• Residential apartments

The quantity of drinking fountains vary dependent on occupancy type, however the range is from 1 per 100 to 1 per 1,000.  The following are the basic requirements:

• Drinking Fountain is not required in small occupancies per 2018 IBC/IPC for occupant loads less than 15.
• Per City of Phoenix Code Amendments, Drinking Fountains are not required for occupant loads less than 50. – Check local jurisdiction to determine code amendments.
• Where drinking fountains are required, not fewer than two drinking fountains shall be provided.  One fountain to comply with wheelchair (36″  max. spout a.f.f.) and one for standing (~40″).

Exceptions or substitution:

• Restaurants which provide drinking water for free are not required to have drinking fountains
• Water dispensers shall be permitted to be substituted for not more than 50% of the required number of drinking fountains.  (Interpretation – Drinking fountain with a bottle filler option, would satisfy the requirement for two drinking fountains).
• Drinking fountains shall not be required in tenant spaces provided that public drinking fountains are located within 500 feet and not more than one story above/below tenant space.
• In covered or open malls, drinking fountains shall not be required in tenant spaces provided that they are located within 300 feet.

Products

As water bottles have become more popular, bottle filling drinking fountain stations have become more prominent.  In 2010, Elkay introduced a new drinking fountain.  It was in response to consumer demand and environmental concerns of disposable bottles.

The product notifies the number of water bottles saved.  Product notifies user to change filter as needed.  This ensures and reinforces to the user that the water is safe to drink.

ADA

At least one drinking fountains installed must meet ADA requirements.  Spout height at 36″ above finish floor maximum.

The 2010 ADA standards does indicate, Section 211.2 Minimum Number – No fewer than two drinking fountains shall be provided.  One drinking fountain shall comply with 602.1 through 602.6 and one drinking fountain shall comply with 602.7.  

Exception: Where a single drinking fountain complies with 602.1 through 602.7, it shall be permitted to be substituted for two separate drinking fountains.

So what does 602.7 change to make it possible for one drinking fountain.  Essentially the Spout has to be between 38″ minimum and 43″ maximum above the finish floor.  This is higher than what is depicted in section 602.4 Spout height, which indicates 36″ a.f.f.

Summary

Do I need a drinking fountain?   Drinking fountains are essentially required unless you have minimum occupants.  Less than 15 occupants per IPC code and in some jurisdictions, such as Phoenix,  less than 50 occupants.  Where a drinking fountain is required, fixtures need to meet ADA requirements.

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