INFORMATION BULLETIN / PUBLIC - BUILDING CODE REFERENCE NO.: LABC Sec. 2901 Effective: 7-21-03 DOCUMENT NO. P/BC 2002-095 Revised: Previously Issued As: none PLUMBING FIXTURES Section 2901 of the Building Code refers to the Plumbing Code to determine the minimum number of the plumbing fixtures required for each type of building occupancies. The minimum number of the plumbing fixtures are shown in Table 4-1 of the Plumbing Code except that Table 4-2 of the Plumbing Code shall be used for medical clinics licensed by the state, as required by Section 413.1 of the Plumbing Code. (See Section 422A of the Building Code for definition of Clinics ). The categories not shown in Table 4-1 of the Plumbing Code are addressed by section VIII of this Information Bulletin. The minimum number of plumbing fixtures are assumed to be based on 50 percent male and 50 percent female users. The occupant load shall be determined per section 1003.2.2 of the Building Code. I. The following guideline shall be used when determining the minimum required number of the plumbing fixtures: A. New Buildings 1. Determine the occupant load based on the proposed floor area for each occupancy 2. Determine the required number of plumbing fixtures for each occupancy 3. Determine the total number of plumbing fixtures by adding the required number of the plumbing fixtures for each occupancy B. Existing Buildings For the following cases, either options I, II or III may be used: 1. Change of occupancy classification or change of use for an existing tenant space or building. 2. Addition or alteration that increases the occupant load of the existing buildings may use any of the following options; however, alterations without an increase in occupant load, other than case 1 above, may maintain their existing non-conforming toilet facilities without complying with current plumbing fixture requirements. Option I. 1. Calculate the number of occupants within the addition or altered area. 2. Determine the required number of fixtures from the applicable table. 3. Provide the required number of fixtures within the addition or altered area. Page 1 of 7
4. The required number of fixtures may be added in a common area of the existing building accessible from the addition or altered area. Option II. 1. Calculate the occupant load for the existing building. 2. Determine the required number of fixtures for the existing building from the applicable table. 3. Calculate the occupant load for the existing building and the addition or alteration. 4. Determine the required number of fixtures, based on the occupant load from item 3 above, from the applicable table. 5. Subtract the number fixtures determined from item 2 from those determined from item 4 above. 6. The difference will be the number of additional fixtures required. Option III. 1. Calculate the number of occupants within the addition or area of alteration. 2. Determine the required number of fixtures from the applicable table. 3. Determine the number of fixtures required by the code under which the fixtures were last approved. 4. Subtract the number of fixtures required by the previous code from the number of existing fixtures. 5. Credit the difference to the number of fixtures required for the addition and provide the additional required fixtures. Example for an Addition: An existing 100,000 square feet warehouse with a 20,000 square feet addition. The existing occupant load is 200 with the addition adding 40 more occupants. There are existing toilet rooms for men and women. The men s room has two water closets, two urinals, and two lavatories. The women s room contains four water closets and two lavatories. Option I. The applicable table is Table 4-1. The addition would require a new men s and women s toilet room with two water closets and two lavatories in the mens room and two water closets and two lavatories in the women s room. Option II. The applicable table is Table 4-1. The existing building is credited with five water closets and five lavatories in each of the men s and women s rooms. With the new occupants a Page 2 of 7
total of six water closets and five lavatories would be required. One water closet would need to be added to each toilet room. Option III. Per Table 4-1, the addition would require two additional water closets and two additional lavatories in each of the men s and women s rooms. The previous building code required one water closet in each toilet room. The difference between what was required and what was provided in the existing building is three water closets and two lavatories. This number is higher than the number of fixtures required for the addition; therefore additional fixtures would not be required. Example for an Alteration: An existing 100,000 square feet market with a 20,000 square feet alteration. The existing occupant load is 200 with the alteration adding 40 more occupants. There are existing mens and women s toilet rooms. The mens room has two water closets and two urinals, and two lavatories. Option I. The applicable table is Table 4-1. The alteration would require a new mens and women s toilet rooms with two water closets and two lavatories in the mens room and two water closets and two lavatories in the women s room. Option II. The applicable table is Table 4-1. The existing building is credited with five water closets and five lavatories in each of the men s and women s rooms. With the new occupants a total of six water closets and five lavatories would be required. One water closet would need to be added to each toilet room. Option III. The applicable table is Table 4-1. The alteration requires the addition of two water closets and two lavatories in each of the men s and women s rooms. The previous building code required one water closet in each toilet room. The difference between what was required and what was provided in the existing building is three water closets and two lavatories. This number is higher than the number of fixtures required for the alteration; therefore additional fixtures would not be required. Page 3 of 7
II. Number of Fixtures per Floor Section 413.2.1 of the LAMC requires, in multi-story buildings, the availability of the required plumbing fixtures shall not exceed one vertical story. Fixtures shall be provided on each floor based on the number of occupants on each floor or provided for each group of floors based on the number of occupants for that group of floors. III. Floors Serving Customers and Employees Section 413.5.1 of the LAMC allows a single set of restrooms accessible to both customers and employees. The required number of fixtures shall be the greater of the required number for employees or the required number for customers. (See footnotes of Table below for additional requirements) IV Location of Fixtures Access to public facilities (for the customer) shall not be through areas designated for employee use only. V. Accessibility Requirements for Persons with Disabilities New Facilities. When new facilities are provided, they must comply with the accessibility requirements. Existing Facilities. When existing facilities are to be used as the required sanitary facilities for the addition or alteration, the existing facilities must comply with disabled access regulations (unreasonable hardship may be granted as applicable per disable access regulations). VI. Conflicts between Codes Whenever there is a conflict between codes or different provisions of the same code, the most restrictive provision shall be applied. VII. Food Service Establishments Establishments with an occupant load of 100 or more shall be provided with separate toilet facilities for employees and customers. Customer and employee facilities may be combined for occupant loads of less than 100. Customers required plumbing facilities shall be per Table 4-1 of the LAMC. Employees required plumbing facilities, however, shall be provided per 91.6302.4. Page 4 of 7
VIII. Types of Buildings or Occupancies not shown in Tables 4-1 and 4-2. Section 413.4.3 of the of the Plumbing Code allows for categories not shown in the adopted tables to be considered separately as deemed appropriate by the Administrative Authority. The following table may be used for such occupancies: TYPE OF USE RETAIL, MERCANTILE OR 11 WHOLESALE BUILDINGS OCC. LOAD/ SQ. FT. 1:200 PLUMBING FIXTURES WATER CLOSETS 1,11 URINALS MALE FEMALE (per person) 1:1-50 2:51-100 3:101-400 1:1-50 2:51-100 3:101-200 4:201-300 5:301-400 over 400 add one fixture for each additional 500 males and one for each 150 females. LAVATORIES (per person) One for each two water closets DRINKING FOUNTAIN COMMUNITY BUILDINGS Gymnasium / Multipurpose Without Auditorium Nor Bleachers Gymnasium / Multipurpose Room with Auditorium (Exclusive of Stage) & No Fixed Seats 2, 3, 4, 5 1:7 Gymnasium / Multipurpose Room with Auditorium (Exclusive of Stage) with Bleachers 2, 3, 4, 5 1:7 0 1:75 0 1:2 0 Gymnasium / Multipurpose Room Storage 1:300 SR. CITIZEN CENTERS Multipurpose Room - Sr. Citizen Centers Multipurpose Room-with Platform & Projection Screen 1:7 0 1:75 0 1:2 0 SWIMMING POOL & BATHHOUSE Cashier / Check Room 1:100 Girls Area 1:50 0 1:75 0 1:2 0 Page 5 of 7
Boys Area 1:50 SWIMMING POOL Outdoor Pool: Indoor Pool: - Deck - Pool Area - Deck - Pool Area 1:50 1:50 0 1:75 0 1:2 0 CHILD CARE Outdoor Play Area N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Classrooms - up to 6 th Grade 1:20 Classrooms - 7 th Grade to Age 16 1:20 0 1:75 0 1:2 0 Parent/ Guest Waiting Area (Incidental to Main Use) 0 0 0 0 0 GENERAL USES Activity - Craft Rooms 0 1:75 0 1:2 0 Billiard/ Pool Room 6 0 1:75 0 1:2 0 Custodial Room 1:300 Dressing Rooms 1:100 0 1:75 0 1:2 0 Dining Area 2,7,8,9,10 1000 Sq. Ft. 1000 Sq. Ft. 1:1-50 2:51-150 3:151-300 7 1: 1-50 8 1: 1-150 1:1-150 2: 51-150 2: 151-200 N/A 4: 151-300 7 3: 201-400 9 Kitchen Area 1:200 Lobby Accessory to Assembly Occupancy 1:7 0 0 0 0 0 Mechanical Room 0 0 0 0 0 0 Office / Business 1:100 1: 1-100 2: 101-200 3: 201-400 10 3: 1-50 4: 51-100 8: 101-200 11: 201-400 10 1: 1-100 2: 101-200 3: 201-400 10 1: 1-200 2: 201-400 3: 401-750 2 0 Office / Staff Area 1:100 0 1:75 0 1:2 0 Stage Only 0 1:75 0 1:2 0 Storage - General 1:300 0 0 0 0 0 Storage - Stage 1:300 0 0 0 0 0 Footnotes: 1. The total number of water closets for females shall be at least equal to the total number of water closets and urinals required for males. 2. Over 750 occupants, add one lavatory for each additional 500 persons. 3. Over 400 occupants, add one water closet for each additional 500 males and 1 for each additional 125 females. 4. Over 600 occupants, add 1 Urinal for each additional 300 males. 5. Over 750 occupants, add 1 Drinking Fountain for each additional 500 persons. 6. The occupant load shall be determined by dividing the superficial floor area (the area determined by deducting the area occupied by Page 6 of 7
pool tables from the total floor area) by 15 sq. ft per occupant. 7. Over 300 occupants, add 1 Water Closet for each additional 200 persons. 8. Over 150 occupants, add 1 Urinal for each additional 150 males. 9. Over 400 occupants, add 1 Lavatory for each additional 400 persons. 10. Over 400 occupants, add one water closet for each additional 500 males and 1 for each additional 150 females. 11. For Retail, Mercantile or Wholesale: a. where urinals are provided, one water closet may be deducted for each urinal installed, except the number of water closets in such cases shall not be reduced to less than one half of the minimum specified. b. stores with a floor area of 1500sf or less, one toilet facility, designated bo be used by no more than one person at a time, shall satisfy the requirements for serving customers and employees of both sexes. (Plumbing Code Section 413.3) IX. Spec Buildings The number of fixtures shall be based on the proposed use of the building. A minimum of one men s and one women s toilet room shall be provided. Additional fixtures do not need to be installed prior to tenant improvement. Page 7 of 7