Fixtures, Faucets, and Fixture Fittings
Fixtures, Faucets, and Fixture Fittings covers the appliance end of the system: clearances, water efficiency, accessibility, and the fittings that connect a fixture to the drain.
Clearances and installation
- Water closet: centerline at least 15 in from a side wall, 30 in clear width, and 21 in clear in front of the bowl.
- Fixtures must be set level, secured, and accessible for cleaning; rough-in dimensions must match the fixture's template.
- Public toilets need the code's fixture count by occupancy, and commercial fixtures need mixing valves with scald protection.
Water efficiency
- Federal maximums: 1.6 gpf water closets (1.28 gpf is now the common baseline in many states), 1.0 gpf urinals, 2.2 gpm faucets, 2.5 gpm showerheads at 80 psi. State amendments can be stricter.
- Replacement aerators and showerheads must stay within the same limits as the original fixture.
Accessibility (ADA / ICC A117.1)
- Lavatory rim 34 in maximum above the floor, knee clearance about 27 in high and 30 in wide, and insulated drain and hot water piping.
- Faucets operable with one hand, without tight grasping or twisting: lever, push, or sensor handles.
- Water closets 17-19 in to the top of the seat, with grab bars and the required clear floor space.
Fittings and connections
- Fixture drains and traps must match: a 1-1/4 in lavatory pop-up into a 1-1/2 in trap is common, while a 1-1/2 in trap arm onto a 2 in drain needs the correct reducer.
- Hose bibbs and sillcocks need vacuum breakers; hand showers need the backflow protection the code names.
Worked example
A designer specifies a lavatory at 36 in rim height for comfort in a public restroom. The plan fails: A117.1 caps the rim at 34 in and requires 27 in knee clearance. The fix is a standard 34 in installation with an insulated trap and a lever handle.
Traps
Confusing ADA heights with residential comfort, faucets exceeding allowed flow, missing vacuum breakers on sillcocks, and undersized trap arms.