Commercial Plumbing Trends

LEED building may be the buzz among commercial construction sectors—but how do plumbers apply those principals to their bathroom build-outs?

The methods are becoming increasingly standardized, says Rick Bidwell, vice president of RJ Vann plumbing in Fort Myers, Fla.  Now, more than ever, his customers are looking to install green products in their bathrooms that speak to a common bottom line: Water conservation.

“Consider that every waterless urinal saves about 40,000 gallons of water per year,” says Bidwell, noting that his clients are increasingly aware of green product options, even though they may not be fully educated in their cost savings. “Clients ask, and we direct,” he says. “The payback is tremendous.”

Toilets
There’s no bigger bathroom cornerstone than toilets—and today’s trends dictate that less is more.

Twenty years ago, it took about 3.5 gallons of water to flush a traditional toilet; today the highest efficiency system can get the job done on .8 gallons per flush. Most new commercial toilets will expend an average of 1.2 gallons per flush, Bidwell says, resulting in both water and energy savings.

A pressure-assisted toilet is a specialized type of low efficiency toilet that is increasingly popular in the commercial sector, says Joseph Emanuel, owner and operator of Emanuel Plumbing & Heating Co. in Philadelphia, Pa. Not only will it use an average of 1.1 gallons per flush, it is also one of the most reasonably priced, he says.

In sectors of hotels and hospitality, Bidwell adds that business owners are inquiring more about dual flush toilets, which operate on two separate handles.

“Sometimes, it confuses people,” Bidwell admits. But for the most part, the toilets are clearly marked, with one handle used for smaller, one gallon flushes and another for larger 1.6 gallon flushes—“as needed, of course,” he says.

Urinals
Like toilets, urinals have become highly efficient in the last two decades, and many are now completely waterless, Bidwell says. In newer models, instead of flushing down the urinal with water, a cartridge placed at the fixture’s base filters all liquids on contact while simultaneously trapping and locking in odors.

“These fixtures require no chemicals and are LEED-certified,” Emanuel says. The cartridge kits require changing every few weeks but the cost savings on water—and unpleasant odors—is increasingly worth it to commercial business owners, he says.

Faucets
One of the most prevalent trends in commercial plumbing includes sensory technology—for both toilets and faucets, Emanuel says.

“It’s the most cost effective way to save water—and it’s the most hygienic because you don’t have to touch the fixture,” he observes.

By today’s commercial standards, Bidwell says that the flow of a standard sink cannot exceed one-half gallon per minute. Many newer sinks using metered or electronic sensory expend water at about .25 gallons per minute.

Some sensory technology is also now using solar power, relying on PV panels versus batteries to control faucet flow. “Now you are saving water and energy,” Bidwell says.

Fixtures
With commercial business owners looking to cut more costs than ever before, bathroom aesthetics are taking a back seat on newer build-outs.

“Before, a lot of my customers were asking for vessel sinks—now they are going for ways they can save money,” Emanuel says.

Bidwell adds that more than anything, his clients want efficiency of operation, minimal maintenance and water conservation—“but they still want it to look nice.”

Many of his customers are getting more creative not only in color selection, but in the fixtures themselves. Instead of opting for the typical, polished chrome finishes such as brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze and stainless steel are in vogue, especially in the realm of hotels and upscale restaurants.

Those commercial owners who are looking to cut corners by installing cheaper fixtures will suffer in the long run, Emanuel adds.

“Know which products are good and which are junk,” he says. “Something like plastic obviously breaks easily, but some people who are looking to save a buck will want that. Those owners aren’t in business for the long haul.”

Tankless water heaters
Both Bidwell and Emanuel agree that tankless water heaters are among the hottest trend in commercial bathroom build-outs. Tankless heaters use less energy and provide hot water on demand. Bidwell says many business owners are seeing the value of the heaters over a standard, 50 gallon tank that expends energy to keep water heated at all times.

Tankless water heaters are also a prime example of an EPA-endorsed WaterSense appliance—which is equivalent to an Energy Star rated appliance, he explains.

“These are products that ensure a 20 percent reduction in water use,” says Bidwell, who only recently learned of the EPA rating. “Even other plumbing contractors may not know it exists.”

Visit http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/ to learn more about green appliance options for your commercial end-users.