WAC 51-50-2900   Chapter 29 -- Plumbing systems.  


SECTION 2901 -- PLUMBING CODE.

     Plumbing systems shall comply with the Plumbing Code.


SECTION 2902 -- GENERAL.


2902.1 Number of fixtures.


2902.1.1 Requirements. Plumbing fixtures shall be provided in the minimum number shown in Table 2902.1 and in this chapter. Where the proposed occupancy is not listed in Table 2902.1, the building official shall determine fixture requirements based on the occupancy which most nearly resembles the intended occupancy.

     Plumbing fixtures need not be provided for unoccupied buildings or facilities.


2902.1.2 Private offices. Fixtures only accessible to private offices shall not be counted to determine compliance with this section.


2902.1.3 Occupancy load distribution. The occupant load shall be divided equally between the sexes, unless data approved by the building official indicates a different distribution of the sexes.


2902.1.4 Food preparation areas. In food preparation, serving and related storage areas, additional fixture requirements may be dictated by health codes.


2902.1.5 Other requirements. For other requirements for plumbing facilities, see Section 1210 and Chapter 11.


2902.2 Access to fixtures.


2902.2.1 Location. Plumbing fixtures shall be located in each building or conveniently in a building adjacent thereto on the same property.


2902.2.1.1 Toilet rooms. Toilet rooms shall not open directly into a room used for the preparation of food for service to the public or residents of Group R-2 boarding homes and residential treatment facilities licensed by Washington state.


2902.2.2 Multiple tenants. Access to toilets serving multiple tenants shall be through a common use area and not through an area controlled by a tenant.


2902.2.3 Multistory buildings. Required fixtures shall not be located more than one vertical story above or below the area served.


2902.3 Separate facilities.


2902.3.1 Requirements. Separate toilet facilities shall be provided for each sex.


EXCEPTION: In occupancies serving 15 or fewer persons, one toilet facility designed for use by no more than one person at a time shall be permitted for use by both sexes.

2902.3.2 Food service establishments. When customers and employees share the same facilities, customers accessing the facilities are excluded from food preparation and storage areas.


2902.4 Pay facilities. Required facilities shall be free of charge. Where pay facilities are installed, they shall be in addition to the minimum required facilities.


2902.5 is not adopted.


2902.6 is not adopted.


SECTION 2903 -- SPECIAL PROVISIONS.


2903.1 Dwelling units. Dwelling units shall be provided with a kitchen sink.


2903.2 Water closet space requirements. The water closet stool in all occupancies shall be located in a clear space not less than 30 inches (762 mm) in width, with a clear space in front of the stool of not less than 24 inches (610 mm).


2903.3 Water. Each required sink, lavatory, bathtub and shower stall shall be equipped with hot and cold running water necessary for its normal operation.


2903.4 Drinking fountains.


2903.4.1 Number. Occupant loads over 30 shall have one drinking fountain for the first 150 occupants, then one per each additional 500 occupants.


EXCEPTIONS: 1. Sporting facilities with concessions serving drinks shall have one drinking fountain for each 1000 occupants.
2. A drinking fountain need not be provided in a drinking or dining establishment.

2903.4.2 Multistory buildings. Drinking fountains shall be provided on each floor having more than 30 occupants in schools, dormitories, auditoriums, theaters, offices and public buildings.


2903.4.3 Penal institutions. Penal institutions shall have one drinking fountain on each cell block floor and one on each exercise floor.


2903.4.4 Location. Drinking fountains shall not be located in toilet rooms.


TABLE 2902.1 -- MINIMUM PLUMBING FIXTURES1,2,4,6
TYPE OF BUILDING OR OCCUPANCY8 WATER CLOSETS

(fixtures per person)		 LAVATORIES5

(fixtures per person)		 BATHTUB OR SHOWER

(fixtures per person)
MALE3 FEMALE MALE FEMALE
For the occupancies listed below, use 30 square feet (2.79 m2) per occupant for the minimum number of plumbing fixtures.
Group A

Assembly places -- 		 
Conference rooms, dining rooms, drinking establishments, exhibit rooms, gymnasiums, lounges, stages and similar uses including restaurants classified as Group B Occupancies 1:1-25 1:1-25 One per 2 water closets
2:26-75 2:26-75
3:76-125 3:76-125
4:126-200 4:126-200
5:201-300 5:201-300
6:301-400 6:301-400
Over 400, add one fixture for each additional 200 males or 150 females  
For the assembly occupancies listed below, use the number of fixed seating or, where no fixed seating is provided, use 15 square feet (1.39 m2) per occupant for the minimum number of plumbing fixtures.
Assembly places -- 9

Theaters, auditoriums, convention halls, dance floors, lodge rooms, casinos, and such places which have limited time for fixture use (intermissions)		 1:1-100 One per 25 1:1-200 1:1-200
2:101-200 Up to 400 2:201-400 2:201-400
3:201-400 3:401-750 3:401-750
Over 400, add one fixture for each additional 250 males or 50 females Over 750, add one fixture for each additional 500 persons  
Assembly places --

Stadiums, arena and other sporting facilities where fixture use is not limited to intermissions		 1:1-100 One per 50 1:1-200 1:1-200
2:101-200 Up to 400 2:201-400 2:201-400
3:201-400 3:401-750 3:401-750
Over 400, add one fixture for each additional 300 males or 100 females Over 750, add one fixture for each additional 500 persons  
For the assembly occupancies listed below, use the number of fixed seating or, where no fixed seating is provided, use 30 square feet (2.79 m2) per occupant for the minimum number of plumbing fixtures.
Worship places    
Principal assembly area One per 150 One per 75 One per 2 water closets
Educational & activity unit One per 125 One per 75 One per 2 water closets  
For the occupancies listed below, use 200 square feet (18.58 m2) per occupant for the minimum number of plumbing fixtures.
Group B

and other clerical or administrative employee accessory use		 1:1-15 1:1-15 One per 2 water closets
2:16-35 2:16-35  
3:36-55 3:36-55  
Over 55, add one for each additional 50 persons      
For the occupancies listed below, use 100 square feet ( 9.3 m2) per student for the minimum number of plumbing fixtures.
Group E 1:1-15 1:1-15 One per 2 water closets
Schools - for staff use 2:16-35 2:16-35  
All schools 3:36-55 3:36-55  
(One staff per 20 students) Over 55, add one fixture for each additional 40 persons  
Schools - for student use 1:1-20 1:1-20 1:1-20 1:1-20
Day care 2:21-50 2:21-50 2:21-50 2:21-50
  Over 50, add one fixture for each additional 50 persons Over 50, add one fixture for each additional 50 persons
Elementary One per 30 One per 25 One per 2 water closets
Secondary One per 40 One per 30 One per 2 water closets  
For the occupancies listed below, use 50 square feet (4.65 m2) per occupant for the minimum number of plumbing fixtures.
Education facilities other than Group E  
Others (colleges, universities, adult centers, etc.) One per 40 One per 25 One per 2 water closets  
For the occupancies listed below, use 2,000 square feet (185.8 m2) per occupant for the minimum number of plumbing fixtures.
Group F and Group H 1:1-10 1:1-10 One per 2 water closets
Workshop, foundries and similar establishments, and hazardous occupancies





 2:11-25 2:11-25   One shower for each 15 persons exposed to excessive heat or to skin contamination with irritating materials
3:26-50 3:26-50  
4:51-75 4:51-75  
  5:76-100 5:76-100  
Over 100, add one fixture for each additional 30 persons      
For the occupancies listed below, use the designated application and 200 square feet (18.58 m2) per occupant of the general use area for the minimum number of plumbing fixtures.
Group I7  
Hospital waiting rooms One per room (usable by either sex) One per room
Hospital general use areas

 1:1-15 1:1-15 One per 2 water closets
2:16-35 3:16-35  
  3:36-55 3:36-55  
Over 55, add one fixture for each additional 40 persons      
Hospital patient rooms:  
Single Bed One adjacent to and directly accessible from One per toilet room One per toilet room
Isolation One adjacent to and directly accessible from One per toilet room One per toilet room
Multibed One per 4 patients One per 4 patients One per 8 patients
Long-term One per 4 patients One per 4 patients One per 15 patients
Jails and reformatories  
Cell One per cell One per cell
Exercise room One per exercise room One per exercise room  
Other institutions (on each occupied floor) One per 25 One per 25 One per 2 water closets One per 8
For the occupancies listed below, use 200 square feet (18.58 m2) per occupant for the minimum number of plumbing fixtures.
Group M  
Retail or wholesale stores 1:1-50 1:1-50 One per 2 water closets
2:51-100 2:51-100  
  3:101-400 3:101-200  
  4:201-300  
  5:301-400  
Over 400, add one fixture for each additional 300 males or 150 females      
For Group R Occupancies containing dwelling units or guest rooms, use the table below. For dormitories, use 200 square feet (18.58 m2) per occupant for the minimum number of plumbing fixtures.
Group R  
Dwelling units One per dwelling unit One per dwelling unit One per dwelling unit
Hotel, motel, and boarding house guest rooms One per guest room One per guest room One per guest room
Boarding homes licensed by the department of social and health services One per 8 One per 8 One per 8 One per 8 One per 12
Dormitories One per 10 One per 8 One per 12 One per 12 One per 8
Over 10, add one fixture for each additional 25 males and over 8, add one for each additional 20 females Over 12, add one fixture for each additional 20 males and one for each additional 15 females For females, add one additional unit per each additional 30. Over 150 persons, add one additional unit per each additional 20 persons
For the occupancies listed below, use 5,000 square feet (464.5 m2) per occupant for the minimum number of plumbing fixtures.
Group S 1:1-10 1:1-10 One per 40 occupants of each sex One shower for each 15 persons exposed to excessive heat or to skin contamination with poisonous, infectious or irritating materials
Warehouses 2:11-25 2:11-25  
  3:26-50 3:26-50  
  4:51-75 4:51-75  
  5:76-100 5:76-100  
Over 100, add one for each 30 persons  

1The figures shown are based on one fixture being the minimum required for the number of persons indicated or any fraction thereof.
2For occupancies not shown, see Section 2902.1.1.
3Where urinals are provided, one water closet less than the number specified may be provided for each urinal installed, except the number of water closets in such cases shall not be reduced to less than one quarter (25%) of the minimum specified. For men's facilities serving 26 or more persons, not less than one urinal shall be provided.
4For drinking fountains, see Section 2903.4.
5Twenty-four inches (610 mm) of wash sink or 18 inches (457 mm) of a circular basin, when provided with water outlets for such space, shall be considered equivalent to one lavatory.
6For when a facility may be usable by either sex, see Section 2902.3.1.
7See WAC 246-320 for definitions, other fixtures and equipment for hospitals.
8When a space is accessory to or included as a part of a different occupancy group per Chapter 3, the area per occupant for the minimum plumbing fixture number is to be determined by its own specific use or purpose, not by that of the building's occupancy group.
9In multiplex movie theaters, where shows are scheduled at different times, the number of occupants for toilet fixture use may be based upon one-half (50%) of the total in all the auditoriums, but no less than the number in the largest auditorium.




[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.074, 19.27.020, and chapters 70.92, 19.27, and 34.05 RCW. 07-01-091, § 51-50-2900, filed 12/19/06, effective 7/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.020, 19.27.031, 19.27.074 and chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW. 05-01-014, § 51-50-2900, filed 12/2/04, effective 7/1/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. 04-01-108, § 51-50-2900, filed 12/17/03, effective 7/1/04.]