Toilet Fixtures
Drainline Studies | Flappers & Flush Valve Seals | High Efficiency Toilets (HETs) |
Plumbing Standards | Ultra Low Flow Toilets (ULFTs)
Maximum Performance (MaP) Testing &
Uniform North American Requirements (UNAR)
The following 4 sets of specifications and testing protocols were developed by water provider interests. Compliance by manufacturers with each one is voluntary.
1) MaP – MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE testing of toilet fixtures
18TH EDITION UPDATE TO MaP TESTING REPORT ON TOILETS:
This EIGHTEENTH Edition of the original Maximum Performance (MaP) testing report is now available. It provides the latest information on toilet fixture performance in both a PDF and a SEARCHABLE Excel format. The toilet fixture models are listed with their MaP performance scores and physical characteristics. Go HERE to visit our MaP testing page and download the needed documents.
2) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - WaterSense
The U.S. EPA is implementing its new WaterSense product labeling and market enhancement program by introducing HETs as the first product to be labeled. The WaterSense specification for HETs incorporates most of the elements of UNAR, including MaP testing to a 350 gram minimum threshold of performance. For information on the overall WaterSense program, go here:
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/index.html
To view the EPAs fact sheet on HETs: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/toilets.html
To download the FINAL HET specification, click here:
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/docs/spec_het508.pdf
To obtain the latest listing of WateSense certified HETs, either download this PDF listing OR visit this website and click on the "WaterSense" tab for an Excel listing.
http://www.veritec.ca/mid.php?code=35&top=6&option=7&img=5
3) UNAR–UNIFORM NORTH AMERICAN REQUIREMENTS for toilet fixtures
What is UNAR….and why was it necessary?
For a number of years, individual water agencies and municipalities in both the U.S. and Canada have been developing toilet specifications and "approved lists" that were sometimes quite arbitrary in their development and were frequently different from one another. It became apparent to both the water conservation specialists AND the plumbing industry that a new direction would benefit everyone - water conservation programs, the plumbing industry and, of course, the consumer looking for the rebate! Thus, the idea was born that a set of common requirements would help to end much of the confusion.
UNAR for toilet fixtures is based partly upon the Los Angeles SPS (see below), and partly upon MaP testing of toilet fixtures (MapTesting). It incorporates important criteria focused on sustainable water savings and has been endorsed by water suppliers as well as plumbing industry representatives. UNAR encompasses two tiers of performance: conventional toilet fixtures flushing at 1.3 to 1.6 gallons AND HETs flushing at 1.28 gallons or less. For more information, download the UNAR specification and the lists of currently qualified toilet fixtures by going to the following webpage, clicking "download" and filtering the downloaded Excel document's UNAR tab for HETs.
http://www.veritec.ca/mid.php?code=35&top=6&option=7&img=5
4) SPS – SUPPLEMENTARY PURCHASE SPECIFICATION for toilet fixtures
Los Angeles Supplementary Purchase Specification (SPS) for Toilet Fixtures (Applies to BOTH ULFTs and HETs)
The SPS applies to toilet purchases under the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s Toilet Distribution Program. Compliance with the specification by toilet fixture manufacturers is entirely VOLUNTARY. It was initially adopted as requirement in 2000. As was originally planned, the specification changed its adjustability maximum for ULFTs from 2.4 gallons to 2.0 gallons, effective July 1, 2003. (Note: there are NO PLANS to lower this threshold.) The following documents provide information on this specification:
- SPS - Phasing out the SPS by 2010
- SPS Explanatory Memo
- SPS - ULFT Requirements
- SPS-Certified Toilet Fixtures - Gravity and Vacuum
- SPS-Certified Toilet Fixtures - Pressure-Assist
- SPS-Certified Flappers
- SPS Questions and Answers
NOTE: The provisions in the SPS relating to flapper durability and marking of essential repair information inside the tank have been incorporated into the ASME/ANSI A112.19.5 national standard.