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Urinal Fixtures
Different types of flushing urinals have existed in North America for many years with little technological change.
In the early 1990s, however, the introduction of the first non-water urinal in the U.S. changed the perspective of
water efficiency proponents. Since that time, hundreds of thousands of non-water urinals have been installed here,
savings millions of gallons of water each year. At the same time, the number of manufacturers with product in the U.S. has grown.
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However, the non-water urinal is not without controversy, and the need for further research is
clearly evident. Issues of maintenance requirements, questions about the life expectancy of the liquid seal
(or cartridge), concerns over build-up of urine solids in the drainlines behind these fixtures, and, finally, issues
with the economics or cost-effectiveness of non-water urinals in areas where water and sewer charges are low, all seem
to argue in favor of more research on these important topics. |
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While non-water urinals offer the complete elimination of flush valves and water use, other high-efficiency technologies
are now making their appearance. The national standard for urinals mandates a maximum flush volume of 1.0-gallons (3.8-liters),
yet urinals flushing at significantly less water volume have existed in the marketplace for at least 15 years. Today, manufacturers
are developing and refining urinal models that flush at 0.5-gpf (1.9-liters) and below, some with as little as 1-pint of water (0.5-liters).
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With the market success of non-water urinals, coupled with the array of models flushing at 0.5-gpf and less, a new category of urinal
fixtures has been defined, the HIGH-EFFICIENCY URINAL (HEU). The HEU is defined as a fixture that functions at 0.5-gpf/1.9-lpf or less.
(NOTE: The HEU category includes non-water urinal fixtures.)
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*Revised! (June 28, 2007)* HEUs–An Up-To-Date Listing of High Efficiency Urinal Models
Check this list of the HEUs currently being offered in the marketplace.
NOTE: This list will be periodically updated as new models
are introduced or older models are dropped from product lines. Manufacturers are asked to notify us when new HEU models become available,
providing specification sheets and other pertinent technical information.
- HEU (PDF)
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HEUs as a Best Management Practice? (2005)
An analysis of the installed base of commercial urinals in California was completed as part of an assessment of HEUs being considered for Potential
Best Management Practice (PBMP) status. This 2005 report examines the potential water savings that might result from implementing various program
scenarios directed at replacing some or all of the existing installed base and/or focusing on new construction.
http://www.cuwcc.org/uploads/tech_docs/PBMP_Report_Year2_HETs_Urinals_Nov-2005.pdf
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State of California Approves Zero Consumption Urinals
This Acceptance Criteria (AC) document from California's Division of the State Architect verifies the State's position that waterless urinals are
acceptable fixtures according to the State's plumbing code.
http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dsa/pubs/ACM-1_final01-5-04.pdf
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The Highly Disputed “German Study” of Non-Water Urinals (2005-2006)
In 2004-2005, Dr Mete Demiriz of Gelsenkirchen University of Applied Sciences in Gelsenkirchen Germany completed a study of dry (non-water) urinals
in the University’s very extensive laboratory facilities dedicated to plumbing technologies. When the study report and presentation were reviewed by
water efficiency advocates and by plumbing system professionals in North America, it set off alarms. Those alarms were related to the build-up of
solids in the drainlines behind the non-water urinals. The findings of the study were disputed here, the reasoning being that plumbing codes and other conditions
in Germany are not identical to those in the U.S. As such, study findings could not be applied here.
NOTE: If you download and review the study report and accompanying presentation, you are encouraged to also read the refuting technical response offered
by Falcon Waterfree Technologies and the two other reviews as well.
All 5 documents may be downloaded here:
- Dry Urinal Study Report-Demiriz.pdf
- Dry Urinal Study Presentation-Demiriz.pdf
- Dry Urinal Study Technical Response-Falcon.pdf
- Dry Urinal Study Review-Koeller.pdf
- Dry Urinal Study Review-Pape.pdf
(Some files may be large. If the file does not automatically download, right click on the link above and select "Save Target As..." from the drop-down menu.)
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Odor Test for Urinal Fixtures (2000-2002)
One of the issues brought forth by the entrenched opponents of non-water urinals is odor. Of course, ALL urinal fixtures will cause odors
if not cleaned or maintained properly. Furthermore, odors can result from a lack of cleaning of the floor surfaces beneath the urinal as well.
Unfortunately, in most cases, odors have been unfairly attributed to the non-water urinal technology when the real cause may lie elsewhere.
Two studies of odors from urinal installations have been completed in the last six years. Both provide important information on this subject.
NOTE: The UCLA study was commissioned by a manufacturer, Falcon Waterfree Technologies LLC.
- UCLA Study, December 2000 (PDF)
- Pacific Northwest National Lab Study, November 2002 (PDF)
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IAPMO Code Hearing Appeal Rulings on Non-Water Urinals (2005)
At an IAPMO Standards Council appeals hearing held at IAPMO on November 17, 2005, arguments were heard against several actions taken by the Association
Technical Meeting in September on the Uniform Plumbing Code that would prohibit the installation of non-water urinals. The rulings resulting from those
appeals to the IAPMO Standards Council are provided in four letters:
- Letter Ruling No. 1 (PDF)
- Letter Ruling No. 2 (PDF)
- Letter Ruling No. 3 (PDF)
- Letter Ruling No. 4 (PDF)
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Plumbing Standard for Vitreous China Non-Water Urinals (2006)
ASME/ANSI A112.19.19-2006 was approved by the American National Standards Institute in September 2006. Once this new (copyrighted) standard is published by
ASME, it can be ordered via this website:
http://catalog.asme.org/home.cfm?CATEGORY=CS&TaxonomyItemID=3032
A very brief summary of the topics covered by A112.19.19-2006 may be downloaded here:
- ASME A112.19.19-Summary.pdf
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®
Copyright 2006, CUWCC. All rights reserved
Developed with funding and support from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
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