Designing and installing for the international market can be very different from the United States. There are many factors and challenges to consider that architects, designers, and engineers must educate themselves on such as aesthetics, water conservation efforts, and plumbing regulations.

A growing trend today is for internationally based companies to seek out United States-based A & D firms to design their buildings. Creating the ideal design and function of the building, and in particular the restroom, can be a challenge due to differences in aesthetics, water quality, water pressure, regulations, and plumbing standards. It is important for domestic architects and designers to identify these differences and find viable solutions for every client that fit both their budget and their region’s specific plumbing needs. In order to specify the best possible products, architects and designers must educate themselves on the specific cultural trends, regulatory requirements, and water availability and quality of a given region. It is important, however, to keep in mind that even within a particular country, plumbing requirements and needs can vary.

All images courtesy of Sloan Valve Company

World-class commercial restroom design.

Ted Garcia, vice president of International Business Development with Sloan, has this to say about the importance of the challenges faced when designing and specifying products for the international market: “Architects, designers, building owners, and engineers around the world are challenged by balancing aesthetics and function. This is specifically true in the design of international commercial restrooms. There are many factors to consider when choosing the right products, including design aesthetic, quality, durability, sustainability, and water conservation. The use of high-efficiency restroom products can be very successful in modern restroom designs. With an increasing number of customers around the world, manufacturers need to be committed to providing high-quality products that are as beautiful as they are efficient.”

With this in mind, it is important to consult with local architects, designers, engineers, and other experts of the particular region to avoid problems. However, this continuing education course will provide basic instructions on vital aspects to consider when designing a commercial restroom for the international market.

Sustainability and Water Conservation

Around the world, the commercial restroom industry is always searching for dynamic solutions to improve the quality of life of the customers and communities that it serves. Globally, 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation services, making commercial restrooms an even greater need. Sustainability and water conservation are important across the globe, especially in developing countries, and it can be a major deciding factor in fixture/plumbing types across the board. India, for instance, is undergoing a major water conservation initiative set forth country-wide by the government.

According to statistics reported by the United Nations, the world’s population is growing by roughly 80 million people each year. As a result, global water consumption has doubled in the last 20 years and commercial buildings use 20 percent of the world’s water, creating an overwhelming demand for access to fresh water and plumbing. At any given time, close to half of all people in developing countries suffer from a health problem caused by water and sanitation deficits. According to the Global Construction 2020 Report prepared by Global Construction Perspectives, $97.7 trillion will be spent on construction globally in the next 10 years. The rapid increase in population, water usage, and construction around the world, combined with the varying percentages of trained plumbers in each country, means that a simple-to-install, water-efficient plumbing solution is a must for commercial restrooms.

Despite the increasing demands in high-traffic, commercial restrooms, current plumbing solutions can waste water and can lead to unsafe/unhealthy environments. So, what is the perfect solution to help increase access to clean, affordable sanitation in global communities while meeting the needs of water efficiency? World Health Organization (WHO) states in its Health Aspects of Plumbing Report, “Good design of plumbing systems is necessary to ensure that the installations are efficient and safe. Good design will also ensure that the installations are appropriate for the different circumstances they serve. The design of good plumbing services must be based on an understanding of the technical requirements and relevant regulatory restrictions.”¹

High-efficiency products, such as low-flow flushometers for water closets and urinals, water-free and hybrid urinals, as well as low-flow sensor faucets are all water-saving solutions in commercial restroom design. These products can be used in new construction or as retrofits to help existing facilities conserve water. New construction has the advantage of starting with the latest flushing technologies and properly sized and pitched drain lines for both performance and water savings. Plumbing retrofit and renovation decisions are more difficult for existing buildings as the condition of the plumbing infrastructure behind the wall may be unknown. Therefore, getting accurate knowledge about the current infrastructure and green building standards/certifications a region is working towards is vital.

The World Green Building Council (WGBC), a global network of Green Building Councils in more than 70 countries (United States and throughout South America, Middle East, North Africa, Asia Pacific, Africa and Europe), is one entity that promotes sustainability-focused practices in the building and construction industry around the world. A “green” building is one that adopts products and practices to reduce strain on the world’s limited resources, such as water. The members of WGBC work together to promote awareness and encourage the use of efficient products like solar-powered faucets.

The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM), is another set of certifications that encourages the use of sustainable and water-efficient products. Created in 1990 by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), awarding a BREEAM certification means that a building makes effective use of resources, measured in 10 categories. These categories include: energy, health and wellbeing, innovation, land use, materials, management, pollution, transport, waste, and of course, water. Adopted in over 77 countries, BREEAM encourages the use of plumbing products that limit the strain on the finite water resource. However, there are other certifications around the world that encourage the use of sustainable water products.

Variables ranging from the economic climate to the social customs to availability of resources will impact how much a region can work toward sustainability and which products it can use. After all, achieving those sustainability goals is just as important, if not even more so, than it is in the United States.

High-efficiency products, like water-free and hybrid urinals as well as low-flow sensor faucets, are water-savings solutions in commercial restroom design.