815 Ky. Admin. Regs. 20:191

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 5, November 1, 2024

Section 815 KAR 20:191 - Minimum fixture requirements

RELATES TO: KRS 58.200, 162.062, 318.160

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 318.130 requires the department to promulgate administrative regulations establishing the Kentucky State Plumbing Code regulating the construction, installation, and alteration of plumbing and plumbing fixtures and appliances, house sewers and private water supplies, and the methods and materials that may be used in Kentucky. This administrative regulation establishes the minimum plumbing fixture requirements for buildings in Kentucky.

Section 1. General Requirements.

(1) In a building accommodating males and females, it shall be presumed that the occupants will be equally divided between males and females, unless otherwise denoted on the plan application documents.

(2) The occupancy load factor used to determine the total number of plumbing fixtures required in a building shall be the load denoted in the Kentucky Building Code, incorporated by reference in 815 KAR 7:120.

(3) All types of buildings shall be provided with toilet rooms on each level or floor, unless:

(a) Separate facilities on each level or floor are unnecessary; and

(b) Toilet rooms on every other level or floor shall be sufficient.

(4) Unisex Facilities in Historic Buildings. A building or structure that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places or designated as historic under Kentucky statute may provide the required number of plumbing fixtures in unisex facilities if the overall occupant load is 100 persons or less, except as required in swimming pool bathhouses, park services buildings, and bathhouses in Group B, public garages in Group S-2, Group E buildings, dormitories in Group R-2, Group I-2 buildings, and Group I-3 buildings.

(5) Unisex facilities in historic buildings permitted by this section shall not be required to provide urinals.

(6) Toilet rooms for males, females, and unisex shall be clearly marked.

(7) Upon written request, the department shall permit the temporary use of a mobile facility in accordance with this administrative regulation. The written request shall be submitted to the division and shall include the:

(a) Name of the owner;

(b) Address of the location of the building being served by the mobile facilities; and

(c) Dates for which the mobile facilities are to be used.

(8) Water closet type. All water closets in public restrooms shall be of an elongated bowl type with a split open front seat.

(9) Service sinks.

(a) One (1) service sink shall be required on each floor of a public building unless otherwise approved by the department.

(b) A request for exemption of a service sink shall be submitted in writing to the division.

(c) The division shall respond in writing to the requester either granting or denying the exemption request.

(d)

1. The division shall determine whether to grant or deny the exemption request based upon if the request increases the sanitation risk to the building.

2. The division's decision shall be made on a case-by-case basis.

3. The division shall consider factors such as:

a. If the building requires the mopping of floors, cleaning of surfaces, or is carpeted; and

b. If there are public restrooms that require mopping and cleaning on a particular floor.

(10) Urinal Substitution. A urinal may be substituted for a water closet for males if the substituted urinals do not exceed one third (1/3) of the required number of water closets for males.

(11) Public Facilities.

(a) Sanitary facilities shall be provided for the public if the building contains 5,000 square feet or more.

(b) In a mall or shopping center, the required facilities, based on one (1) person per 100 square feet of total area, shall be installed in individual stores or in a central toilet room area or areas, if:

1. The distance from the main entrance of a store does not exceed 500 feet; and

2. The toilet room area is accessible to physically disabled persons.

Section 2. Toilet Floor Construction Requirements.

(1) Floors in toilet rooms shall be constructed of nonabsorbent materials.

(2) If a wood floor is used, the wood floor shall be covered by other nonabsorbent materials.

(3) If two (2) or more fixtures that receive human waste are installed and a wood floor is not used, the toilet room shall have at least:

(a) One (1) floor drain; and

(b) One (1) accessible hose bibb.

Section 3. Fixture Requirements.

(1) The following chart shall provide the water closet, lavatory, drinking fountain, and urinal requirements for different occupancy groups.

Occupancy Group	Examples	Water Closet (males)^a	Water Closet (females)^a	Lavatories (male)^a	Lavatories (female)^a	Drinking Fountain^b	Urinals (males)^a
A-1	Theaters, movie theaters, and similar buildings	1 per up to 100; 2 for 101 to 200; 3 for 201 to 400; 1 per additional 500 afterwards	1 for up to 50; 2 for 51 to 100; 3 for 101 to 150; 4 for 151 to 200; 1 per additional 150 afterwards	1 for up to 100; 2 for 101 to 200; 3 for 201 to 400; 4 for 401 to 750; 1 per each 500 afterwards	1 for up to 100; 2 for 101 to 200; 3 for 201 to 400; 4 for 401 to 750; 1 per each 500 afterwards	1 per 500 on every floor	1 for 11 to 100; 2 for 101 to 300; 3 for 301 to 600; and 1 for each additional 300 afterward
A-2	Banquet halls, casinos, dance halls, night clubs, restaurants, cafeterias, taverns, and bars	1 per up to 200; 2 for 201 to 400; 1 per additional 200 afterwards	1 per up to 100; 2 for 101 to 200; 1 per additional 200 afterwards	1 per 200	1 per 200	1 per 100 unless water stations are provided	1 for 50 to 200; 1 per additional 150 afterwards
A-3	Libraries, museums, and art galleries	1 per 200	1 per 100	1 per 200	1 per 100	1 per 500	1 for 11 to 200; 2 for 201 to 400; 3 for 401 to 600; and 1 for each additional 300 afterward
	Assembly halls and similar buildings	1 per up to 100; 2 for 101 to 200; 3 for 201 to 400; 1 per additional 500 afterwards	1 for up to 50; 2 for 51 to 100; 3 for 101 to 150; 4 for 151 to 200; 1 per additional 150 afterwards	1 for up to 100; 2 for 101 to 200; 3 for 201 to 400; 4 for 401 to 750; 1 per each 500 afterwards	1 for up to 100; 2 for 101 to 200; 3 for 201 to 400; 4 for 401 to 750; 1 per each 500 afterwards	1 per 500 on every floor	1 for 11 to 100; 2 for 101 to 300; 3 for 301 to 600; and 1 for each additional 300 afterward
	Places of worship	1 per 300	1 per 150	1 per 200	1 per 200	1 per 400	1 for 50 to 150; 1 for each additional 150 afterwards
A-4	Structures for indoor sporting events and activities	1 for 100; 2 for 101 to 200; 3 for 201 to 400; 1 per additional 500 afterwards	1 for 50; 2 for 51 to 100; 3 for 101 to 150; 4 for 151 to 200; 1 per additional 150 afterwards	1 for up to 100; 2 for 101 to 200; 3 for 201 to 400;4 for 401 to 750; 1 per each 500 afterwards	1 for up to 100; 2 for 101 to 200; 3 for 201 to 400;4 for 401 to 750; 1 per each 500 afterwards	1 per 500 on every floor	1 for 11 to 100; 2 for 101 to 300; 3 for 301 to 600; and 1 for each additional 300 afterward
A-5	Stadiums and other structures for outdoor sporting events and activities	1 for 100; 2 for 101 to 200; 3 for 201 to 400; 1 per additional 500 afterwards	1 for 50; 2 for 51 to 100; 3 for 101 to 150; 4 for 151 to 200; 1 per additional 150 afterwards	1 for up to 100; 2 for 101 to 200;3 for 201 to 400;4 for 401 to 750; 1 per each 500 afterwards	1 for up to 100; 2 for 101 to 200;3 for 201 to 400;4 for 401 to 750; 1 per each 500 afterwards	1 per 500 on every floor	1 for 11 to 100; 2 for 101 to 300; 3 for 301 to 600; and 1 for each additional 300 afterward
B	Swimming pool bathhouses	1 per 75	1 per 50	1 per 50	1 per 50	1 per 200	1 per 75
B	Park service buildings or bathhouses	See subsections (11) and (12) of this section
	Office buildings^c	1 for 1 to 15; 2 for 16 to 35; 3 for 36 to 55; 4 for 56 to 80; 5 for 81 to 110; 6 for 111 to 150; 1 for each additional 40 afterwards		1 for 1 to 15; 2 for 16 to 35; 3 for 36 to 60; 4 for 61 to 90; 5 for 91 to 125; 1 for each additional 75 afterwards		1 per 75	Optional
	Schools of higher-education and similar educational facilities	1 per 50	1 per 25	1 per 25	1 per 25	1 per 75	1 per 50
E	School buildings (not including higher-education facilities	1 for up to 25; 2 for 26 to 100; 1 for each 100 afterwards	2 for up to 25; 3 for 26 to 50; 6 for 51 to 100; 8 101 to 200; 10 for 201 to 300; 12 for 301 to 400; 14 for 401 to 500; 1 additional for each 40 afterwards	1 per 25 up to 50; 1 per 50 afterwards	1 per 25 up to 50; 1 per 50 afterwards	See subsection (10) of this section	1 for 1 to 25; 2 for 26 to 50; 4 for 51 to 100; 6 for 101 to 200; 8 for 201 to 300; 10 for 301 to 400; 12 for 401 to 500; 1 for each additional 50 afterwards
M	Mercantile and retail food store	1 per 150 up to 450; 1 per additional 500	1 per 100 up to 400; 1 per each additional 300	1 for 1 to 200; 2 for 201 to 400; 3 for 401 to 700; 1 for each additional 500	1 for 1 to 200; 2 for 201 to 400; 3 for 401 to 700; 1 for each additional 500	1 per 500 on each floor	1 for 50 to 200; 2 for 201 to 400; 3 for 401 to 600; 1 for additional 300 afterwards
R-1	Transient lodging facilities (public service areas)	1 per 25	1 per 15	1 per 25	1 per 25	1 per 75 on each floor	1 for 11 to 100; 1 for each additional 50 afterwards
R-1	Transient lodging facilities (without private bath)	1 per 10; 1 per additional 25 afterwards	1 per 8; 1 per additional 20 afterwards	1 per 10	1 per 10	1 per 75 on each floor	1 for 11 to 100; 1 for each additional 50 afterwards
R-2 ^c	Dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and rooming houses	1 per 10		1 per 10		1 per 75	Optional
R-3 ^c	Congregate living facilities with 16 or fewer persons	1 per 10		1 per 10		1 per 75	Optional
R-4 ^c	Congregate living facilities with 16 or fewer persons	1 per 10		1 per 10		1 per 75	Optional
I-1	Residential Care	1 per 10	1 per 10	1 per 10	1 per 10	1 per 100 on each floor	1 for each 50
I-2	Hospitals wards and nursing home wards	1 per 10	1 per 10	1 per 10	1 per 10	1 per 100 on each floor	1 for each 50
I-2	Hospital individual rooms and nursing home individual rooms^c	1 per room		1 per room		Optional	Optional
I-3	Institutions, penal (Cells) ^c	1 prison-type water closet per cell		1 prison-type lavatory per cell		Optional	Optional
I-3	Institutions, penal. (Day rooms and dorms)	1 per 12	1 per 8	1 per 12	1 per 12	1 per floor	Optional
I-4	Adult day care and child day care	1 per 10	1 per 10	1 per 10	1 per 10	1 per 100 on each floor	1 for each 50
F-1 and F-2	Workshops and factories	1 for 25 to 100; 1 for each additional 30 afterwards	1 for 15 to 100; 1 for each additional 30 afterwards	1 for 25 to 100; 1 for each additional 50 afterwards	1 for 25 to 100; 1 for each additional 50 afterwards	1 for 50 to 100 on each floor; 1 for each additional 75 afterwards	1 for 11 to 50; 2 for 51 to 100; 1 for each additional 100 afterward
S-2	Parking garages^d	1	1	1	1	Optional	1
Notes: a. The ratio equals the number of fixtures per the number of male occupants or female occupants. b. The ratio equals the number of fixtures per the total number of occupants. c. Separate male and female water closets or male and female lavatories are not required in these occupancy types. d. There are no minimum fixture requirements for Group S-1 or S-2 buildings except for the minimum fixture requirement for parking garages.

(2) Facilities for Stages.

(a) A separate water closet and lavatory shall be provided for males and females in the stage area.

(b) A drinking fountain shall be provided in the stage and auditorium area.

(3) Carry-out food service facilities. A carry-out food service operation shall be exempt from providing toilet facilities for the use of the carry-out food service facility's patrons.

(4) Licensed food establishments. In all food establishments licensed by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Public Health, the requirements of this subsection shall be met.

(a) Handwashing sinks.

1. All handwashing sinks shall have a minimum hot water temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit and a maximum hot water temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Self-closing faucets shall provide a flow of water for no less than fifteen (15) seconds from activation.

3. Placement of handwashing sinks shall be approved by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Public Health pursuant to 902 KAR 45:005.

(b) A three (3) compartment sink used for washing utensils shall be required and shall drain by a direct connection with a minimum of a two (2) inch drain.

(c) Dishwashing or ware washing machines shall discharge indirectly through a three (3) inch open receptacle.

(d) Residential type dishwashing machines shall discharge:

1. Through an air gap device; or

2. Indirectly through a three (3) inch open receptacle.

(e) Sinks solely used for food preparation shall discharge by an indirect connection to a minimum three (3) inch trap.

(f) All hub drains, open receptacles, floor sinks, or other waste receptacles shall extend one (1) inch above the floor plane unless a full grate or strainer is installed flush with the floor.

(g) Mobile food units. Occupied mobile food units not located within an existing permitted food establishment shall:

1. Meet the requirements of this code.

2. Have a waste tank no less than fifty (50) percent larger than the freshwater tank;

3. Have a National Sanitary Foundation (NSF) approved freshwater tank for potable water; and

4. Have a minimum of a three (3) compartment sink and one (1) hand sink.

(5) A restaurant with an occupancy of one (1) to fifteen (15) persons shall:

(a) Comply with the requirements for Group A-2 buildings; or

(b) Provide at least one (1) unisex facility consisting of one (1) water closet and one (1) lavatory.

(6) Employee Facilities.

(a)

1. Sanitary facilities within each building shall be provided for employees, unless an exception is approved by the division.

2. Examples of exceptions include buildings of non-occupancy, such as storage buildings or guard houses. These buildings shall not be required to have sanitary facilities if no one is working in the buildings. For guard houses, if the guard's normal scope of work requires him or her to enter buildings that already have sanitary facilities, then the guard house is not required to also have these facilities.

(b) If more than five (5) persons are employed, separate facilities for each sex shall be provided.

(c) For a tenant space within a building of 3,000 square feet or less of total gross floor area, employee facilities shall not be required if adequate interior facilities are provided within a centralized toilet room area or accessible areas having a travel distance of not more than 500 feet within the building in which the tenant space is located.

(7) Residential private rooms. Residential facilities in Group R-1, Group R-2, Group R-3, and Group R-4 that have a private bath attached to a private room shall have one (1) water closet, one (1) lavatory, and one (1) bathtub or shower.

(8) Kitchen type sinks. An apartment unit or a condominium unit in Group R-2 or Group R-3 buildings shall have a kitchen type sink.

(9) Waiting rooms. Waiting rooms in Group I-2 buildings and Group I-3 buildings shall provide at least one (1) water closet and one (1) lavatory.

(10) School drinking fountains.

(a) Group E (not including higher education facilities) buildings shall have the following:

1. A minimum of two (2) water bottle filling stations in each school;

2. A minimum of one (1) drinking fountain or water bottle filling station on each floor and wing of each school building; and

3. A minimum of one (1) drinking fountain or water bottle filling station for every seventy-five (75) students projected to attend the school upon completion of the proposed construction.

(b) A drinking fountain shall be equipped with:

1. A protective cowl; and

2. The orifice, which shall be one (1) inch above the overflow rim of the fountain.

(11) Park Service Buildings or Bathhouses. A park service building or bathhouse shall comply with the requirements established in 902 KAR 15:020 and this subsection.

(a) Except for a self-contained recreational vehicle community, each park shall provide one (1) or more central service buildings containing the necessary toilet and other plumbing fixtures established in this section.

(b) Except for a self-contained recreational vehicle community, sanitary facilities shall be provided as follows:

1. If there are one (1) to fifteen (15) vehicle spaces, there shall be for:

a. Males: At least one (1) water closet, one (1) urinal, one (1) lavatory, and one (1) shower; and

b. Females: At least one (1) water closet, one (1) lavatory, and one (1) shower;

2. If there are sixteen (16) to thirty (30) vehicle spaces, there shall be for:

a. Males: At least one (1) water closet, one (1) urinal, two (2) lavatories, and two (2) showers; and

b. Females: At least two (2) water closets, two (2) lavatories, and two (2) showers;

3. If there are thirty-one (31) to forty-five (45) vehicle spaces, there shall be for:

a. Males: At least two (2) water closets, one (1) urinal, three (3) lavatories, and three (3) showers; and

b. Females: At least two (2) water closets, three (3) lavatories, and three (3) showers;

4. If there are forty-six (46) to sixty (60) vehicle spaces, there shall be for:

a. Males: At least two (2) water closets, two (2) urinals, three (3) lavatories, and three (3) showers; and

b. Females: At least three (3) water closets, three (3) lavatories, and three (3) showers;

5. If there are sixty-one (61) to eighty (80) vehicle spaces, there shall be for:

a. Males: At least three (3) water closets, two (2) urinals, four (4) lavatories, and four (4) showers; and

b. Females: At least four (4) water closets, four (4) lavatories, and four (4) showers;

6. If there are eighty-one (81) to 100 vehicle spaces, there shall be for:

a. Males: At least four (4) water closets, two (2) urinals, five (5) lavatories, and five (5) showers; and

b. Females: At least five (5) water closets, five (5) lavatories, and five (5) showers; and

7. If over 100 vehicle spaces are provided, there shall be provided at least:

a. One (1) additional water closet and one (1) additional lavatory for each sex per additional thirty (30) spaces or fraction thereof;

b. One (1) additional shower for each sex per additional forty (40) vehicle spaces or fraction thereof; and

c. One (1) additional urinal for males per additional 100 vehicle spaces or fraction thereof.

(12) Residential and Day Camp Sites. A residential or day camp site shall comply with the requirements established in 902 KAR 10:040 and this subsection.

(a)

1. Each residential camp site shall be provided with sanitary facilities for each sex as established in this subsection.

2. A day camp shall:

a. Not be required to provide shower facilities; and

b. Provide all other sanitary facilities for each sex as established in this section.

(b) Sanitary facilities shall be provided as follows:

1. If there are one (1) to eighteen (18) persons served, there shall be for:

a. Males: At least one (1) water closet, one (1) urinal, one (1) lavatory, and one (1) shower; and

b. Females: At least two (2) water closets, one (1) lavatory, and one (1) shower;

2. If there are nineteen (19) to thirty-three (33) persons served, there shall be for:

a. Males: At least two (2) water closets, one (1) urinal, two (2) lavatories, and two (2) showers; and

b. Females: At least two (2) water closets, two (2) lavatories, and two (2) showers;

3. If there are thirty-four (34) to forty-eight (48) persons served, there shall be for:

a. Males: At least two (2) water closets, two (2) urinals, two (2) lavatories, and three (3) showers; and

b. Females: At least three (3) water closets, two (2) lavatories, and three (3) showers;

4. If there are forty-nine (49) to sixty-three (63) persons served, there shall be for:

a. Males: At least three (3) water closets, two (2) urinals, three (3) lavatories, and four (4) showers; and

b. Females: At least four (4) water closets, three (3) lavatories, and four (4) showers;

5. If there are sixty-four (64) to seventy-nine (79) persons served, there shall be for:

a. Males: At least three (3) water closets, three (3) urinals, three (3) lavatories, and five (5) showers; and

b. Females: At least five (5) water closets, three (3) lavatories, and five (5) showers;

6. If there are eighty (80) to ninety-five (95) persons served, there shall be for:

a. Males: At least four (4) water closets, three (3) urinals, four (4) lavatories, and six (6) showers; and

b. Females: At least six (6) water closets, four (4) lavatories, and six (6) showers; and

7. If over ninety-five (95) persons are served, there shall be provided at least:

a. One (1) additional water closet and one (1) additional lavatory for each twenty-five (25) persons or fraction thereof served;

b. One (1) additional shower for each twenty (20) persons or fraction thereof served; and

c. One (1) additional urinal for each additional fifty (50) males or fraction thereof.

(c) Coed day camps with equal number of males and females shall meet the fixture requirements of Group E school buildings (not including higher-education facilities) in the chart in subsection (1) of this section.

(d) Water closets may be substituted for urinals if facilities are to be used by both sexes.

Section 4. Fixture Alternatives.

(1) Lavatory alternatives.

(a) If a gang sink is installed, twenty four (24) inches of the gang sink shall equal one (1) lavatory.

(b) If a circular sink is installed, eighteen (18) inches of the circular sink basin shall equal one (1) lavatory.

(2) Urinal alternative. If a trough urinal is installed, twenty four (24) inches of the trough urinal shall equal one (1) urinal.

Section 5. Other Fixture Requirements.

(1) Modular Classrooms. If detached modular classrooms are used, sanitary facilities shall not be required, if:

(a) The entrance of the modular classroom for elementary grades through the fifth grade is within a developed travel distance not to exceed 100 feet from the accessible entrance to the main structure or an approved central modular restroom;

(b) The entrance of the modular classroom for sixth grade and above is within a developed travel distance not to exceed 200 feet, from the accessible entrance to the main structure or an approved central modular restroom;

(c) The travel path meets the accessibility requirements established in the Kentucky Building Code, 815 KAR 7:120; and

(d) There are sufficient fixtures in the main structure to serve the entire capacity of the school, including the modular classrooms.

(2) Laundry trays or clothes washers. Dormitories in Group R-2 shall have one (1) laundry tray or clothes washer for each fifty (50) persons or fraction thereof.

(3) Shower and bath requirements. Bathing fixtures requirements are as follows:

(a) Transient lodging facilities with private baths shall have one (1) bathtub or shower per room.

(b) Dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and rooming houses in Group R-2 shall have:

1. One (1) bathtub or shower for each eight (8) persons or fraction thereof up to 150 persons; and

2. If there are over 150 persons, one (1) additional bathtub or shower for each twenty (20) persons.

(c) Swimming pool bathhouses shall have one (1) shower per each fifty (50) persons or fraction thereof;

1. Showers shall be supplied with water at a temperature of not less than ninety (90) degrees Fahrenheit and at a flow rate of at least three (3) gallons per minute.

2. Thermostatic, tempering, or mixing valves shall be installed to prevent scalding of the bathers.

3. The requirement relating to bathhouse toilet room and shower facilities may be waived if the facilities are available to pool patrons within 150 feet from the pool.

(d) Groups F-1 and F-2 buildings shall provide one (1) shower for each fifteen (15) persons or fraction thereof, exposed to skin contamination from irritating, infectious, or poisonous materials.

(e) Group I-2 buildings shall have at least one (1) bathtub or shower for each fifteen (15) persons or fraction thereof.

815 KAR 20:191

7 Ky.R. 526; eff. 1-7-1981; Am. 8 Ky.R. 367; eff. 1-6-1982; 9 Ky.R. 837; eff. 2-2-1983; 10 Ky.R. 458; eff. 11-2-1983; 1018; eff. 3-31-1984; 12 Ky.R. 49; eff. 8-13-1985; 14 Ky.R. 1146; eff. 1-4-1988; 15 Ky.R. 613; 981; eff. 9-28-1988; 16 Ky.R. 2277; eff. 6-7-1990; 23 Ky.R. 1764; 2503; eff. 12-11-1996; 27 Ky.R. 236; 777; eff. 9-11-2000; 30 Ky.R. 2398; 31 Ky.R. 92; eff. 8-6-2004; TAm eff. 8-9-2007; 36 Ky.R. 218; 609; eff. 10-2-2009; 2135-M; 2327; 37 Ky.R. 375; eff. 6-23-2010; 39 Ky.R. 155; eff. 10-5-2012; 41 Ky.R. 183; 463; eff. 9-24-2014; 42 Ky.R. 2655, 2899; eff. 6-22-2016; 46 Ky.R.2558, 2942; eff. 7-28-2020.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 198B.040(10), 318.130