Section Ed 321.18 - Plumbing Requirements(a) Schools shall be designed, constructed, and maintained to provide code compliant plumbing systems, including potable water, sanitary sewer and vent, storm drain, and other specialty plumbing systems.(b) The design and installation of all plumbing systems shall comply with: (1) The state building code under RSA 155-A;(2) The code for energy conservation in new building construction under RSA 155-D;(3) The state fire code under Saf-C 6000 as adopted by the commissioner of the department of safety under RSA 153 and as amended pursuant to RSA 153:5, I by the state fire marshal with the board of fire control; and(4) The state code for barrier-free design, Abdf 300.(c) At a minimum, the following plumbing fixture ratios shall be provided for in each school building unless a higher number is required by the state building code under RSA 155-A: (1) The ratio of water closets to the number of students shall be one water closet per 30 students or fraction thereof;(2) For boys and girls in all grade levels, the ratio of lavatories to the number of students shall be 1-40. Wash fountain sinks may be substituted for lavatories as permitted by the state building code under RSA 155-A;(3) If the state plumbing code requires a larger number of fixtures, the number required by the code shall be provided, unless a written waiver is received from an appropriate authority empowered to grant such waivers; and(4) Whenever a school building is designed to allow restricted access to parts of the building such as the gymnasium or the auditorium, a sufficient number of restrooms and water closets or urinals shall be included within the restricted area to accommodate the maximum occupancy of the restricted area in accordance with the state building code under RSA 155-A.(d) For the purposes of Ed 321.18(c)(1): (1) Fifty percent of the enrollment will be assumed to be girls and 50 percent boys unless there is strong information to indicate that a different ratio is appropriate; and(2) Urinals may be used in lieu of water closets as permitted by the state building code under RSA 155-A.(e) Sinks and wash fountain sinks shall be provided in laboratories and other instructional spaces as required. Corrosion-resistant fixtures, special waste systems, and waste interceptors shall be provided as required by the project program demands and the state building code under RSA 155-A.(f) A minimum of one custodial sink shall be provided in each school building.(g) A minimum of one school nurse sink compliant with the accessibility requirements under Abdf 300 shall be provided in each school building where a school nurse is assigned.(h) Where integral to hand washing sinks, receptors for drinking fountains shall be directed to a receptor basin separate from the hand washing sink. One drinking fountain or water cooler shall be provided for every 40 students or fraction thereof, unless a larger number is required by the state building code under RSA 155-A, in which case the code requirement shall be met.(i) Emergency shower and eye wash stations shall be provided in all science labs, automotive shops, and other places where hazardous liquids or open flames are frequently used and shall comply with the American National Standards Institute Z-358.1 Eyewash standards 2014 as referenced in Appendix II.(j) Project construction documents shall require the plumbing contractor to provide the school maintenance personnel with record drawings, appropriate training, operating and maintenance manuals, and any other relevant information concerning the plumbing systems and components thereof.(k) Project construction documents shall require a formal commissioning process for plumbing systems start-up and initial operation. At a minimum, the construction documents shall identify the requirement for the development of a written commissioning plan specific to the project. The commissioning plan shall identify a process of ensuring that new and modified or new or modified plumbing systems perform in accordance with the design intent and the construction documents. The process shall include, but shall not be limited to, verification and functional performance testing on all plumbing equipment and controls, in all operating modes.(l) Verification that construction has been performed according to state and local building codes and approval of variances shall be the responsibility of the local code enforcement official in the municipality in which the construction takes place, or the state fire marshal in accordance with RSA 155-A:7.N.H. Admin. Code § Ed 321.18
#8265, eff 1-22-05; ss by #10363, eff 6-15-13
Amended by Volume XL Number 28, Filed July 9, 2020, Proposed by #13054, Effective 6/12/2020, Expires 6/12/2030.