Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 51 - PUBLIC HEALTH-SANITARY CODE
Part XIV - Plumbing
Chapter 4 - Plumbing Fixtures
Section XIV-411 - Minimum Plumbing Fixtures

1. Restroom Plumbing Fixtures. Notwithstanding the provisions of LAC 51:I.123.A.2, in new construction, substantial renovation or building additions and in changes of occupancy classification or real property ownership, at least the minimum type(s) of rest room plumbing fixtures provided for in this Section shall be installed, and the minimum number of each type of restroom plumbing fixture shall be in accordance with Table 411 of this Part. The term "substantial renovation" as used in this Paragraph includes, but is not limited to, a renovation/operational change which would trigger the need, pursuant to the requirements of Table 411 of this Part, for additional restroom plumbing fixtures to be installed, even if the occupancy classification itself may not have changed.

2. Non-Restroom Plumbing Fixtures. Where the construction of buildings and facilities was approved by the state health officer pursuant to Sanitary Code (LAC 51) requirements then in effect, upgrading of such buildings and facilities to comply with the non-restroom plumbing fixture requirements of Table 411 of this Part shall not be required except where:

3. The term "substantial renovation" as used in §411. A.2 of this code includes, but is not limited to, a renovation/operational change which would trigger the need, pursuant to the requirements of Table 411 of this Part, for additional non-restroom plumbing fixtures to be installed, even if the occupant or the occupancy classification itself may not have changed.

4. Except as may be otherwise specifically noted within Table 411 of this Part, the number of occupants of a building shall be determined by the square feet (sq ft) of usable floor space. In determining the usable floor space, the square foot area of permanent structural building components, food service establishment kitchens, toilet rooms, corridors, stairways, vertical shafts and equipment rooms, when necessary for the operation of building utilities only, may be deducted from the total aggregate floor area. The occupant content and the number of required facilities for occupancies other than listed in Table 411 of this Part shall be determined by the plumbing official. Plumbing facilities in the occupancies or tenancies of similar use may be determined by the plumbing official from Table 411 of this Part.

5. In commercial buildings of multiple tenants, common toilet facilities (separate for males and females) for each floor are acceptable in lieu of separate facilities required by this Section only when the applicable building occupant content has common access from within the building. Central facilities shall be installed such that the path of travel to such facilities shall not exceed a distance of 500 feet. The maximum travel distance to the central toilet facilities shall be measured from the main entrance of any store or tenant space. When tenancies, rental units, etc., are to be provided with separate facilities of a partial nature, such facilities are not deductible from the total common facilities required. Tenancies, rental units or other usable areas within a building when separated from the required toilet facilities by walls or partitions without common access openings (i.e., openings through interior walls or partitions that allow access to the toilet facilities) shall be considered independently from the remainder of the building and shall be provided with separate facilities in accordance with this Chapter regardless of the type of occupancy.

6. In self-storage (mini-warehouse) complexes, facilities shall not be required in each building, but shall be located at the office or entrance and such that the plumbing official determines the intent of the code is satisfied (see Paragraphs 7 and 8 in §411. A of this Code below).

7. In applying the schedule of facilities recorded in Table 411 of this Part, consideration must be given to the accessibility of the fixtures. Conformity purely on a numerical basis may not result in an installation suitable to the need of the individual establishment. For example, multi-storied buildings shall be provided with toilet facilities on each floor based upon the population of the floor. If building is a multi-purpose facility (i.e., a retail fuel station and a retail store, or a retail fuel station and a retail store and a restaurant, or a retail store and retail fuel station, etc.), the occupancy which requires the largest number of fixtures shall apply.

8. Every building and each subdivision thereof intended for public use shall be provided with facilities in accordance with this Chapter. Required facilities shall be directly accessible to the public through direct openings or corridors from the area or areas they are intended to serve. Access to the required toilet facilities for customers shall not pass through areas designated as for employee use only such as kitchens, food preparation areas, storage rooms, closets or similar spaces. Toilet facilities accessible only to private offices shall not be counted to determine compliance with this Chapter. Required facilities shall be free and designated by legible signs for each sex. Pay facilities may be installed when in excess of the required minimum facilities.

9. The toilet room entry door shall not be lockable by a user of the facilities when such room contains multiple water closets (or water closet and urinal fixtures) and the fixtures provided therein are required to meet the minimum number of plumbing fixtures required in accordance with Table 411 of this Part.

10. The "Persons (total)" column included in the following Table 411 below is based upon a 50 percent male to 50 percent female ratio.

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1. The occupant content and the number of required facilities for occupancies other than listed shall be determined by the plumbing official. Plumbing facilities in the occupancies or tenancies of similar use may be determined by the plumbing official from this table. See §411. A.4 of this Code.

2. Twenty-four linear inches (610 mm) of wash sink or 18 inches (457 mm) of a circular basin, when provided with water outlets for such space, shall be considered equivalent to one lavatory (see §415. H of this Code). In accordance with LAC 51:XVII.109.B, the minimum number of required public or public use lavatories/hand-washing fixtures shall be located within the toilet room.

3. When central washing facilities are provided in lieu of washing machine connections in each living unit, central facilities shall be located for the building served at the ratio of not less than one washing machine for each 12 living units, but in no case less than two machines for each building of 15 living units or less. See §415. E.2.b of this code.

4. With the exception of retail stores associated with retail fuel stations and/or restaurant/food service establishments associated with retail fuel stations and retail stores that require two or more different food permits (see note #14 below), a single facility consisting of one water closet and one lavatory may be used by both males and females in the following occupancies subject to the building area limitations (see also LAC 51:XXIII.3119):

*A single facility [normally allowed under Note #4 for a retail store occupancy (excluding retail fuel stations)] does not apply when the conditions of Note #14(a) below exist.

5. Common toilet facilities (separate for males and females) for each floor are acceptable in lieu of separate facilities required by this Section only when the applicable building occupant content has common access from within the building. When tenancies, rental units, etc., are to be provided with separate facilities of a partial nature, such facilities are not deductible from the total common facilities required. See §411. A.5 of this Code.

6. Applicable to small stand-up restaurants and similar occupancies.

7.

8.

9. For other than industrial areas of the occupancy, see other applicable type occupancies (applicable to facilities provided due to inaccessibility of those in main or initial occupancy).

10. As required by the Minimum Requirements for Sanitation in Places of Employment (ANSI Z 4.1). See §405. C of this Code.

11. If alcoholic beverages are to be served, facilities shall be as required for clubs or lounges; however, this requirement shall not be construed to require a restaurant/food service establishment which serves alcoholic beverages and consists of 500 square feet or less of usable floor space to add any more toilet rooms than the minimum required pursuant to Note #4 above (as long as such small restaurant/food service establishment does not have a wet bar and thus would not fall under the "Club, Lounge, and Restaurants/Food Service Establishments with Club, or Lounge" occupancy classification). See LAC 51:XXIII.3119.

12. At the discretion of the plumbing official, one properly sized grease trap for wastewater from the kitchen utensil washing sink(s), dishwashing machine(s), etc., is also required. See §1005. D of this Code.

13. Fueling point means the number of fueling hoses which may be activated simultaneously while refueling automobiles or other motor vehicles. See §203 3/4Fueling Point definition of this Code.

14.

15.

16. If building is a multi-purpose facility (i.e., a retail fuel station and a retail store, or a retail fuel station and a retail store and a restaurant, or a retail store and retail fuel station, etc.), the occupancy which requires the largest number of fixtures shall apply. See §411. A.7 of this Code.

17. Drinking fountain requirement may be waived if drinking water is dispensed in an approved, sanitary manner in accord with the requirements of Part XXIII of the Louisiana State Sanitary Code (LAC 51:XXIII). Minimally, such Part XXIII facility shall hold a health permit from DHH-OPH which requires a three compartment sink and a hand wash lavatory in the food preparation area. Any Part XXIII permitted-facility not meeting this requirement [such as grocery store serving pre-packaged food items only (equivalent to a retail store)] shall install a publicly accessible drinking fountain(s). See LAC 51:XXIII.3119.

18. Drinking fountains shall not be required in retail stores with 2,000 square feet or less of usable floor space.

19. "Toe" is defined as the point where the Interstate highway's exit/entrance ramp meets the intersecting highway. See §203 of this Code-Toe definition.

20. Central facilities shall be installed such that the path of travel to such facilities shall not exceed a distance of 500 feet. The maximum travel distance to the central toilet facilities shall be measured from the main entrance of any store or tenant space. See §411. A.5 of this Code.

21. For pre-school children, between the ages of 0-4, fixtures shall be size appropriate for the age of the children being cared for (toilets 11 inches maximum height and lavatories 22 inches maximum height), or if standard size fixtures are used, safe, cleanable step aids shall be provided. See LAC 51:XXI.105.C.5.a.

22. Refer to the following Parts of the Louisiana State Sanitary Code (LAC 51) for specific information relative to the number of plumbing fixtures required for these other miscellaneous buildings or occupancies:

1. The "Persons (total)" column included in Table 411 of this Part is based upon a 50 percent male to 50 percent female ratio. The plumbing official may make adjustments in the distribution of facilities between male and female when furnished satisfactory data to substantiate a claim that the numbers of male and female fixtures in Table 411 of this code would not provide a satisfactory ratio of facilities based on the male -female ratio for the ultimate users. In any case, where deviation is permitted, in accordance with this Section, the plumbing official may require additional facilities if the data submitted proves to be in error or if changes are made that affect such data, whether it be by the original or later owner or occupants of the building or tenancy.

2. The plumbing official may make adjustments in the occupant content established by Table 411 of this code when, in a particular case, satisfactory data, accompanied by plans, is furnished which substantiates a claim that the occupant content of a particular building or tenancy will, at all times, be less than provided for in the above table. Approval of such data and accompanying claims shall not prevent the plumbing official from requiring additional facilities based on the above table, should changes be made affecting the data or plan upon which the original approval was based whether such changes be made by the original or ultimate owner or building occupant or occupants. The remainder of the facilities' requirements of §411 of this code are not affected by this paragraph.