Section 890.650  Water Closets

a)         Public Use

1)         Water closet bowls for public use shall be the elongated type, and the seat shall be an antimicrobial plastic open-front seat. Exception:  Water closet bowls for public use may have closed-front seats provided that the seat is encased with a continuous plastic sleeve capable of providing a clean surface for every user.

2)         The activating handle, button or mechanism of the flush valve shall be at least 10 inches above the overflow rim of the bowl and not more than 44 inches above the floor.

3)         In schools that are not licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as day care centers or homes, water closets provided for the use of children under five years of age shall be of size and height suitable for children's use, either child or juvenile type in accordance with ASME A112.19.2/CSA B45.1.

4)         Water closets designed for institutional use may be used in intensive care facilities and intensive coronary care facilities provided that the water closet swings only horizontally and has an integral trap.  A water closet flushometer shall be used to flush the fixture.  The plans and specifications shall be submitted to the Department for approval prior to installation, and approval will be in writing from the Department provided that the requirements of this subsection (a) are met.

b)         Water Closet Tanks.  Water closet tanks shall have a volume sufficient to properly flush the water closet bowls with which they are connected.

c)         Ballcocks.  Ballcocks for flush tanks shall be of the anti-siphon type, be properly installed, and have a provision for trap refill.

d)         Flushing Device.  The flush valve seat in all water closet tanks shall be 1 inch or more above the flood level rim of the water closet bowl, with the exception of one-piece water closets in accordance with ASME A112.19.2/CSA B45.1.

e)         Flushometer Valve.  Flushometer valves shall comply with ASSE 1037.  Flushometer valves shall be installed so that they are readily accessible for repair.  When the valve is operated, it shall complete the cycle of operation automatically, opening fully and closing completely under the service pressure.  At each operation, the valve shall deliver water in sufficient volume and at a rate that will thoroughly flush the fixture and refill the fixture trap.  Flush valve flow shall be regulated.  Protection against backflow shall be provided by an approved vacuum breaker installed on the discharge side of the flushing valve.  The bottom of the vacuum breaker, or the critical level line shown on the vacuum breaker, shall be at least 4 inches above the overflow rim of the bowl (see Section 890.1140(a) and (b)).  Not more than one water closet shall be served by a single flushometer valve.

f)         Seats.  Water closets shall be equipped with seats of smooth, non-absorbent material.  All seats of water closets provided for public use shall be an antimicrobial plastic material and an open-front style, except that closed-front seats may be provided if the seat is encased with a continuous plastic sleeve ensuring a clean surface for every user.  No water closet seat shall be more than 1½ inches thick.  Seats for accessible water closets may be open or closed front, and may have a lid or not have a lid.

g)         A flushometer tank (or pressurized flushometer valve in accordance with ASSE 1037) shall be used only with a water closet bowl specifically designed for that type tank/flushing device (i.e., in accordance with ASME A112.19.2/CSA B45.1) and when the flow pressure at the fixture meets the manufacturer's minimum recommendations.

h)         Water closets that rely on substances other than water for proper operation shall comply with the Private Sewage Disposal Code.  Privies and chemical toilets shall not be used inside any building.

i)          Bidet.  A bidet shall be equipped with hot and cold, tempered and cold, or tempered water only.  An atmospheric vacuum breaker shall be installed on the discharge side of the flushing valve.  The bottom of the vacuum breaker, or the critical level line shown on the vacuum breaker, shall be at least 4 inches above the overflow rim of the bidet.

j)          Prohibited Water Closets.  Hopper-style water closets and water closets with concealed couplings or submerged side inlets are prohibited.  (See Appendix F.Illustration A.)

(Source:  Amended at 38 Ill. Reg. 9940, effective April 24, 2014)