From the 2009 IBC commitory
1109.5 Drinking fountains. Where drinking fountains are provided on an exterior site, on a floor or within a secured area, the drinking fountains shall be provided in accordance with Sections 1109.5.1 and 1109.5.2.
This section establishes a reasonable threshold for the required number of accessible drinking fountains. It should be noted that this section does not require the installation of drinking fountains where none are required or provided. Chapter 29 (which is duplicated from Section 403 of the IPC) contains criteria indicating the number of drinking fountains that are required based on occupancy.
Current requirements for plumbing fixtures (see IBC Table 2902 and IPC Table 403) stipulate only one drinking fountain for many facilities or tenant spaces. The provisions in Section 1109.5.1 for a minimum of two drinking fountains would be more restrictive than the plumbing requirements for these facilities and spaces. Additionally, the plumbing requirements would allow for 50 percent of the drinking fountains to be substituted for bottled water coolers (see IPC 410.1). While the provisions in Sections 1109.5.1 and 1109.5.2 would not prohibit the substitution, the requirement for two drinking fountains would effectively negate this unless there were at least three drinking fountains required for a floor.
1109.5.1 Minimum number. No fewer than two drinking fountains shall be provided. One drinking fountain shall comply with the requirements for people who use a wheelchair and one drinking fountain shall comply with the requirements for standing persons.
Exception: A single drinking fountain that complies with the requirements for people who use a wheelchair and standing persons shall be permitted to be substituted for two separate drinking fountains.
Where a single drinking fountain is provided or required by another code, this section mandates a minimum of two fixtures be provided: one for seated persons and one for standing persons. The seated and standing drinking fountains that serve a facility need not be provided at the same location in the facility. The exception allows the use of a single fixture that accommodates both seated and standing persons. Technical criteria for both wheelchair accessible fountains and standing person fountains are located in Section 602 of ICC A117.1.
There are allowances in the ICC A117.1 for drinking fountains specifically designed for children's use. This may be appropriate for facilities such as day care facilities and certain areas of elementary schools.
1109.5.2 More than the minimum number. Where more than the minimum number of drinking fountains specified in Section 1109.5.1 are provided, 50 percent of the total number of drinking fountains provided shall comply with the requirements for persons who use a wheelchair and 50 percent of the total number of drinking fountains provided shall comply with the requirements for standing persons.
Exception: Where 50 percent of the drinking fountains yields a fraction, 50 percent shall be permitted to be rounded up or down, provided that the total number of drinking fountains complying with this section equals 100 percent of the drinking fountains.
When an even number of drinking fountains is provided, half must accommodate seated persons and half must accommodate standing persons. The exception addresses when an odd number of drinking fountains is provided.
An example:
• Two drinking fountains are required by Section 1109.5.1.
• Seven drinking fountains are provided.
• Fifty percent of seven is three and one-half.
• Rounding up yields four; rounding down yields three.
• Therefore, there are two choices:
• Provide four sitting and three standing fountains; or
• Provide three sitting and four standing fountains.
• Both choices comply since the complying fixtures total 100 percent.
This logic applies whenever an odd number of three or more drinking fountains is provided, regardless of the total quantity.
