Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Guide to Bathroom Regulations for Commercial Properties

When it comes to a commercial property, making sure that every space is up to regulation is essential for continued operation. Here's a guide to getting started with plumbing services and bathroom regulations.

Location Is Everything 
A small bathroom


As part of the design process for a commercial space, knowing where restrooms will be located should be one of the first steps. In Canada, customer washrooms cannot be in locations where customers have to walk through areas where food is handled, prepared, or stored to reach them. Staff washrooms cannot be directly attached to food preparation or food storage areas either.

All-Access Washrooms


In addition to being properly located, new washrooms must also be barrier-free accessible so that patrons with physical, sensory or developmental disabilities can access the washroom. However, if a building has existing washrooms that are not barrier-free, they may not need to be upgraded unless there are changes made to walls or plumbing fixture locations. Businesses should access section 3.8 of Alberta Building Code for more specifics on barrier-free design.

Sanitation Requirements


Once it's clear how many restrooms a workplace requires, it's also important to know the sanitation requirements that the space requires. Plumbing systems that supply potable water and remove water-borne waste must meet the standards of the Canadian Plumbing Code. They must also be connected to a municipal sanitation sewer or water main. If these needs aren't met, it may be necessary to reach out to have the bathroom serviced.

Cleaning Up


Although the number of restrooms, plumbing services and sanitation requirements are important, there are also a number of small details that may require bathroom renovations. For example, at least one washbasin or other means of cleaning hands must be provided in each toilet facility. For every two toilets, there must be at least one washbasin.

When it comes to regulations, it's important to stay on top of updates. If you are considering renovations, reach out to Lonestone Renovations today at (780) 655-8402.

Monday, October 30, 2017

Impact of Running Toilets & Leaky Faucets on the Utility Bill

Everyone has the familiar experience of settling in for a long night's sleep, only to hear the annoying recurring sound of a leaky faucet. Similarly, it's perfectly common to have a faulty toilet — one that, while it generally functions, may be leaky or operating less than perfectly. It may seem that the proper response is just to invest in a good set of earplugs to avoid bathroom renovations, but here's why it's a better idea to have these issues fixed with plumbing services to prevent racking up serious expenses.

Running Toilets


A wrench adjusting a water pipe in Sherwood Park, CA
Leaking toilets seem perfectly innocuous because many people might not even realize they're leaking. Instead of leaking out over the floor like other plumbing issues, leaking toilets can even seem to be functioning perfectly right. The only way to tell if a toilet is leaking is by lifting up the tank; if the water is constantly refilling, it means that the toilet is leaking.

Although it might not seem that this is a serious need for plumbing services, especially since it won't lead to water damage, the effects might be worse than many people think. In fact, a seriously leaking toilet can leak up to a gallon of water a minute.

Faucet Leaks


A leaking faucet likely won't result in a flooded bathroom or kitchen, and for most people, it seems that the main offender is the annoying dripping sound. In reality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that your everyday leaks may account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted per year.

On average, running water costs around a penny per gallon. Therefore, a leaky toilet's 1 gallon per minute rate alone can add up to $14 a day of money flowing down the drain.

Many plumbing problems like drainage or sewage issues require obvious plumbing services, but leaks can go unaddressed for years, resulting in huge amounts of water and money being wasted. In order to prevent these drips and drops from adding up, give Lonestone Renovations a call today at (780) 655-8402.