Sink in Wall: Design and Specification Requirements

Structural & Carrier Coordination

A sink in-wall application depends upon carriers designed to support the dead load of the fixture, as well as live loads from user interaction. Many commercial carriers are available with capacities of 250-300 pounds or more. Coordinate the bolt patterns and rough-ins between the sink and carrier, and avoid relying upon gypsum board or tile for load support, as well as maintaining fire ratings.

Chase Depth and Wall Build Up

Carriers, valves, traps, sensors, manifolds, and electrical conduits may also necessitate a thicker wall. The walls for commercial plumbing will accommodate 150- to 200-mm stud or double-stud chase. The design needs to accomodate ADA knee and toe clearance, match adjacent mill work, and incorporate plan servicing access panels in the wall.

Supply & Drainage Layout

Design supply lines for multiple faucets or troughs to develop sufficient pressure to suppress unnecessary sensor activation. Include cleanouts that are accessible from the chase, supply continuous waste manifold for multi-station fixtures, and maintainability of trap arms and vents that do not require removal of the wash basin.

Scalding Protection and Thermal Regulation

Public and Institutional: Tempered Water should be available from ASSE Listed Master Mixing Valves. Strainers and balance valves, along with commissioning points, are needed. Commissioning points should be accessible from the chase without disturbing finishes.

Accessibility & Human Factors

Wall-mounted lavatories should also be installed in compliance with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, including height, knee clearance, toe clearance, floor space, protection of exposed plumbing, and operability with one hand. Sometimes, leaving carriers and plumbing in view in walls restores access by keeping the space under a lavatory area unobstructed.

Water Efficiency & Code Compliance

Maximum flow rates for lavatory faucets are 2.2 gpm for federal, 1.5 gpm for WaterSense, and even 0.5 gpm for CALGreen in multi-function, commercial lavatories. Sink in-wall configurations would benefit from specifying faucets that comply with these values and support reliable temperature control even with low flow rates for multi-station setups. To facilitate product decisions, project teams can access the Fontana's touchless faucets and automatic soap dispensers catalog, corresponding to flow rates, finishes, and sensor types.

Standards and Materials of Fixture

• China: Standards of fixture: Commercial fixtures must be built and tested as per ASME A112.19.2/CSA B45.1.
• Alternate Materials: In the case of solid surface or stainless steel troughs, this tubing: OTHER MATERIALS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE APPROPRIATE CONTROLLANTOUS OR PRODUCTION OVANT AGUYSDirict-direct evaluation.
• Vandal Resistance: Detail vandal-resistant fixtures and trim with heavy-duty geometry and hardware suitable for public andinstitutional use; for example, vandal-resistant sensor fixtures that would be used in a commercial product lineup like Fontana Touchless Faucets, which are intended for installation in high-traffic restrooms that are susceptible to vandalism:

Integration with Wall Construction

• Mapleleaf Use moisture-resistant substrate in wet walls in place of standard paper-faced gypsum.
• Mount fixtures securely to carriers or structural framing, rather than to finishes.
• Install continuous sealants in areas where there are intersecting basins with wall finishes. In cases where vandalism can be a concern, it would be preferable to use tamper-resistant fasteners.

Managing Exterior Moisture

With hidden plumbing, there is an increased potential for leaks that are difficult to identify. Use continuous membrane waterproofing behind tile or stone installations,slope horizontal surfaces to direct drainage towards the basin, seal all chaseway penetrations, and provide periodic inspection access from the service side of walls.

Mounting on Exterior Wall

Placing sinks on exterior walls can affect insulation continuity and freeze potential. Where feasible, place plumbing walls on interior walls, with supply line plumbing on the insulated side of the insulation, while maintaining the minimum R-values for exterior walls.

Noise Abatement

To maintain acoustical performance in buildings such as educational institutions, hotels, and healthcare facilities, resilient channels or staggered studs are used, penetrations are sealed acoustically and for fire protection, and direct rigid contact between carriers and finish materials is avoided.

Service-Side Access

There shall be access panels on the chase side such that all mixing valves, isolation valves, cleanouts, sensors, and controls are safely accessible without removal of a basin. Working clearance should be maintained in accordance with best practice for mechanical and electrical work.

High-Reliability

Enable integration of leak sensors and data logging in a healthcare setting. Think of this as an integrated subsystem rather than a group of devices.

Timing with Other Construction Work

Position sink with wall assemblies to match partitions, millwork, and other adjoining finishes. Integrate clearances for grab bars, dispensers, and related accessories without degrading performance of walls and building envelope.

Codes and Standards

Codes and Standards Check ADA height, clearance, and operable part; water efficiency for FED, WaterSense, and, as applicable, CALGreen; and fixture performance ASME A112.19.2/CSA B45.1.

Structural & Architectural

Structural & Architectural Select carrier systems with corresponding load capacities, coordinate stud patterns and wall types, support linked accessories to walls, and lay out clearance and access panels on the service side.

Mechanical & Plumbing

Mechanical & Plumbing Check flow performance for WaterSense, CALGreen, and jurisdictional amendments; rate mixing valves for low flow under ASSE; and provide accessible isolation valves, cleanouts, and continuous waste manifold when using multi-station troughs.

Electrical & Controls

Electrical & Controls Also, provide low-voltage conduits, align powers for electronic faucets and accessories with, provide BMS monitoring as an option, and provide override modes in critical areas.

Operations & Maintenance

Operations & Maintenance Also, provide chase configuration sketches detailing valve placement, establish service periods for inspection and flushing, and design access panels and access doors providing sufficient working space for maintenance.

Documentation & Communication

Documentation & Communication Also, compile specifications, valve data, operation manuals, and as-built drawings from which facility managers can maintain performance over building life cycles. BIM and Revit resources, like Fontana’s list of touchless fixtures, make project coordination simpler.

Included in a Design Toolkit

• 2010 ADA Standards (full text and PDF download)
• ADA Guide – Chapter 6: Lavatories and Sinks
• WaterSense specs, certifications, and product names
• Summaries of CALGreen Water Use and Faucet Flow, where in use
• ASME and CSA fixture standard citations for commercial lavatories

Project Notes

Verify latest available editions of cited standards, available modifications, and available reach codes before specifying. Coordinate early with code officials, facility managers, and risk management teams for multi-jurisdictional programs and campuses to align sink in-wall assemblies with community expectations for accessibility, infection control, water conservation, and maintainability. If touchless toilet systems are used, refer to manufacturer cut sheets, BIM data, and installation manuals from sources such as Fontana Touchless Faucets & Soap Dispensers for coordinating rough-in, access, and finishes.