11B-602 Drinking Fountains and Bottle-Filling Stations — 2025 California Building Code

11B- 602.1 General. Drinking fountains shall comply with Sections 11B- 307 and 11B- 602 .

11B- 602.2 Clear floor space. Units shall have a clear floor or ground space complying with Section 11B- 305 positioned for a forward approach and centered on the unit. Knee and toe clearance complying with Section 11B- 306 shall be provided.

Exception: A parallel approach complying with Section 11B- 305 shall be permitted at units for children's use where the spout is 30 inches ( 762 mm) maximum above the finish floor or ground and is 3 1/2 inches ( 89 mm) maximum from the front edge of the unit, including bumpers.

11B- 602.3 Operable parts. Operable parts shall comply with Section 11B- 309 . The flow of water shall be activated by a manually oper- ated system that is front mounted or side mounted and located within 6 inches (152 mm) of the front edge of the fountain or an automatic electronically controlled device.

11B- 602.4 Spout height. Spout outlets shall be 36 inches ( 914 mm) maximum above the finish floor or ground.

11B- 602.5 Spout location. The spout shall be located 15 inches ( 381 mm) minimum from the vertical support and 5 inches ( 127 mm) maximum from the front edge of the unit, including bumpers.

FIGURE 11B -602.5—DRINKING FOUNTAIN SPOUT LOCATION

11B- 602.6 Water flow. The spout shall provide a flow of water 4 inches ( 102 mm) high minimum and shall be located 5 inches ( 127 mm) maximum from the front of the unit. The angle of the water stream shall be measured horizontally relative to the front face of the unit. Where spouts are located less than 3 inches ( 76 mm) of the front of the unit, the angle of the water stream shall be 30 degrees maximum. Where spouts are located between 3 inches ( 76 mm) and 5 inches ( 127 mm) maximum from the front of the unit, the angle of the water stream shall be 15 degrees maximum.

11B- 602.7 Drinking fountains for standing persons. Spout outlets of drinking fountains for standing persons shall be 38 inches (965 mm) minimum and 43 inches ( 1092 mm) maximum above the finish floor or ground.

11B-602.8 Depth. Wall- and post-mounted cantilevered drinking fountains shall be 18 inches (457 mm) minimum and 19 inches (483 mm) maximum in depth.

11B-602.9 Pedestrian protection. All drinking fountains shall either be located completely within alcoves, positioned completely between wing walls, or otherwise positioned so as not to encroach into pedestrian ways. The protected area within which a drinking fountain is located shall be 32 inches (813 mm) wide minimum and 18 inches (457 mm) deep minimum, and shall comply with Section 11B-305.7. When used, wing walls or barriers shall project horizontally at least as far as the drinking fountain and to within 6 inches (152 mm) vertically from the floor or ground surface.

11B-602.10 Bottle-filling stations. Bottle-filling stations shall comply with Sections 11B-307 and 11B-309.

Exception: Where bottle-filling stations are provided at a drinking fountain for standing persons, the bottle-filling station is not required to comply with this section provided a bottle-filling station is located at the drinking fountain complying with Sections 11B- 602.2 through 11B-602.6.