Originally Posted by ThePublicInterest

Is there any ANSI/ASME or building, housing, plumbing, or other code that explicitly states or infers what the minimum PSI/GPM hot water rate must be for bath tub/shower fixtures in residential, multi-family, units? I cannot get my landlord to increase my hot water shower rate to at least 2.0 to 2.5 GPM/60PSI minimum -- the new maximum mandated by the 1992 EPAct 1992. I also cannot get a quantified answer from my city's housing or building inspectors, beyond 15 PSI for pressure and "profesional judgement" for GPM. Surely, some minimum hot/cold water GPM/PSI rate must exist, be mandated, for bath tub/shower fixtures and water supply in rented housing -- otherwise anyone could become a slum-lord in only providing inadequate hot/cold water for bathing/showering. If anyone knows this technical question, please cite the exact ANSI/ASME standard or regulation sections at they related to Berkeley, California, that I can read them online. Thanks!

Originally Posted by iamgrowler

I think you might be barking up the wrong tree on this one.

Thanks IAG for a timely response.

Standards set by ANSI are strictly voluntary in their adoption, and standards set by the ASME have more to do with minimum acceptable equipment, component and manufacturing standards as they apply to mechanical devices.

Yes, I know ANSI/ASME is a voluntary standard setting organization. But their "plumbing fixture" standards A112.18.1" are adopted (voluntarily I'm sure) by government code agencies. More to my issue, I simply wanted to know whether this body had established a standard -- even if voluntary.

And you are misinterpreting the 1992 EPA Act -- The act pertains to the maximum allowed output of a device at 60PSI -- Meaning the device can pass no more than 2.5 GPM with a supplied pressure of 60PSI.

I didn't misinterpret the 1992 EPAact. I know it sets a MAXIMUM PSI/GPM standard. I cited it because I thought perhaps someone might know whether an inferred or implied MINIMUM standard was articulated in the public policy process amongst stakeholders when this policy was developed -- or whether an inferred minimum standard was ever discussed by the stakeholders involved in making this policy.

As for the low pressure in your apartment; Is the pressure as low in the other fixtures in the unit as it is in the shower?

The PSI/GPM is 100 PSI/2 GPM from my kitchen sink faucet; 100 PSI/3 GPM from my bathroom sink faucet, and 100 PSI/5 GPM cold water from my mixed-value diverter bath tub/shower faucet/shower. I used a 100 PSI gauge/stop-watch timed 3 gallon bucket to test the PSI/GPM for all hot/cold water faucets and shower head pipe. Note, the property manager even came up and took off the handle for the mixed-value tub/shower handle and did whatever he did. Afterwards, the hot water PSI/GP was even lower -- from 24 PSI/1 GPM to 20 PSI/.5 GPM -- LOL! Also, this is the second time he has time he has tried to unclogged the rust in the pipes as he claims -- last year and now this year. Most significant, my hot/cold water PSI/GPM for the mixed-value tub/shower were both visually comparable pressure/flow rate wise from 04/16/1996 to 06/31/2006 -- and have progressively gotten worse! This progressively reducing PSI/GPM problem happened with my kitchen faucet and bathroom faucet. I had to tolerate/complain for 2-years before the owner finally reconstructed the kitchen pipes directly to the water-heater and replaced the bathroom faucet and something else -- cuz the hot/cold water dribbled both fixtures like maples syurp from a thin-spout bottle. He knew then, the housing/plumbing code inspector wasn't going tolerate that subjective level of service -- LOL!

If you have moderate to decent pressure at the kitchen sink or lavatory, then it may be that you have an obstruction at the shower, either in the shower valve itself, or in the supply lines.