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NAHB has petitioned the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to rethink a new “interpretive rule” that changes the accepted definition of a showerhead and limits the usefulness of additional hand-held devices designed to improve a shower’s accessibility for the elderly or disabled.
With the new interpretation, the allowable gallons-per-minute flow applies to the entire shower stall, rather than individual showerheads.
“DOE said the change is intended to improve water efficiency, which is a goal we support. Unfortunately, the solution goes too far,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Jones.
“Most people want to stay in their homes as they get older, so it’s very important to be able to identify and then remove any barriers within the home that can restrict these older home owners’ ability to live independently,” Jones said. “Modifying a traditional shower stall with a single showerhead by adding a flexible hose is one such improvement.”
Similar modifications — included in NAHB’s Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation — are also helpful for the disabled or others who take seated showers.
Created in partnership with AARP, CAPS provides a curriculum and educational designation for remodelers and designers serving the “baby boomer” population. More than 4,000 housing professionals have now earned the designation.
Under DOE’s proposed definition, a shower with two showerheads — each with fully pressure-controlled and anti-scald control valves and individual shutoffs that are easily accessible from both inside and outside the shower stall — would not work effectively under the new definition because the total amount of water pressure would have to be split between the two heads.
The rule potentially bans the installation of spa-style showers and similar features popular with many new home buyers — limiting consumer choice, but not necessarily saving water.
“DOE would have to come up with a ruling regarding the number of showers people are allowed to take and how many minutes they can last — and I don’t think the agency is prepared to go that far, for good reason,” Jones added.
“Had the agency gone through the typical notice-and-comment process in which manufacturers, suppliers, builders and consumers have an opportunity to review and offer suggestions for improvement — DOE might have addressed these concerns in a more equitable and informed manner,” Jones said.
DOE may review comments submitted by NAHB, plumbing and fixture firms and other advocacy groups, but it is not required to consider them in its final decision.
Source: NAHB