Zonda - Resource Library

Achieving carbon neutrality and protecting the world's water supply are vital to the AEC industry because of the significant impact buildings have on the environment and occupant health. The structures that we live, work, and commune in use a vast amount of the energy and water consumed on the planet for building operations and maintenance.

Over the past two decades more and more organizations, from private companies to federal governments, have taken steps to minimize their impact on the environment and, more recently, on society's wellbeing as a whole. This has been accomplished through sustainable building design, social accountability, and ethical economic practices. This course will discuss a Net Positive approach to design and business operations.

Consumers and the design industry are taking notice of newly embraced lifestyle and workplace shifts, coupled with an increasing focus on climate change, health, and wellness. There is a more conscious effort, even a responsibility, to plan, design, and develop for well-being. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have heightened awareness of hygiene and the challenges that high-touch surfaces present, such as those found in commercial restrooms.

This course will explore v2 of the WELL Building Standard and how commercial restroom products can help designers achieve WELL v2 Certification. We will identify the plumbing industry’s role in health and wellness and how reducing water consumption in commercial restrooms impacts the health and well-being of building occupants.

As we move into a more hygiene-focused world, restroom visitors will expect clean, updated spaces that feel welcoming and safe. At the same time, barrier-free, accessible, and inclusive design is putting a greater emphasis on optimizing the planning of commercial restrooms so that they are safe, comfortable, and easy for all occupants to use. This course will discuss accessible and inclusive design considerations in commercial restrooms, including a short history of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), plumbing innovations that enable ADA compliance and inclusive design, and options for retrofitting existing restrooms for accessibility.

Plumbing manufacturers are laser-focused on hygiene, sanitation, and accessibility, developing products that play an essential role in fighting disease. Anything that eliminates or reduces the number of surfaces the user touches cuts down the potential for cross-contamination, be it bacteria, virus, bodily fluids and waste, chemicals, and more. Sensor-operated restroom fixtures that prevent the need to touch surfaces are an important component of hygienic restroom design. These sensor-based, touch-free products include faucets, flushometers, soap dispensers, and hand dryers. This course will explore these sensor technologies, including their history and cutting-edge advancements that can help projects optimize hygiene and meet sustainability goals.