Standard for the Efficient Use of Water in Building Mechanical Systems
ASHRAE Standard Project Committee 191

1 Purpose: The purpose of this standard is to provide baseline requirements for the design of buildings, landscapes, and mechanical systems that minimizes the volume of water required to operate HVAC systems, plumbing systems, common building special process systems, cleaning systems and irrigation systems.

(a) Balance environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, process efficacy, and community sensitivity, and

(b) Support the goal of the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

2 Scope:

2.1 This standard provides baseline criteria that:

(a) Apply to new buildings and major renovation projects (new portions of buildings and their systems) and the surrounding site: a building or group of buildings, which utilize a single submittal for a construction permit or which are within the boundary of a contiguous area under single ownership

(b) Address water use efficiency through the concept of best practices for water conservation measures implemented during design and construction of residential, commercial, institutional and industrial projects.

2.2 The provisions of this standard do not apply to:

(a) Storm water management issues related to the site and/ or project that do not interact directly with mechanical systems that require water for user or mechanical processes.

(b) Water Quality issues (potable and non-potable) related to the site and/ or project that do not interact directly with mechanical systems that require water for user or mechanical processes.

(c ) Industrial process systems.

2.3 This standard shall not be used to circumvent any safety, health or environmental requirements.

2.4 This standard shall not be used to circumvent local or state water rights laws or any other local,
municipal, and/ or state statutes.