Drinking fountains are required by the Building Code as part of the plumbing fixture calculations. It will tell you how many are required based on the occupancy type and number of occupants. The Building Code may only require one drinking fountain be provided, but the Accessibility Standards require at least two. One at a lower height and the other at standing height. The Accessibility Standards have requirements for both types. However, if you are required to provide more than two drinking fountain, then 50% must be at lower height while the other 50% at standing height. Manufacturers of drinking fountains all have accessible units available, that will meet the requirements listed below.
DRINKING FOUNTAINS
These are the standard accessible drinking fountains that you generally see in buildings or at exterior facilities:
Figure A - Interior Drinking Fountain
Figure B - Interior Drinking Fountains
Figure C - Exterior Drinking Fountains
Clear Floor Space
The lower height drinking fountain shall have a 30" x 48" (760 mm x 1220 mm) clear floor or ground space positioned for a forward approach and centered on the unit. Refer to Figure D.
Knee and toe clearance must be provided. Refer to Figure E.
Figure D - Clear Floor Space
Figure E - Knee Toe Clearance
Protruding objects
The walls on the sides of the units are required since drinking fountains are considered to be protruding objects. Meaning that they must not protrude out from the wall more than 4" (100 mm) and the bottom edge of the standing unit is no higher than 27" (685 mm).
To prevent the units from being protruding objects the drinking fountains must not stick out past the wall more than 4" (100 mm). Refer to Figure F.
Figure F - Protruding Object
However, if you do not provide walls or the units stick out past the wall more than 4" (100 mm), then to prevent them from being protruding object, you must install the bottom edge of the lower unit at 27" (685 mm) and provide an ADA Cane Apron on the standing height unit to bring the bottom edge to exactly 27" (685 mm). Manufacturers offer the ADA Cane Apron as an accessory. Refer to Figure G & H.
Figure G - ADA Cane Apron
Figure H - ADA Cane Apron
Another option is to put the drinking fountains in a corner with standing height unit adjacent to the wall and the lower unit bottom edge would need to be at 27" (685 mm). Refer to Figure J.
Figure J - Drinking Fountains
Spout Location
The spout shall be located 15" min (380 mm) from the wall and 5" max (125 mm) from the edge of the unit, including bumpers. Refer to Figure K.
Figure K - Spout Location
Spout Height
Spout outlets of drinking fountains for lower height shall be 36" max (915 mm) above the finish floor or ground.
Spout outlets of drinking fountains for standing height shall be 38" min (965 mm) and 43" max (1090 mm) above the finish floor or ground. Refer to Figure L.
Figure L - Spout Height