VACUUM PLUMBING & A

SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
An American Institute of Architects CE Program
AIA Course #: GAR22B
GBCI Course ID: 0920010437
Credit for this course is
1 AIA/CES LU/HSW CE Hour and
1 GBCI CE Hour for LEED professionals
VACUUM PLUMBING DRAINAGE SYSTEMS FOR BUILDINGS
HEALTHCARE, COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (AIA)
Continuing Education Program

• GreenCE, Inc. is a registered provider with The American Institute of

Architects Continuing Education System. Credit earned upon completion
of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members.
Certificates of Completion are available for all course participants upon
completion of the course conclusion quiz with +80%.

• This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional

education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or
construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA or GreenCE, Inc.
of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling,
using, distributing or dealing in any material or product.
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (AIA)
Continuing Education Program

• Course Format: This is a structured, web-based course with a final exam.

• Course Credit: 1 AIA Health Safety & Welfare (HSW) Learning Unit (LU)
• Completion Certificate: A copy is sent to you by email or you can print one upon
successful completion of a course. If you have any difficulties printing or
receiving by email, please send requests to certificate@greence.com.
• Design professionals, please remember to print or save your certificate of
completion after successfully completing a course conclusion quiz. Email
confirmations will be sent to the email address you have provided in your
GreenCE.com account.

PLEASE NOTE:
You will need to complete the conclusion quiz online at GreenCE.com to receive
credit.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
During this Course, design professionals will learn:

1. How Vacuum Plumbing Systems Work (key components for an efficient

operation).
2. Vacuum Plumbing Vs. Gravity Plumbing (sustainability, health and
safety, cost, design and construction flexibility).
3. Environmental Benefits of Vacuum Plumbing.
4. Application for Vacuum Plumbing as related to LEED certification.
5. Infection Prevention with Vacuum Plumbing.
HISTORY OF PLUMBING
HISTORY OF PLUMBING

• The Egyptian & Indus Valley Civilization developed flushing toilets,

along with a working sewer system, as early as 3000 B.C. to deal
with the issues of waste disposal and indoor sanitation. Those who
failed to develop effective sewage systems found themselves
prone to death & disease.
HISTORY OF PLUMBING
HISTORY OF PLUMBING

• In America, indoor plumbing and sewage disposal wasn't introduced until

the 1800s. Up until then, people relied heavily on chamber pots and
outdoor privies to contain sewage, and water came only in the forms of
a well or rainwater collection.
• That all changed in 1829, when Isaiah Rogers built the Tremont Hotel in
Boston, which was the first such establishment with indoor plumbing and
utilized the steam pump to raise water to the higher levels of the
building.
• Sanitary sewers were introduced in 1845, but it wasn't until 1874 that
venting was created to dispose of sewer gas.
• Once the trouble of sewage management had been dealt with, indoor
plumbing in America (complete with flushing toilets) developed naturally
over time.
HISTORY OF PLUMBING
HISTORY OF PLUMBING

• Plumbing continues to grow and evolve today with the advent of

new technology such as vacuum plumbing systems. As mankind
continues to explore space, new systems will have to be
developed to transport water and sewage through a weightless
environment.
• However, here on Earth, plumbing systems around the world
continue to use the same principles developed several thousand
years ago to ensure that cities are safe, sanitary, and enjoyable
places in which to live.
WHAT IS VACUUM PLUMBING?

Vacuum plumbing provides an

alternative to waste drainage
systems that use gravity as the
primary means for waste
transport and disposal.
WHAT IS VACUUM PLUMBING? CONT…

• Vacuum plumbing systems use the combined energies of

vacuum pressure and gravity for waste disposal through a
piping network that does not require continuous slope or
below-the-floor routing.
• Vacuum plumbing operates with a closed vacuum waste
piping network that can be routed overhead.

• Thousands of vacuum drainage systems are in operations

around the world in homes, restaurants, hospitals, retail
stores and prisons and are accepted by most code
authorities.
WHAT IS VACUUM PLUMBING? CONT…
HOW DOES IT WORK?

PLEASE NOTE
VIDEO IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN ONLINE VERSION OF
COURSE
BENEFITS OF VACUUM PLUMBING

• Design Flexibility
• Sanitation & Infection Prevention
• Installation
• Water & Sewage Savings
• Sustainable Design
• LEED certification
YOUR NEXT STEP TO GOING GREEN

Vacuum flush toilets use only ½ gallon of water per flush,

reducing water and sewage costs.
 VS.

Gravity toilets require about 1½ Vacuum toilets require less than

gallons of water per flush. ½ gallon of water per flush.

OPERATIONAL BENEFITS OF VACUUM PLUMBING

Innovative Plumbing Design & Water Efficiency criteria guarantees LEED point opportunities
and operational cost savings in water & sewer use.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICE
• Buildings are one of the single
largest consumers of raw materials,
energy and water.

• Within the federal sector alone, it

is estimated that expenditures for
water and sewer from buildings run
between $500 million and $1
billion annually.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICE
A typical employee in a typical facility uses
approximately 15 gallons of water per day
(gpd). Based on that usage, a typical Federal
office building of approximately 200
employees uses about 3,000 gpd.

• 1,230 gpd for domestic needs.

• 810 gpd for cooling & heating needs.
• 600 gpd for landscape needs.
• 360 gpd for other water needs.
This pie chart shows how the percentage of water used in the Domestic category
changes with the use of vacuum plumbing and a .5 gallon flush.

PROTECT AND CONSERVE WATER

Reducing water consumption and protecting water quality are key objectives of sustainable design.
 WHEN GRAVITY PLUMBING FAILS…

With gravity plumbing, a single flush can propel millions

of viral and bacterial microbes into the air, contaminating
surrounding surfaces in healthcare facilities.
VACUUM PLUMBING TRIUMPHS!
VACUUM PLUMBING TRIUMPHS!

Vacuum plumbing systems contribute to a healthier, more

sanitary environment by eliminating the vaporization of water
from the toilet bowl during a flush.

This minimizes the spread of bacteria around the toilet

fixture and within the facility.
Where Can Vacuum Plumbing Provide Benefit?
PUBLIC AND INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS

1. Educational buildings

2. Public buildings

3. Jails/Prisons

4. Detention Centers

5. Healthcare facilities
Where Can Vacuum Plumbing Provide Benefit?
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

1. Grocery stores

2. Airports

3. Sports venues

4. Hotels

5. Office buildings
 WATER SAVING POWER OF VACUUM PLUMBING

The green benefits of vacuum plumbing systems are what make them a smart and
responsible alternative. The following examples illustrate the potential water savings
possible:

• Commercial Office Building – 500 people, WC Water use with gravity

low flush fixtures.

• Total water demand with gravity system:

• Approximately 3.6 gallons per person per day.
• 1,781 gallons per day total.
• 445,250 gallons per year.

• Total water demand with vacuum system:

• Approximately 1.5 gallons per person per day.
• 750 gallons per day total.
• 187,500 gallons per year.

• Estimated water and sewage process savings approximately 257,750

gallons per year or 58% annual requirement.
WATER SAVING POWER OF VACUUM PLUMBING

Vacuum toilets use only ½ gallon of

water per flush. This provides a
significant savings in water supply
and sewage disposal costs. These
features may contribute to LEED
and Green Building interests.
 WATER SAVING POWER OF VACUUM PLUMBING

Employing water-conserving systems, such as vacuum

plumbing systems, and practicing water conservation not

only reduces demand on municipal water supply, but also

reduces energy use and cost associated with treating and

distributing water.

Saving water and energy saves money!

 USGBC & LEED

• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a more sustainable
future through advocacy, education, and the LEED program with the
goal of reducing the impacts of construction and buildings on the
environment.

• The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®)

provides guidelines, point systems and certifications for
environmentally responsible building across six main categories:

1. Sustainable sites
2. Water efficiency
3. Energy and atmosphere
4. Materials and resources
5. Indoor environmental quality
6. Innovation and design
 USGBC & LEED

• Specifying and incorporating vacuum plumbing systems into a

building project can contribute to earning points toward LEED
certification.
• Some of the possible categories that the system may contribute to
include:

• Water Efficiency
• Water Use Reduction
• Innovative Wastewater Technologies

• Materials and Resources

• Building Reuse

• Innovation in Design
 WATER USE REDUCTION

• The purpose of Water Use Reduction in LEED is to

increase water efficiency within buildings to reduce
the burden on municipal water supply and wastewater
systems.

• Vacuum systems are water conscious in design. A typical

vacuum system can reduce potable water consumption
for toilets by 68% with a highly efficient vacuum flush
toilet requiring only a half gallon per flush.

• This reduces the strain on municipal water supply and

wastewater systems while conserving the energy and
reducing associated costs.
 WATER USE REDUCTION

• Efficiency is further increased with the incorporation of

WaterSense labeled fixtures and other water
conservation practices.

• The water savings can be thousands of dollars and

millions of gallons per year for larger applications.
 INNOVATION WASTEWATER TECHNOLOGIES

• The purpose of Innovative Wastewater Technologies in

LEED is to reduce wastewater generation and potable
water demand while increasing the local aquifer
recharge.

• Of the many benefits vacuum plumbing offers, the water

and waste treatment savings are one of the most
important features of this technology, attributable to its
water-conserving fixtures and water-conservation nature
in general.

• A graywater recycling system and/or rainwater harvesting

system incorporated into the vacuum system would be
the ultimate in water efficiency.
 BUILDING REUSE

• The purpose of Building Reuse in LEED is to extend the life cycle of

existing building stock, conserve resources, retain cultural resources,
reduce waste and reduce environmental impacts.

• In repurposing existing buildings, vacuum plumbing system configuration

and installation is far less invasive than the trenching required for piping
standard plumbing systems. These systems can be of tremendous benefit
specifically in the renovation of historical buildings in which both
mechanical design and preservation of the existing structure must be
taken into consideration.

• Because of the design flexibility of vacuum plumbing systems, the

existing building slab can stay intact, conserving resources, reducing
waste, extending the life of the building and limiting associated
environmental impacts.
 INNOVATION IN DESIGN

• The purpose of Innovation in Design in LEED is to provide design teams

and projects the opportunity to achieve exceptional performance above
the requirements set by the LEED Green Building Rating System and/or
innovative performance in Green Building categories not specifically
addressed by the LEED Green Building Rating System.

• Vacuum plumbing applies innovative strategies that demonstrate a

comprehensive approach and quantifiable environmental and/or health
benefits which go beyond basic requirements. As part of an integrated
approach, possibilities for innovation credit and reducing environmental
impacts are even greater (i.e. a plumbing system incorporating vacuum
plumbing, graywater recycling and a rainwater harvesting system –
reducing potable water consumption by 70%).
 ENERGY SAVINGS

• Again, water efficiency translates to energy

savings.

• Energy savings translates to a reduction of

environmental impacts associated with energy
use.

• USGBC notes that water efficiency reduces

the amount of energy needed to heat, cool,
treat and distribute water – not only saving
energy, but also resulting in cost savings.
 VACUUM VS. GRAVITY

Gravity-only or standard plumbing systems rely on

gravity to move waste to sanitary sewer mains.

This requires digging and trenching for

underground piping and drains so that a continuous
downward sloping pipe is maintained to tie into
the sewer.
 VACUUM VS. GRAVITY

• A vacuum system drainage flow is not dictated by gravity or slope. Waste is

transported through a closed piping network flexibly located in the building instead of
buried underground.
• This reduces design costs and minimizes or eliminates the need for trenching and
foundation penetration for piping systems, and making repairs to those systems.
 VACUUM VS. GRAVITY

• Vacuum plumbing systems are also virtually self-venting, requiring no waste

stacks nor vents protruding from the exterior of the building.
 CONSTRUCTION BENEFITS OF VACUUM PLUMBING

Vacuum plumbing waste line design and

installation doesn’t require continuous
slope or floor penetration.

Instead, it can be routed vertically to

overhead space, adding flexibility &
freedom to the location and placement
of plumbing fixtures.
PLEASE NOTE
VIDEO IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN
ONLINE VERSION OF COURSE
Vacuum plumbing allows for the addition or relocation of plumbing fixtures and
equipment with minimal disruption to adjacent, occupied spaces.
 CONSTRUCTION BENEFITS OF VACUUM PLUMBING

With gravity plumbing, surgical areas and

activities below the renovation site are
interrupted.

Ceiling debris may also fall and settle upon

sterile surfaces, contaminating while also halting
everyday use of the facility.
 CONSTRUCTION BENEFITS OF VACUUM PLUMBING

In any renovation project, vacuum allows plumbing

renovation without disrupting the activity of areas below.
PLEASE NOTE
VIDEO IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN
ONLINE VERSION OF COURSE
 CONSTRUCTION BENEFITS OF VACUUM PLUMBING

• Vacuum plumbing minimizes

conflicts in waste pipe routing
which are typically discovered
during construction.

• This helps to minimize RFI’s and PLEASE NOTE

speeds construction.
VIDEO IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN ONLINE
VERSION OF COURSE
PLEASE NOTE
VIDEO IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN ONLINE
VERSION OF COURSE
 OPERATIONAL BENEFITS OF VACUUM PLUMBING

Vacuum plumbing is essential for

infection prevention in all
facilities.

The “No leak” feature of the

piping network prevents the PLEASE NOTE
possibility of contamination from
pipe leaks. VIDEO IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN
ONLINE VERSION OF COURSE
This benefit aids in preventing
contaminated wastewater from
coming in contact with sterile
surfaces. It also aids in extending
the life of the building.
 INFECTION PREVENTION

WHEN GRAVITY TOILETS FAIL & THE IMPACT ON

HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTIONS (HAIs)
Translation:

The more efficient the gravity flush toilet becomes, the more of a hazard it potentially becomes in
a healthcare setting. Vacuum plumbing virtually eliminates those toilets as a healthcare hazard.

Scientific study: Conclusion:

“Are modern high energy
gravity toilets contributing
to airborne disease
transmission?”
“…test results provide additional support for concerns that
flush toilets could play a role in airborne transmission of
infectious disease via droplet nuclei bio-aerosols.”
“…aerosol production increased with increasing flush
energy…”
INFECTION PREVENTION

“…[gravity] flush toilets produce

substantial quantities of toilet
plume aerosol… small enough to
be inhaled deep into the lung…
and that may remain viable in
MRSA C-Difficile the air for extended periods and
travel with air currents…

[This] suggests a long-term

potential for a contaminated
toilet to be an infectious bio-
aerosol generator.”
Ebola virus (zEBOV) Influenza
INFECTION PREVENTION

HAI’s AND INFECTION PREVENTION & CONTROL

• Traditional infection control methods • Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) are

are not always 100% effective at
controlling the spread of infection
within healthcare facilities,
particularly those associated with
aerosol & flush plumes.
extremely costly and are detrimental to
a healthcare facility’s reputation.
• Health insurance providers no longer
compensate facilities for treating HAIs.
INFECTION PREVENTION

FACT:

Vacuum plumbing eliminates flush plume and waste piping

leaks. It is an effective and long-lasting tool in infection
prevention and disease control.
INFECTION PREVENTION

HOW VACUUM TOILETS

ELIMINATE POTENTIALLY
HARMFUL “FLUSH PLUME”
& BIO-AEROSOL
CONTAMINATION
PLEASE NOTE
VIDEO IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN ONLINE
VERSION OF COURSE
ELIMINATE BIO-AEROSOL “FLUSH PLUME”

HOW VACUUM TOILETS ELIMINATE POTENTIALLY HARMFUL

“FLUSH PLUME” & BIO-AEROSOL CONTAMINATION

TRADITIONAL GRAVITY FLUSH TOILETS VACUUM FLUSH TOILETS

EMIT DANGEROUS “FLUSH PLUME” ELIMINATE “FLUSH PLUME”
ELIMINATE BIO-AEROSOL “FLUSH PLUME”

2012 NSF study

concludes no evidence
of flush plume emitted
from vacuum flush
toilets.
CASE STUDIES
SUTTER NOVATO MEDICAL CLINIC

• The hospital design emphasizes a

commitment to a Healing
Healthcare environment.

• The goal was to create a

sustainable, healing environment
for patients and staff.
SUTTER NOVATO MEDICAL CLINIC

Highlights
• Natural day lighting techniques, natural ventilation and
high performance glazing all reduce energy demand.

• Mechanical systems, heat recovery systems, lighting

systems with occupancy sensors and energy efficient
lamps.
SUTTER NOVATO MEDICAL CLINIC

Highlights
• Water and sewage savings

• Controlling vaporization of flush cycle minimizes spread

of bacteria.

• Reduced health & safety risks.

• Provides protection from waste piping leaks.

• Achieved LEED Certification.

 CENTER FOR MEDICAL SCIENCE, NY

Installation of vacuum system provided decontamination of sanitary waste and exhaust air within
boundaries of BSL-3 space to avoid disruption to operations in surrounding areas.
CENTER FOR MEDICAL SCIENCE, NY

Also Provided
• Center for Disease Control
licensing.
• Avoidance of contamination from
floor penetration.
• Cleaner, healthier, more sanitary
environment.
• No ex-filtration.
 WESTERN VIRGINIA REGIONAL JAIL

State of the art

vacuum plumbing
system installed in
new institutional
Resulted In facility.
• Potential water conservation of 8 million gallons.
• $200,000 savings in waste cost.
• $400,000 upfront savings in domestic water connect fees due to
smaller piping.
• Eliminated inmate control of facility through pipe clogging.
 SALINAS VALLEY STATE PRISON

• Sixty-four bed, 36,400 square foot mental

health housing & treatment facility in
Soledad, CA.

• Houses male inmates requiring inpatient

mental healthcare at level IV security (the
most violent).

• The project’s aim was to achieve the first

LEED Certification for California’s prison
system, ahead of the 2011 mandate.
 SALINAS VALLEY STATE PRISON

Achievements
• In combination with other conservation
efforts, potable water use was reduced by
56 percent.
• California Department of Corrections:
“…lowered sewage conveyance by nearly
70 percent,” far exceeding Governor’s
Executive Order #S-20-04 and LEED
requirements.
• The water savings from the vacuum plumbing
system contributed to a Silver LEED
Certification.
 SALINAS VALLEY STATE PRISON

Achievements, cont.
• The vacuum system in the facility proved to be
low maintenance due in large part to its
design.

• The system efficiently isolates every cell from

the waste piping network by means of a
normally closed valve separating the toilet in
one cell from the rest of the toilets in the
facility.

• Leaks and mainline clogs are virtually

eliminated. The facility personnel report fewer
maintenance calls.
 SUPERMARKETS

Installation of vacuum
plumbing allows for
additional cases without
cutting into exposed
concrete floors, maintaining
an unblemished look.
SUPERMARKETS

Additional Benefits
• Eliminates grease interceptors on
sales floors.
• Eliminates costly waste line
maintenance.
• Eliminates associated odors and
inconvenience.
• Eliminates potential for ground
contamination.
• Reduces clogged grease waste line.
• Cleaner environment and reduced
health hazards.
 SUMMARY

HEALTH BENEFITS:
• When vacuum plumbing is applied to the construction or
renovation of healthcare, commercial & industrial facilities, it
consistently performs as a tool to minimize and prevent the
spread of bio-aerosol pathogens.

OPERATIONAL BENEFITS:
• Provides optimal water and sewage savings.
• Reduces maintenance and cost associated with waste line
blockage.
 SUMMARY

DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION BENEFITS:

• Waste piping doesn’t require a continuous slope, providing
greater freedom in plumbing design & layout.
• Offers the opportunity for low cost resolution of required
changes to waste pipe installation discovered during
construction.
• Accelerates construction/renovation timeline.
• Allows remodels to take place without disrupting
surrounding adjacent spaces.
• Makes existing real estate with limited drainage viable for
repurposed use.
REVIEW

Now, the design professional will be able to:

1. Explain how vacuum plumbing systems work (key components for an efficient
operation).

2. Compare and contrast vacuum plumbing vs. gravity plumbing (sustainability,

health and safety, cost, design and construction flexibility).

3. Discuss the environmental benefits of vacuum plumbing.

4. Explain application for vacuum plumbing as related to LEED certification.

5. Discuss infection prevention with vacuum plumbing.

VACUUM PLUMBING & A
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
An American Institute of Architect CE Program
AIA Course #: GAR22B
GBCI Course ID: 0920010437
Credit for this course is
1 AIA/CES LU/HSW CE Hour and
1 GBCI CE Hour for LEED professionals
Thank you!