Virginia Law

A. Showers.

1. Showers shall include a soap dish and drain. Shower heads shall be positioned to confine water flow to shower stall.

2. Hot and cold or tempered running water shall be available in all showers. Hot and cold running water shall be available in all lavatories. Hot water, which is accessible by inmates, shall be controlled by a temperature limiting device to preclude temperatures in excess of 105 degrees F.

3. Toilet area wall, floor, and ceiling surface finishes shall be durable, washable, and resistant to water, mold, and mildew.

4. Shower ceiling, wall, and floor surface finishes shall be durable, washable, and resistant to water, mold, and mildew. Shower and shower area floor surface finishes shall be slip resistant. The reviewing authority may require that inmate showers be constructed from stainless steel.

5. All showers for inmate use shall be operated by metering push button control.

B. Plumbing fixtures.

1. Plumbing fixtures in maximum security housing units shall be stainless steel.

2. In indirect supervision medium security housing units, toilets and lavatories shall be stainless steel.

3. In minimum security housing units and direct supervision medium security housing areas, toilets shall be a minimum of commercial grade tankless toilets and commercial grade lavatories.

4. Soap holders in showers and toilet paper holders shall be the recessed type.

5. Showers providing ADA accessibility designed with fixed low shower head shall have a second head at standard height.

6. Where an ADA accessible mirror is provided, a regular height mirror shall also be provided. Height to bottom of regular height mirror is recommended at 53 to 57 inches.

7. Consideration shall be given to maintenance and sanitation (ponding water and soap) and suicide resistance when selecting grab bars in ADA accessible showers.

8. All toilets for inmate use shall be operated by push button activators. Lavatories for inmate use shall be operated by metering push button activators.

9. Inmate plumbing fixtures in sally ports shall be maximum security.

10. Gooseneck faucets shall not be allowed on lavatories in inmate accessible areas.

C. All floors and tiers in housing units shall be provided with adequate drainage to handle standing water associated with shower areas, toilet or sprinkler overflows, and cleaning.

D. Kitchens and laundries shall be provided with adequate drainage.

E. Janitorial closets with mop sinks and storage shall be provided in every inmate housing unit. Janitorial closets shall be provided in proximity to intake and to serve corridors.

F. Toilet facilities for the use of security and administrative staff and inmates shall be located throughout the building. Staff toilet facilities shall be provided in master control stations. Staff toilet facilities shall be provided in, or convenient to, other control stations or control rooms.

G. PVC or other plastic piping, one-half inch or greater, shall not be used above the ground floor slab within the secure perimeter of the jail. For transitions, PVC piping may extend not more than six inches above the floor.

H. Plumbing fixtures and lines shall not be located above security electronic rooms.

I. Isolation valves and balancing valves are recommended to facilitate maintenance. Butterfly valves are not recommended.

J. As a minimum, a water supply shutoff controllable from outside each housing unit shall be provided from a location readily accessible by staff but not by inmates. Remotely controlled water supply shutoff valves should be considered for individual inmate cells, especially at special housing.

K. Gravity sanitary drainage mains and fittings serving two or more fixtures in housing units shall have a minimum inside dimension of six inches.

L. For inmate toilets with a gravity sewer, a cleanout with interceptor pin at each tee in chases is recommended.

M. All sanitary and stormwater piping penetrating a secure perimeter wall, security floor, secure recreation yard, or vehicular sally ports shall not exceed eight inches in diameter. If flow calculations require a pipe diameter greater than eight inches, a series of eight-inch or smaller pipes equivalent to or greater than the flow area calculated shall be used. It is expected that multiple pipes be installed as a duct bank.

N. All showers shall be provided with mechanical exhaust directly from the shower compartment. Single showers shall be exhausted individually. In the case of multiple showers without full height partitions between the showers, the exhaust may be from a central location from the shower area.

O. All fixtures shall be low flow, water saving type.

P. Inmate lavatories, drinking fountains, toilets, and urinals inside the secure perimeter shall not have exposed piping and components.