Commercial Urinals: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to specify commercial urinals — standard flush, waterless, sensor-flush, trough and wall-hung configurations with GPF ratings, ADA compliance, and top brands.
For most commercial restrooms, a wall-hung vitreous china urinal at 0.5 GPF with a sensor flush valve is the current best-practice specification. Waterless urinals are compelling for sustainability goals but require a maintenance commitment. Trough urinals are cost-effective for stadiums and high-traffic venues.
Types of commercial urinals
Wall-hung standard
The most common commercial urinal. Mounted directly to the wall, drain through the wall or floor. Available in elongated (siphon jet) and washdown configurations. Most models are vitreous china.
Most commonWaterless / no-flush
No flush valve, no water connection. A liquid sealant trap blocks odors. Saves 40,000+ gallons per urinal per year. Sloan Waterfree, Kohler Steward, Zurn waterless are leading models.
Most water-efficientTrough urinal
A continuous trough serves multiple users simultaneously. Typically stainless steel. One flush valve serves the entire trough. Used in stadiums, arenas, and high-traffic venues where throughput is critical.
High traffic / stadiumsBlowout / siphon jet
High-performance flushing action for heavy use. Typically 1.0 GPF or higher. Used in high-traffic commercial settings where clogging risk is elevated. Requires higher water pressure than standard models.
Heavy useRough-in configurations
Urinals are available in back outlet (drain exits through the wall) and bottom outlet (drain exits through the floor) configurations. Back outlet is more common in new commercial construction. Bottom outlet is used in renovation projects where a floor drain already exists. Always verify the rough-in type against your plumbing plan before ordering.
Waterless urinals: the full picture
Waterless urinals save a significant amount of water — a standard 1.0 GPF urinal used 25 times per day uses approximately 9,125 gallons per year. A waterless urinal uses zero. The water and sewer savings can be substantial for large office buildings or stadiums.
| Factor | Waterless urinal | 0.5 GPF sensor flush |
|---|---|---|
| Water use | Zero | ~4,562 gal/yr (25 uses/day) |
| Upfront cost | Comparable to standard | Standard cost |
| Maintenance | Cartridge replacement every 1,500–7,500 uses ($15–40 each) | Standard flush valve maintenance |
| Odor control | Depends on cartridge freshness | Flush carries odors away with water |
| User acceptance | Variable — some users dislike them | Universally accepted |
| LEED points | Eligible for significant water credits | Eligible for standard credits |
Waterless urinals require regular cartridge replacement and strict cleaning protocols. A neglected waterless urinal smells significantly worse than a neglected flush urinal. Only specify waterless if the facility management team is committed to the maintenance schedule.
GPF ratings & water efficiency
Urinal GPF reference
ADA requirements for urinals
ADA urinal dimensions (Section 605)
At least one urinal in each bank must be accessible. The accessible urinal must have a rim no higher than 17" AFF and must provide a 30"×60" clear floor space. Urinal privacy screens, if provided, must not obstruct the required clear floor space.
In restrooms with only one urinal, that urinal must comply with accessible requirements.
Choosing the right urinal by facility type
Leading commercial urinal brands
Toto
Toto's commercial urinal line includes WaterSense-certified models at 0.5 GPF and 0.125 GPF. The UT447U (0.5 GPF, top spud) is a widely-specified commercial model. Their ultra-high-efficiency urinals are among the lowest-consumption flush urinals available. Same distribution and specification strength as their toilet line.
Kohler
Kohler's Bardon and Persuade urinals cover the standard commercial range. The Steward is their waterless model. Strong availability through commercial distribution. Coordinates with Kohler commercial toilets and faucets for single-brand restroom packages.
American Standard
The Decorum and Afwall urinals are proven commercial performers. The Afwall 0.5 GPF is a popular WaterSense-certified model for standard commercial applications. Good value with consistent availability.
Installation notes for contractors
Mounting height
Standard wall-hung urinal mounting height: 24" from the floor to the top lip of the urinal strainer (not the rim). For the ADA-accessible urinal, the rim must be no higher than 17" AFF. When mixing ADA and standard-height urinals in a bank, the standard urinals are typically mounted higher (24"–26" top lip) for user comfort.
Water supply pressure
Flush valves require a minimum of 25 PSI dynamic pressure. Verify adequate pressure at each urinal location, especially in buildings where the urinals are at the end of a long supply run or on upper floors.
Carrier systems for wall-hung urinals
Wall-hung urinals require a carrier system anchored to the wall studs or structure. The carrier typically includes a waste outlet and hanger bolts. Size the carrier to match the urinal manufacturer's specification — carrier dimensions vary by urinal model.
Specification checklist
- Type — standard wall-hung, waterless, or trough?
- GPF rating — 0.5 GPF minimum for WaterSense; 0.0 for waterless.
- Flush valve — specify brand and model (Sloan, Zurn) separately. Manual or sensor?
- Rough-in — back outlet or bottom outlet? Verify against plumbing plan.
- ADA — at least one urinal at 17" max rim height with required clear floor space.
- Privacy screens — specify size and mounting to coordinate with urinal layout.
- CSI section — Section 22 42 13 for fixtures; flush valves often in same section.
Frequently asked questions
How many urinals are required per restroom?
The IPC fixture count table determines the minimum number of urinals based on occupancy. For office buildings, the IPC allows urinals to replace up to 67% of required male water closets. Always check your local adopted code edition for the exact table.
Do waterless urinals smell?
A properly maintained waterless urinal should not smell noticeably more than a flush urinal. The cartridge sealant creates a liquid seal that blocks sewer gases. The key word is "properly maintained" — if the cartridge is overdue for replacement or cleaning protocols are not followed, odor problems develop quickly.
What is a urinal privacy screen and is it required?
Privacy screens (also called urinal screens or urinal partitions) are dividers between urinals that provide privacy. They are not required by code but are generally expected in commercial restroom design. Standard screens are 18"–24" wide and 36" tall, mounted on the wall between urinals.