DOE Pre-Rinse Spray Valve Regulations
The foodservice industry uses nearly 53 billion gallons of water each year rinsing and pre-rinsing dishes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Not only is using too much water bad for the environment, it can also quickly run up your utility bills; for these two reasons, many foodservice operators look for water-efficient kitchen equipment. In 2019, the Department of Energy enacted new standards that require new pre-rinse spray valves to use less water. These standards will hopefully benefit restaurant operators by reducing the amount of water needed to pre-rinse dishes without affecting performance. The DOE also specifies that the pre-rinse spray valve must produce a minimum amount of force, which ensures your sprayer will still get the job done. We'll go over the current regulations below to help you understand the ratings on all pre-rinse spray valves.
What Does the DOE Pre-rinse Spray Valve Regulation Require?
Beginning in January of 2019, the United States Department of Energy changed its pre-rinse spray valve requirements to a lower range of Gallons Per Minute, or GPM. GPM measures the rate of flow of water through the sprayer, so the lower the number, the less water comes through the sprayer at a time. Before 2019, the maximum permitted flow was 1.60 gallons per minute, but with the update, pre-rinse spray valves can use between 1.00 and 1.28 gallons per minute, a significant decrease that reduces the total water used by a significant amount over the course of a year. These changes can save considerable amounts of water over the life of a sprayer, but you also want to ensure your pre-rinse is strong enough to get the job done. If your pre-rinse doesn't deliver enough pressure, you'll end up using it longer, which counteracts any water savings you may have received. The DOE has divided pre-rinse spray valves into three product classes, which we'll explain below to help you find the best fit for your business.
What do the different pre-rinse spray valve classes mean?
Pre-rinse spray valves have three different classifications under the current DOE regulations – conveniently titled Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. In ascending order, these classes mark stronger spray force and greater water flow; a Class 3 spray valve will have the most powerful spray and use the most water, while a Class 1 uses the least water and has the least powerful spray. The force output of each spray valve is rated in "ozf," which stands for ounce force. This may not be a helpful unit of measurement without a frame of reference, but higher ozf equates to more forceful spray, so you can at least use it to compare different pre-rinse spray valves. The classes are as follows:
- Class 1: Less than 1.00 GPM; less than 5 ozf
- Class 2: Less than 1.20 GPM; between 5 and 8 ozf
- Class 3: Less than 1.28 GPM; more than 8 ozf
Do I need to upgrade my pre-rinse spray valve?
The DOE regulations only apply to new pre-rinse spray valves, so you will not need to upgrade to appease the regulations. Your local governing bodies may have more specific rules, of course, so you should check to see if your local laws exceed the requirements of these regulations. Even if you do not have to replace your pre-rinse spray valve for regulatory reasons, you may want to do so simply because of the potential water savings of a new unit. Many existing pre-rinse spray valves already use less than 1.28 gallons per minute, but if yours uses more, you can save a good amount of water by swapping to a new one.
A new pre-rinse unit could save more than twenty percent on water usage if your old pre-rinse had a 1.60-GPM flow. With the required force measurements in place, you can be certain your pre-rinse will have enough force to clean your dishes while using less water. If your kitchen produces dishes that are particularly difficult to clean, you can opt for a higher class of pre-rinse unit and be certain you're getting all the power you need.
If you want to learn more, consult our guide to choosing the right pre-rinse faucet.
