Drinking Fountains Key Terms

Some basic terms for engineering, installing and learning about drinking fountains

The drinking fountain is something a lot of us take for granted when we see it in a school, hospital, government building or commercial space, but in reality, a lot of thought goes into these handy water dispensers for public water supplies. Businesses wanting to add drinking fountains to their design can find out a lot about a variety of terms for drinking fountains, from engineering and access design to history, online from Web resources. Take a look to get informed about what goes on behind the scenes for installing drinking fountains in a building or on business grounds outdoors.

 

Potable water

Though it may be confusing for some, potable water just means water that is "fit to drink." A number of standards apply to drinking water according to the local, state and federal governments that apply to a particular area. This may be a concern when installing drinking fountains, as providing unsafe water can be a health and safety issue and a liability.
Try: Learn more about potable water at this guide from WiseGeek.

Specifying

Specifying water fountains and coolers is the term for the process that engineers go through, for testing everything about a fountain or drinking water dispenser from cooling to design for accessibility.
Try: Learn more about aspects of specifying drinking fountains at this page from Marketing Support.

ADA compliance

The ADA or Americans with Disabilities Act regulates how businesses must supply site access and access to services to those with disabilities. With drinking fountains, this generally means that the units must be wheelchair-accessible.
Try: Learn more from the ADA Standards for Accessible Design online.

Free-standing drinking fountains

Free-standing water drinking fountains are models that go all the way down to the floor. These are available in several different types, from "box-type" free-standing units to stylish "pedestal standing" types.
Try: Use this guide from Fountains Web to see if free standing units are the right choice for a site.

Halsey Taylor and Haws

This obscure combinations of names goes back to the "invention" of the modern drinking fountain. Early in the 20th century, changes in design made public drinking fountains safer and more sanitary.
Try: Learn more about Halsey Taylor and Haws and the history of drinking fountains at PME's A Brief History of Drinking Fountains and Water Coolers.

Bubbling fountains

New designs in water fountains are intended to allay some of the public's fears and make these installations more appealing to visitors. Bubbling fountain styles are just one kind of way to accomplish this.
Try: Find out more about these bubbling fountain types at Sea-Tac airport in the Village Voice.

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