Arizona child care rules set 86 to 110 degrees F at the diaper-changing hand sink, but only require running water and a sewer-connected drain at other child hand sinks. The plumbing code requires tempered water at lavatories in public toilet facilities for customers, patrons and visitors. Whether student restrooms count is a plan-review question.
What temperature do Arizona child care rules set?
For diaper changing, there is a range. Under A.A.C. R9-5-503, each required diaper changing area has a hand-washing sink next to the changing surface that provides "Running water between 86° F and 110° F," soap from a dispenser and single-use paper towels from a dispenser. The same section's written diaper-changing procedure has staff wash their own hands, and each child's hands, "with soap and running water between 86° F and 110° F" after each diaper change. The rule also bars staff from drawing water for human consumption from a diaper changing area sink.
Other hand sinks are covered by R9-5-601. For children not in diapers, it requires one toilet and one hand-washing sink for 10 or fewer children, two of each for 11 to 25, and one more of each for each additional 20 children. It requires the sinks to provide "running water with a drain connected to a sanitary sewer." That section states no temperature.
So the state child care rules give a temperature at the diaper sink, and they do not give one for the child hand sinks. Our page on childcare restroom and handwashing plumbing covers the fixture counts and layout in more detail.
What does the plumbing code require?
The code distinguishes between hot water and tempered water, and between kinds of restroom. Section 607.1 of the Phoenix plumbing code says "In nonresidential occupancies, hot water or tempered water shall be supplied for bathing and washing purposes." Schools and child care centers are typically classified as nonresidential occupancies, in which case either is allowed at a hand sink under this section.
Section 419.5 is the tempered-water rule: "Tempered water shall be delivered from lavatories and group wash fixtures located in public toilet facilities provided for customers, patrons and visitors." It must come "through an approved water-temperature limiting device that conforms to ASSE 1070/ASME A112.1070/CSA B125.70." Section 607.1.2 then lists the allowed controls, including an ASSE 1070 limiting device set to no more than 110°F, a thermostatic mixing valve conforming to ASSE 1017, or a water heater conforming to ASSE 1082 or 1084.
The wording of 419.5 is the catch. It names "customers, patrons and visitors." Restrooms used by enrolled students, children and staff are not named. Whether a school's or child care center's restrooms fall under 419.5 depends on how the plans label the rooms and how the plan reviewer reads the section. The visitor restroom in the front office likely does. A classroom-attached restroom may not. Ask the reviewer; do not assume.
Phoenix adopted the 2024 IPC with amendments under Ordinance G-7397. The published amendment list does not include Sections 419.5, 607.1 or 607.1.2, so the base text applies in Phoenix. Other Valley cities may use different editions.
Why do designers temper water for children anyway?
Scald risk. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says "The majority of injuries and deaths involving tap water scalds are to the elderly and children under the age of five." It also says "Even if the temperature is 120 degrees, a five minute exposure could result in third-degree burns." A sink in a toddler room is a place where a limiter adds protection if a heater is misadjusted. Where the state rule asks for 86 to 110°F at the diaper sink, one way to meet it is a limiting device set within that range.
How do you get water into the range?
Building hot water is often stored hotter than 110°F. Getting the water down at a specific sink takes a limiter or mixing valve at that sink, or a tempering valve serving a group of sinks, set and checked with a thermometer at the faucet. Our page on thermostatic mixing valves in commercial buildings explains the valve types and their standards.
Before replacing or relocating a child care sink, confirm the temperature the licensing office expects for that sink and the plan reviewer's reading of 419.5. Plumbing work that changes fixtures needs a licensed plumber and, in most cities, a permit.