The bidet, a bathroom fixture that is popular in many areas of the world, has not been a common feature in most American homes or hotels. Let us take a look at the history of this fixture. From its invention in France to the more modern electronic variants, the history of the bidet is one of change and adaptation to meet the changing needs of the consumer.
The creation of the first bidet dates back to the early 18th century in France. The word “bidet” translates to the term “little horse” or “pony” in French. This was a reference to the straddle-style seating position the early versions of the fixture used. Even in the earliest versions, bidets were considered luxury items, most often used by French nobility and wealthy individuals. In the beginning, bidets were basins that were filled manually with water and placed in bedrooms near chamber pots for washing an individual’s private areas.
As indoor plumbing systems became more advanced, bidets moved from the bedroom to the bathroom and were connected to the sanitary and water systems in the home. The bidet was seen as a necessary fixture that promoted cleanliness and personal hygiene. The fixture was, and remains, far more popular in Europe and Japan than in the United States.
A bidet can be an expensive fixture, ranging in price from several hundred to several thousand dollars, with very high-end models costing as much as $25,000. Bidet toilet seats can be a less expensive alternative to a complete bidet fixture and are gaining popularity in the United States. They can range in price from less than $100 to $500 or more, depending on the quality and/or options the seat possesses.
Bidet and bidet toilet seats need to comply with listed standards and have the proper backflow protection installed. The plumbing code does address bidets. Sections 410.0 through 410.3 of the 2027 Uniform Plumbing Code® (UPC®) directly address the bidet fixture. Section 410.1 states that the fixture shall comply with ASME A112.19.2 or CSA B45.1. It also lists ASME A112.19.3 or CSA B45.4. Section 410.2 specifies the required backflow protection. It requires an air gap, an atmospheric vacuum breaker, a pressure vacuum breaker, or a spillresistant vacuum breaker. Section 410.3 addresses water temperature requirements and mixing-valve or temperature-limiting requirements. The International Plumbing Code contains similar requirements.
Backflow protection will vary from product to product. Because of its function or use, the bidet is considered a high-hazard situation requiring highhazard protection. In most cases, backsiphonage is the only possible hydraulic condition, so protection with a vacuum breaker or air gap will provide the required high-hazard protection. The water supply to many bidet fixtures uses a submerged inlet, with water entering the fixture below the flood rim, making the atmospheric vacuum breaker the correct protection.
Bidet toilet seats that are installed on existing water closets can be a greater challenge when it comes to complying with the required backflow-protection requirements in the adopted plumbing code in many jurisdictions. Another issue is that many products available for purchase in retail stores or online do not meet the required product standards. They may not be listed and, as such, may not contain the required backflow protection. When the bidet feature is in use, is it always above the flood-level rim of the water closet? If not, is the water supply protected by a vacuum breaker installed at the proper elevation above the fixture’s flood-level rim? A deck-mounted atmospheric vacuum breaker must be installed a minimum of 1 inch above the flood-level rim. These units may require electrical power, have remote-control features, and require specific water pressures to function properly. In many cases, these items are installed after the home or building has been inspected. They may also be installed by a homeowner or handyman who has little to no understanding of plumbing code requirements or backflow protection. They may have simply watched a YouTube video before installing the product.
Since the required backflow prevention is not added into the supply piping to the bidet toilet seat, you must ensure that the seat contains integral, listed, and approved protection. Make sure your local authority having jurisdiction allows the unit that is being installed. As more of these products are installed, we must do all we can to ensure that each product is listed and approved and that its installation is correct.
