4specs.com    4specs.com Home Page

How fast is a soldier expected to com... Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

4specs Discussion Forum » Specifications Discussions » How fast is a soldier expected to complete their ablutions? « Previous Next »

Author Message
Matthew Jarsky, architect
Senior Member
Username: jarsky

Post Number: 8
Registered: 05-2022


Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2025 - 05:01 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I have been asked to evaluate whether an existing ablutions facility (showers, toilets, lavatories) is adequate for the number of soldiers it serves.

"Adequate" means they can complete their ablutions in the allotted time.

Weirdly, my client is not sharing a target time they want to achieve.

Is there some reference standard I might use? Perhaps one issued by the US Army Corps of Engineers?

If not a standard, perhaps a guideline?
Loretta Sheridan
Senior Member
Username: leshrdn

Post Number: 190
Registered: 11-2021
Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2025 - 08:30 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I can't answer this, and I don't know if the following will be any help. But I thought it was an interesting question. So, I googled it, and found this:
https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/2023/10/10/48b71cfb/23-693-shower-and-laundry-operations-handbook-october-23-public-release-web.pdf

Admittedly, it is for field services and not a permanent installation. But it did have the following information on Page 6:

SHOWER SERVICES
Each S&L team uses 12-head shower units for shower operations. 12-head shower units provide
warm showers for a maximum of 500 Soldiers per day. [...] Sustained operations require a planning factor of 3K gallons per day of water.
[...]
TRAFFIC FLOW
Soldiers using the shower will adhere to the following procedures:
[...]
Soldiers enter the shower tent/area and may remain under the shower for up to seven minutes.

----

I thought that seven minutes was interesting since the same google search told me that according to the CDC, the average amount of time it takes someone to shower is eight minutes, and that
dermatologists recommend 5 to 10 minute showers.

I also thought it was interesting says "remain under the shower" which means that they could be taking a "navy shower" which means turning off the water to soap up. But the total time allotted to be there, water on or not, is seven minutes.

Thanks for an interesting question!
Elizabeth Kertesz
Senior Member
Username: ekertesz

Post Number: 15
Registered: 08-2019
Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2025 - 09:54 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

That is interesting. I was just looking at the LEED v4 Indoor Water Use Reduction Calculator for one of my previous projects, and the default duration for public lavatory restroom faucet use is 30 seconds. Default duration for showerhead use is 300 seconds. The LEED calculator doesn't have a duration for toilet/urinal use - it's calculated per flush, times estimated uses per day per occupant, times the number of occupants. I'm not sure what reference standard/source USGBC used to come up with these default assumptions - would be interesting to figure that out.
Loretta Sheridan
Senior Member
Username: leshrdn

Post Number: 191
Registered: 11-2021
Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2025 - 10:04 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

A five minute shower!

Now my husband takes short showers, but he was in the military. And that stuck with him.
Elizabeth Kertesz
Senior Member
Username: ekertesz

Post Number: 16
Registered: 08-2019
Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2025 - 01:47 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Lol! Well, if it was just a quick ablution, and I didn't shave or wash my hair, I could probably make it happen.

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Username: Posting Information:
This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Password:
E-mail:
Options: Automatically activate URLs in message
Action:

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration