Some of the feedback I’ve received from these Tech Talks asks me to keep them humorous. I’ll try to do that as much as possible. To that end, here’s another D’OH story about prison toilets, and with a repeat offender when it comes to TICI* violations.
Prison combination toilets are usually supplied with what’s called a ‘penal bubbler’; a device that serves two functions. It can be used to run water into the small sink on top of the fixture or as a water fountain bubbler so the ‘client’ can get a drink of water. Accordingly,
TICI the bubbler must be installed with the outlet facing up.
For those of you who may never have installed a prison combination fixture, it’s a slightly more strenuous process than installing a standard water closet.
Our hero had been successful in getting the mechanical contract for two rural RCMP small centre detachments and my firm had been successful in getting the order for the prison fixtures. I’m sure that by now you know what’s coming. The call went something like this.
Him – ‘You know those little spouts on the cell toilets for putting water into the sink?’ Me – ‘Yes.’
Him – ‘Which way are they supposed to point – up or down?’
Me – ‘Up.’
Him – Audible groan, followed by ‘Why?’
Me – ‘They also serve as a drinking fountain, so they have to point up. You put them all in upside down, didn’t you?’
Him – ‘Yes.’
Me – ‘I have to put you on hold for a minute.’ Followed by me laughing out loud.
He had to completely uninstall all of these fixtures to get access to one screw on the back of each bubbler to flip them up the right way.
He told me later that the error had been pointed out to him before he called, but he called me anyway in the faint hope that I could give him a reason why they were okay as is.
The only advice I could give him, too late in this case, was to read the instructions.
*TICI – the instructions clearly indicated.