The reason we recommend toilets such as American Standard or Kohler is because they set their standard well above the minimum. The minimum standard mandated by UNAR—Uniform North American Requirements is that the toilet must pass 350 grams of miso paste in one flush whereas manufacturers like Kohler and American Standard set their minimum standard at 1000 g of miso paste! Kohler and American Standard have actually done a great job of listening to consumers and plumbers alike to improve their products over the years. They have maintained the low consumption flush of the toilet as well as providing a powerful bowl wash to clear all debris from the bowl.
Energy Policy Act of 1992
The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandated that all toilets be limited to a 1.6 gallon per flush consumption. Any toilet installed prior to this was using upwards of 3.5 gallons of water per flush. Single flush toilets today are using 1.28 gallons per flush, with some of the dual flush options using as little as 1 gallon per flush for liquid disposal.
Many of the early 1.6 gallon toilets developed a reputation for clogging and needing a second flush to completely remove waste, which effectively cancelled out the low consumption feature. There has to be a way to measure the effectiveness of these toilets right? In steps the UNAR of toilet fixtures. They have created a minimum standard that a toilet must meet to be considered a toilet.
Toilet Testing
During lab testing of toilets, a soybean paste, called miso is used in latex casing, tied at both ends in 50 gram sections to simulate human waste. 7 of these 50 gram sections must be passed in one flush, along with wads of toilet paper, for a toilet to pass the test of being called a toilet. Prior to this, in the 1970’s testing laboratories would dump 100 small plastic balls inside a toilet bowl and 75 of them would have to pass in one flush for the toilet to pass the test.
There are many factors to consider when selecting a toilet, flushing capability, water consumption, color, design, maintenance and repair costs, etc. Feel free to ask us for any further information you may need to help you make an informed decision when interested in a new toilet!