Editor's Note: We offer "Sound Off" as an open forum for industry professionals to express their opinions about industry issues, as well as to offer advice to our readers on how to manage their businesses. To submit material for this column, contact Kelly Johnson at johnsonk@bnp.com.

It's a wonderful thing how music is such an intimate part of our lives. We relate songs to all of our feelings, love, friendships, fear, goals and achievements, failures and letdowns. For me, my memory is affected most of all. When I hear a particular song, I think back to that time and place, and whether it's good, bad or otherwise, I just can't help but sit back and reflect. Then there are some songs you could swear were actually written for or about you. Or others that when the song came out the timing was just right. For instance, Alice Cooper had a hit song called "I'm 18" when I was 18; how cool is that? Then, later in my life, there was that song, "I'm A Loser, Baby, Why Don't You Kill Me." Let's not go there.

Anyway, back to my high school years. The band Brownsville Station had a hit song called "Smokin' In the Boys' Room." It hit the top of the charts right about the time I was graduating. Although I did not smoke, I can vividly remember the smell of thick smoke in the boys' room. Smoking in the boys' and girls' room was a normal routine. Yes, the rules were being broken, but it wasn't that bad. Teachers would come by, and just tell us to clear out and get to class. After all, do you remember walking by the teachers' room? Some say the song glorified smoking in school; this may be true, but it is also true that smoking was more acceptable back then, as were many other bad habits, only to be replaced with new bad habits. The serious health issues had not yet been completely realized and brought into the public eye. Today, we do and should take smoking and second-hand smoke very seriously. We have become wiser over the years--about some things, anyway. So you're probably asking, unless you have already stopped reading, how does all this rubbish relate to our plumbing code? It's elementary.

It seems many cities and towns have gone to extreme measures to stop students from smoking in school by locking and eliminating toilet rooms. This practice does not only deprive students of their basic human rights, it is unhealthy, and a clear violation of our plumbing code. In 248 C.M.R section 2.10, 19, and Table 1, it is dictated how many fixtures are required for each building based on the use and maximum occupancy load of the building. In 1994, this section of the code was revised and rewritten to provide even more fixtures per person because of complaints for many years of long lines waiting to use toilet facilities, especially in women's and girls' rooms. Once the number of toilet rooms and fixtures has been determined for a facility that is what is required for the use of its occupants. This number of toilet rooms and/or fixtures cannot be reduced or eliminated; it is only pure common sense. For example, before a movie theater is built, plans are submitted to the city's building department. Upon review, the total number of seating and employees is determined. The plumbing inspector will then determine the total amount of plumbing fixtures for men and women according to Table 1 of the aforementioned code. It is the same procedure for every building.

Some school leaders have devised complex rules deciding where and when students are allowed to use a bathroom. For example, a student would first have to ask permission, then go to the office and ask for a key, and they may only use the bathroom if it is not being used by another student. Or there's the practice of opening toilet rooms only at certain times of the day, like once at 10 a.m. and once at 2 p.m., then forming a line and only allowing one student to enter at a time. Maybe I'm not up on the latest medical technology, but I have not heard of any new procedure where you can program when it would be a convenient time to go. You end up with toilet rooms filled with plumbing fixtures that aren't being used. Why build them in the first place? Why have a code? What if this happened to you as an adult; would you complain?

Imagine this: your family goes out to dinner at a popular restaurant. It is a busy night, and everyone is enjoying themselves. Someone in the group excuses himself to go to the bathroom. He proceeds to the door and finds it locked. The customer asks the waiter why the door is locked when he needs to use the bathroom. The waiter explains, "We have had many problems with the bathrooms, customers making a mess, etc., etc., so you will have to take a number, and we will call you when the bathroom becomes available." The customer goes back to his seat astonished. Twenty minutes later, a voice comes over the load speaker: "Number 25 for the bathroom." What if in your place of employment you had to ask permission from your boss to go to the bathroom? Or better yet, how about if the Fleet Center or Fenway Park decided to close all toilet facilities except one? I will tell you right now, there would be no lines because the doors would be broken down and there would be a riot. So, if we don't do these ridiculous things in the real world, why do some schools deprive students of their basic right to use a toilet room whenever they want to?

A few years ago, I pressured the plumbing board to act on this issue. Although I was not able to get an official interpretation--a difficult if not impossible task--my persistence did get three major boards to come together and write a joint memo that was sent to all schools in the commonwealth, public and private, and all local boards of health. The following are some excerpts from the memo written by David Driscoll, commissioner, MA Dept. of Education; Howard Koh, commissioner, MA Dept. of Public Health; and Louis Visco, executive secretary, Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters.

--"The lack of adequate and available restroom facilities (including liquid soap, water and paper supplies) poses several health risks."

--"At least 20% of young women develop urinary tract infections by adulthood. Requiring students to delay urination may increase their symptoms and worsen this condition."

--"Students with certain special health conditions require access to bathrooms on a regular basis."

--"Failure to provide access may raise questions of possible violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act."

--"For all students, the discomfort and poor hygiene resulting from lack of restroom facilities is, at the very least, demeaning. It also may impede learning because of an inability to maintain attention. A further consideration is that failure to make available all facilities required by the plumbing code may constitute a violation of that code."

During many discussions about locking and eliminating toilet facilities, someone deduced that this issue did not come under the plumbing inspector's jurisdiction--that after the final inspection is done and the occupancy permit has been signed and issued, the job is over, and they have no control or authority. This again is a common sense issue. The plumbing inspector or any inspector does not have the authority to just walk in to any house or building and order all existing plumbing to be brought up to code, unless of course there is a code violation that constitutes a health hazard, nuisance or safety concern. The code provides for this, and certainly if you have a complaint and are aware of a code violation, it cannot be ignored and must be investigated at the very least. That's the inspector's job. A good example of this would be the principal of a school deciding to lock and chain all exit doors because students were sneaking in and out. Do you think that if the building inspector was aware of this he would simply say, "They have the proper amount of exits; that's all I care about"? Of course not. The building inspector would probably cut the chains himself and then sign a complaint in court against the principal. Like exit doors, a certain amount of toilet facilities have been installed for a reason--to be used.

If an existing building does not have the proper amount of toilet facilities to start with, that would be a different situation than locking or eliminating toilet rooms that do exist. In such a building, first you would have to evaluate the problem--have there been any complaints, etc.--and perhaps additional toilet facilities may be required. Again, the code provides for this. But there is no gray area for toilet rooms that do exist; they must be able to be used, period.

As far as the students' and all citizens' right to breathe clean, smoke-free air, I am in complete agreement. I do not like smoke, have never smoked, and wished smoking was banned in more places. However, I believe there are laws in place that prohibit smoking in school and many other places. My suggestion would be to enforce those laws without breaking other laws or infringing on anyone's basic human rights.

As an inspector, if you are having difficulty interpreting the code or making an important decision, and it will be your decision, get someone else's opinion, try to determine the intent of the code, and above all, let common sense prevail.