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Why it’s Worthwhile to Install Touchfree Plumbing

If you automatically think of manual plumbing fittings for your facility when updating restrooms or installing fittings in new construction, then you are missing out on the automatic advantages of touchfree operation. Perhaps your reservations parallel some of these common misconceptions regarding touchless plumbing, which are outlined below with appropriate explanations:

“The public is tough on our restrooms. That’s why we installed manual faucets.” Manually operated plumbing systems require users to turn or push handles or buttons. If your objective is to reduce vandalism, why are you putting in products that require direct contact with users who may be too rough? Even well-intentioned users who are fearful of picking up germs sometimes kick flush valve handles to initiate flushing, which can result in damage and leaks. Touchless operation removes these concerns.

Choose from various touchless options
for plumbing fixtures and fittings to
improve restroom hygiene and efficiency.

Some people assume that sensor-operated fittings are too delicate for public restrooms. That is just not true. Many of these fittings are specifically engineered for high-use environments. Commercial electronic faucets, for example, are designed for strength and vandal resistance with features such as locking spray heads, below-deck electronics and armored cabling. In-wall sensors offer another way to keep out prying hands.

“I’ve heard that sensor plumbing wastes more water than manual plumbing.” Here is where you have to balance the facts. Yes, sensor- operated faucets and flush valves will activate every time someone is within sensor range and may activate when users do not want them to. However, sensor faucets turn off automatically; manual faucets can sometimes be left running and typically remain on during the wash cycle, which is a big waste of water. If an electronic Flushometer or a faucet is running excessively, it is usually because the sensor is set incorrectly; a quick adjustment can fix that.

“I don’t want the plumbing to stop working because of dead batteries.” When selecting a sensor-operated fitting, it is important to consider the average user, the traffic flow and the place of installation before deciding on a power source. There are various types of power sources for sensor-operated plumbing, including hardwire (AC), battery (DC) and now even solar products. Battery-powered plumbing products often include warning lights that indicate when batteries will soon need to be changed. If batteries are not practical, then hardwired fittings may be a better choice. Some battery-powered flush valves also have mechanical overrides that enable manual flushing when the batteries need to be replaced.

Why Touchless Plumbing Matters
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hygienic handwashing is the single-most effective measure for preventing the spread of pathogens that can cause everything from the common cold to more serious, even life-threatening diseases. Proper hand-washing is critical to reduce the transmission of pathogens to food, water, other people and inanimate objects, such as hand railings and other surfaces.

As critical as proper hand-washing is, the sink area is where you are most likely to find the very germs you are trying to wash away. That is because hand-washing stations are where people shed bacteria from their skin.

In fact, University of Arizona researchers identified handwashing stations as being the dirtiest area in a hospital restroom. Specifically, sink drain surface tests resulted in positive samples of coliforms (aerobic bacteria found in the colon or feces) 80% of the time. The rim of the sink came in second with 20% of the samples being positive.

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology recommends that faucets be turned off by means other than the hands to help avoid immediate recontamination after washing. A person who touches a contaminated surface can pass on germs and bacteria very easily. Clinical testing shows that cross- contamination can occur even up to 24 hours after original contamination. Furthermore, researchers at Rutgers University found that the rate of cross-contamination from a faucet to clean hands is more than 70%.

Sensor-operated plumbing systems are also good options for keeping facilities in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Per ADA Accessibility Guidelines, faucets must meet standards for operable parts (309.4) and accessibility requirements. Electronically controlled faucets, soap dispensers and hand dryers that activate on demand comply with these requirements.

Look at the Options
Many different types and styles of sensor-operated faucets address different purposes and environmental requirements, and water consumption is a major area to consider. A 2.2 gpm flow rate is nurses’ stations and custodial rooms, for example, where employees are washing foods, filling containers or rinsing equipment.

But basic hand-washing faucets can operate effectively at a much lower flow rate. The U.S. Green Building Council specifically recommends lavatory faucets with 0.5 gpm outlets for public restrooms and other general hand-washing stations in LEED for Healthcare, which is currently in draft form with formal adoption expected later this year.

Facilities also have a wide range of touchless toilet and urinal technology choices, which run the gamut from the standard toilet and urinal models to dualflush technologies. High-efficiency toilets (HET), which use no more than 1.28 gallons of water per flush (gpf), and high-efficiency urinals (HEU), which use a maximum of 0.5 gpf, are becoming more popular. Besides general low-consumption water closets, HETs include dual-flush Flushometers that typically flush at the standard 1.6 gpf for removing solid waste and then offer a watersaving flush option of 1.1 gpf for liquids. In addition to low- consumption urinal flush valves, HEUs include waterfree urinals that use no water.

How fittings are powered is another consideration. Although batteries or plug-in transformers power most sensoroperated faucets and Flushometers, new solar-powered fittings are available that run off any natural or artificial restroom light source, including occupancy- controlled lighting. This enables facilities to save both water and energy.

Researchers at Rutgers University found that the rate of cross-contamination from a faucet to clean hands is more than 70%.

Wireless operation based on radio frequency technology is another option for faucets. These faucets are installed without having to make an electrical connection to the control module under the lavatory, making for a simple retrofit application. The faucet transmits a signal to the control module to activate the solenoid and turn on the water. Wireless technology reduces vandalism because there are no wires to damage or remove.

As facilities undergo renovations and building additions, trade professionals need to understand their options and tap into the wider range of touchfree and low-consumption fittings that are now available to fulfill their requirements.

John Watson is the director of technical services for Sloan Valve Company, a leading manufacturer of water-efficient plumbing products and systems. Call Sloan at 800-9-VALVE-9 or visit www.sloanvalve.com.

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