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With time always of the essence in the healthcare sector, specifiers must ensure that the products they choose provide a high level of safety and infection control. Here, Chris Tranter, senior product manager at Bristan, advises on the best washroom options available which meet these needs


prevention must be upheld, it is also essential to help manage building operators’ time by preventing long installation processes and the need for future maintenance where possible. Although it can be daunting to try and tick all of the boxes, the need to help operators meet their duty of care to residents, visitors and staff is vital, so installing products that are long-lasting and practical, yet also easy to clean and maintain, is key.


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Luckily, many manufacturers, like Bristan, now offer taps and showers that have been designed specifically to answer these demands, aiding care home operators in their day-to-day work and helping protect the lives of care home residents.


Infrared technology


One specific development designed to reduce the spread of infection, and speed up maintenance procedures, is the use of non-touch technology. Non-touch technology has been game-changing for specifiers, offering both infection control and ease-of- maintenance benefits. Detecting human presence and switching on the water flow for a set amount of time, non-touch infrared technology alleviates the risk of cross- contamination, as it reduces the number of surfaces from which bacteria can be transferred. What’s more, many infrared products now feature a high level of functionality and adjustability. Infrared shower panels, for example, can be programmed to suit individual site needs, with some on the market even supplied with remote key-fobs, enabling facilities managers to control several parameters, which can include run-time and sensor activation, from wherever they are.


uInfrared panels are a strong infection control recommendation for care environments


Manual flushing can also be reduced, with certain panels featuring duty-flush settings. These can be set to site requirements of up to every 72


hours in 12-hour increments, also controllable via remote key-fob. Duty- flushing helps to eliminate standing water, which supports the fight against water borne bacteria such as Legionella. And, with the addition of anti-microbial coating on some models, these infrared panels are a strong infection control recommendation for care environments.


Another solid recommendation is an infrared tap, activated by human presence and ran on a timed basis, the tap dispenses the required amount of water when needed, with the tap shutting off completely when the user has moved away, negating the potential for water wastage in addition to reducing the risk of cross- contamination. In addition, an infrared soap dispenser, whereby soap is dispensed upon human presence, will further lessen the risk of germs spreading.


Scalding prevention


Safety isn’t just limited to water borne infections. Care homes often provide care for residents who may be vulnerable to risks from hot water. To reduce the risk of scalding, the use of thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) anywhere hot water is delivered is recommended. TMVs allow water to be stored and distributed at a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria, but reduce it to a safe temperature at the point of use by mixing it with the cold water supply. TMVs can also maintain the desired water temperature even when the incoming water pressures/flow rates change. Bar showers with incorporated TMV 3 control, for example, can be installed to ease water temperature control and maintenance in a healthcare environment. Models are available that feature a fully cool touch body, meaning they are totally safe to use,


as they never get hotter than the mixed water temperature. What’s more, some models also feature an integrated isolation and hot flush mechanism, meaning that where flushing a traditional shower could take anywhere up to an hour, they take just ten minutes, making infection control quick and easy, speeding up maintenance procedures for building operators. For larger residential care homes, taps which simplify the flushing process and minimise the build-up of bacteria in sentinel points are a must-have to help reduce maintenance time and prevent accidents from occurring.


Primary focus


Designed to comply with HTM 04-01 and reduce infection by simplifying servicing routines, our H64 tap combines patented integral thermal flush technology and tamper-proof, easy access isolation for quick thermal flushing in line with infection control measures.


The H64’s removable spout makes it easy for maintenance workers to clean the tap while the new internal waterway design within the valve body minimises the mixed water area to help prevent the build-up of bacteria in sentinel points, both key requirements in terms of helping public institutions optimise safety and infection control. Specifying for the healthcare environment can be a difficult task. However, with more and more products coming on to the market which effectively safeguard residents without putting pressure on building operators, the process can be simplified. The solutions listed in this article have safety and infection control as their primary focus, with the added bonus of easing the workload and schedules of building operators, resulting in a smooth process from installation through to maintenance.


www.bristan.com/specifiers-home 14 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER FEBRUARY 2019 Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk ‘


To reduce the risk of scalding, the use of thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) anywhere hot water is delivered is recommended.


uNon­touch technology has been game­changing for specifiers, offering both infection control and ease­of­maintenance benefits


or specifiers working in the healthcare


environment, the list of priorities is almost


endless. Whilst high levels of safety and hygiene


BOILERS & HOT WATER A race against time


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