also dramatically reduce the risk of bacteria spreading by limiting what washroom users touch. This is precisely the reason why many service station washrooms use zig- zag corridors to the cubicles, and the bare minimum number of doors.


Consider the logistics Always remember that no matter how well you plan ahead, the bathroom will still need to be redecorated again at some point in the future. So it’s your job to make sure any future refurbishments are just as seamless as the installations before them; future-proofi ng your facilities is one of the best decisions you can make. For instance, don’t tile around hand dryers or soap dispensers, or anything else on the walls that might need replacing or updating in a few years’ time. Make sure to remove the dryer before having any work done, to prevent a nasty patch of stripped wall surrounding your equipment in the future.


Go green The environment is a hot issue at the moment and there are many ways of improving your washroom’s green credentials. Modern cold air hand- dryers use much less power than conventional hot air ones, reducing the carbon footprint and saving money. They also have high air speed to dry hands quickly, eliminating the chance of bacteria being attracted to damp hands, reducing the risk of cross contamination and increasing levels of hygiene.


Our Machfl ow dries hands in under 12 seconds, compared to 30 seconds with traditional warm air dryers, using up to 80% less electricity. The robust design of these dryers also makes them ideal for a wide array of different facilities.


Another major focus should be on the reduction of water consumption. Uncontrolled urinal fl ushing in male washrooms remains one of the principle causes of wasted water, and this, combined with


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other toilet fl ushing, are proven to consume over 60% of a facility’s overall consumption. Installing a water-management system in an establishment’s toilets can result in genuine cost savings.


Stay healthy Health and hygiene is a top priority for any educational establishment. However, even with rigorous and regular cleaning, busy washrooms are home to a host of unpleasant microorganisms including bacteria, viruses and fungi, as well as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which lead to unwanted odours. Washrooms provide the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and viruses, because they are warm and moist and as washrooms are used by everyone at a given location, there are many opportunities to pick up microbes from both the air and exposed surfaces, making the washroom a potential microbial distribution centre.


Clever washroom design can protect everyone on the premises from fl u and other contagious viruses, and reduce the risk of transmission of illness. Good hygiene, specifi cally hand hygiene, can also help reduce absenteeism and prevent seasonal disruptions to learning.


Lessons in cleanliness Recent research by Initial Hygiene, suggests that parents may be endangering their children’s health by taking a ‘laissez-faire’ approach to hand hygiene. A survey of primary school children and their parents has shown that children lag behind their parents when it comes to hand washing, with over 40% of youngsters saying that they don’t always wash their hands with soap after using the toilet, and almost three quarters admitting they didn’t wash before every meal.


Clever washroom design can protect everyone on the premises from fl u and other contagious viruses.


Cross-contamination is a major risk in poorly managed and poorly equipped washrooms, as the bacteria and other micro-organisms present are passed between individuals and other surfaces, especially by hands. There can be as many as 1,000 bacteria/cm2


on the hand, including


transient bacteria, such as E. Coli and Streptococcus.


WASHROOM HYGIENE | 35


These fi gures are worrying; in the past few years we have learnt an awful lot more about the dangers posed by poor hand and washroom hygiene. Many common pathogens can be carried on hands, and regular hand washing with soap and water has been proven to reduce the risk of spread, and yet again highlights


the importance of a well-equipped washroom in any facility, from home to workplace. Relatively simple additions and omissions to this space can encourage everyone to wash their hands.


www.initial.co.uk


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