HEALTHCARE WASHROOMS
Table 1: Duration of various handwashing steps and comparative water consumption between traditional basin taps and Delabie electric taps.
Flow rate
Cross head tap 9 lpm
Electronic tap 3 lpm
Wetting Soaping Rinsing Water consumed per use Water consumed per person/day 5 sec
20 sec 5 sec 7 sec 7 sec
says: ‘Attention to whole-life costs, including the costs of cleaning and maintenance, is important.’ In addition to hygiene, durability, and convenience, there are other factors that will impact on specification decisions, whether for new- build, refurbishment, or re-purposing. Initial purchase cost is important, and should reflect the intrinsic value of the product. For example, when comparing two different stainless steel scrub-up troughs, are the characteristics the same? Some characteristics – such as safety features – may be easy to compare, whereas others, such as material grade and thickness, will be less obvious. Installation and maintenance costs can also be significant when multiplied across several areas and sites. ‘Plug-and- play’ products which require minimal adjustments save time (and therefore money) during installation; for example battery-operated sensor taps do not need electrical connections. Delabie’s Tempomatic sensor-controlled products also have integrated LEDs to aid diagnostic checks. Opting for mixers and/or WC valves with pre-set flow rates, flush volumes, and duty flushes, will save valuable time during installation. Where servicing is required, products with interchangeable, standardised spare parts (such as cartridges, electronic units, or washer kits) will also reduce maintenance time, and avoid the whole area being closed for long periods.
Sustainable solutions
The correct application of technology is important, and seemingly similar products may have a very different impact over the longer term. For example, with the increased emphasis on hand hygiene, the impact on water and energy consumption can be significant. In visitor toilets with a high footfall, water-efficient solutions will have a major effect on both the water and the energy bill. Traditional basin taps typically consume 9 litres per minute. If hand washing takes 32 seconds, including wetting, soaping, and rinsing, and the tap runs throughout, total consumption is 4.8 litres per use (Table 1). With Delabie’s self-closing time flow or electronic taps, the valve closes automatically after seven seconds (time flow models), or after removing hands from the detection zone (sensor-controlled models), and the flow rate is also limited to 3 litres per minute at 3 bar. The user can, therefore, wet their hands, apply the soap, and rinse without the tap running continuously. Water consumption therefore falls to 0.6 litres per use, a drop of almost 90%, and the volume of water to be heated is reduced.
Longevity and recyclability The final aspects of whole-life costs are longevity and recyclability. In public facilities, the intensity of use places heavy demands on equipment, and products must be designed to face very high levels of demand from users who may not always have a light touch. Products designed for intensive use have a longer lifespan, cause fewer leaks, improve water efficiency, and require fewer repairs. Attention to detail such as reinforced and concealed fixings will prevent items from
4.8 L (32 sec) 0.6 L (12 sec)
4.8 L x 5 uses = 24 L 4.8 L x 12 uses = 57.6 L
0.6 L x 5 uses = 3 L 0.6 L x 12 uses = 7.2 L
working loose over time and discourage unauthorised removal. When products finally reach their end of life, those durable and heard-wearing materials such as brass and stainless steel can also be readily recycled.
The design of healthcare facilities should encourage and facilitate good hygiene practices. Existing guidance provides a good exemplar for best practice, while advances in product technology, material choice, and ergonomics offer sustainable solutions for both new projects and refurbishment of existing hygiene facilities. The key to ensuring that best practice remains in place is to make sure that factors such as convenience for users, product durability, and the practicalities of installation and maintenance, are also considered at the planning stage.
hej
n Note: All quotes are taken from Health Building Note 00-09: Infection control in the built environment, published by the Department of Health in March 2013.
CaroleArmstrong Carole Armstrong is the Marketing
The Tempomatic Dual Control WC embodies all of the HBN 00-09 design principles.
82 Health Estate Journal November 2020
and Communications manager for Delabie UK. Initially based at the Delabie head office in Picardy, France, she joined the company 11 years ago, and is responsible for technical translations, media relations, and events, in the UK market.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85
