WATER SYSTEM HYGIENE AND SAFETY


Delabie explains: “A direct flush valve activates for seven seconds, whereas cistern refill is between 40 and 60 seconds. Although the effect on demand is cumulative, the direct flush’s shorter duration means that in effect fewer valves will be operating simultaneously.”


Instances of Legionella are steadily


increasing in the UK. Legionnaires’ disease is already underreported by a factor of 10. It is often simply classed as pneumonia, without identification of the causative agent. Research estimates that the reality could be as high as 4000 to 6000 cases every year. COVID-19 has very similar symptoms to Legionnaires’ disease, and fatality is often due to secondary pneumonia. There is evidence emerging that this secondary pneumonia could be Legionnaires’ disease. Flushing is essential for effective


hygiene, so airborne pathogens cannot be eliminated completely. However, could removing the cistern reduce the risk of infection? An innovative solution to prevent bacterial development in toilet cisterns is to use a direct flush system instead. With a cistern-less direct flush WC, the valve connects directly to the mains supply, a system that can be retrofitted into a wide variety of environments. A self- closing valve discharges a predetermined flush volume without the need to store water in a cistern. Direct flush technology uses the system pressure to rinse the pan, so there are no water stagnation, no scale deposits, and no build-up of impurities upstream of the flush mechanism.


Direct flush improves hygiene The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 19994


require the contents of


a toilet pan to be cleared effectively by a single flush of water. Gravity-fed cistern flush mechanisms may not have sufficient dynamic pressure to ensure a hygienic rinse with a single flush, and a 40 to 60-second


THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2024


A Tempoflux WC; maintenance is reportedly ‘simple and quick’.


refill time can cause additional problems. Replacing the cistern with a direct flush


valve has several advantages in terms of hygiene. Firstly, the flush volume can be adjusted to suit the system’s dynamic pressure and ensure an effective single rinse. Where necessary, the flush can also be adjusted to a reduced flow rate, helping to prevent water waste and lowering bills. This reduces the aerosol flush plume, and prevents unhygienic splashing on the toilet seat and floor, removing the risk of slipping on wet floors. In addition, since there is no refill time, the full flush is instantly available for subsequent users, delivering an effective flush every time.


Installing an electronic flush mechanism Hygiene can be further improved by installing an electronic flush mechanism, for example, Delabie’s Tempomatic flush valve. No manual contact is required, so the toilet is accessible to any user, regardless of age, mobility, or level of independence. An automatic sensor detects the user and flushes the valve automatically if they are unable to pass their hand in front of the sensor, or if they forget. Furthermore, an automatic duty flush can be programmed to flush the pipework every 12 or 24 hours when not in use, preventing stagnation in the system, and reducing biofilm development Cistern-flush toilets are usually


installed through habit but, although they are ideal for domestic usage patterns, the mechanism is not designed to cope with the regular and intensive use experienced in healthcare facilities, which


are essentially public buildings. Heavy-handed users can easily break


fragile mechanisms. Damage can often occur through voluntary vandalism, where the user takes out their frustration on the facilities, or involuntary vandalism – where the user is not familiar with the facilities, and unwittingly breaks the mechanism. Depending on water quality, watertight seals in cisterns, which are sensitive to scale and impurities, quickly wear out with repetitive use. This inevitably leads to leaks and reduced flushing capability. According to Thames Water, a leaking


toilet can waste up to 400 litres of water a day, and a leak in a cistern-flush toilet is very difficult to detect.5


The resulting


maintenance is time-consuming and problematic, especially where cisterns are installed on frame systems behind IPS panels. However, with a direct flush system, any leak is very easy to identify and remedy. Direct flush mechanisms, designed


for public washrooms, are much more robust. The hydraulic timing mechanism on Delabie’s Tempoflux range of direct flush valves relies on water pressure to operate. The technology is available with an anti-blocking system to prevent misuse and day-to-day wastage, and soft-touch operation to ensure user comfort, even during busy periods. A self-cleaning timing groove reduces


maintenance, and extends the operational lifespan to over 500,000 activations. Furthermore, the mechanism has standard replacement parts that are easy to access and exchange, simply by isolating the water supply via an integrated stopcock.


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