A blog written by Franke Sissons

We are living in a generation where hand washing is paramount and touch-free products are most desirable. In any public or commercial building such as places of work, leisure facilities, schools, transport hubs, holiday parks, football stadiums or restaurants, one of the main factors to consider is hygiene and water consumption.

80% of common infections are spread by hands, so when you’re out and about practicing good hand hygiene is vital. However, with many surfaces in a washroom is washing your hands enough to decrease the spread of germs? As we move into a hygienic era it is important to consider touch-free solutions throughout the washroom to help prevent the spread of infection.

Traditional taps

We already know that any sort of tap and soap is effective when washing hands, but prior to hand washing you may already be carrying germs on your hand from touching various surfaces such as door handles and cubicle doors.

Traditional taps are often designed with levers or handles. So, before you even start washing your hands you could potentially contaminate the faucet when you activate it.

Not only can touch taps harbour germs but they can often be left running whilst soaping hands which can unnecessarily waste a lot of water.

Traditional taps can also be an issue in terms of water conservation, with the average flow rate of a traditional tap bathroom being between 4-6 litres per minute.

Modern touch-free taps can have a flow rate as little as 1.5 litres per minute, so if you are environmentally conscious and looking to design “green buildings” a touchless tap with a low flow rate may be the choice for you.

Touch-free and sensor taps

Since the pandemic, we have become hyperaware of how important washing hands really is. Touch-free sensor taps not only promote excellent hygiene but also have great water and cost saving benefits.

The hygiene aspect of sensor and touchless taps is also a huge factor to consider when specifying new builds or simply renovating a washroom. We know by now that most germs are spread through hand contact, so washing your hands correctly after using the toilet and providing a touch-free solution in the washroom can help decrease the spread of germs.

Touch-free taps do require an energy source; however, their water consumption rate and pre-set temperature factors can make them a much greater option for lifetime usage and efficiency within a building.

If you're specifying products for a washroom project and are unsure which products to choose, it’s important to consider water and energy savings along with hygiene aspects. As the demand for hygienic products rises so will the user’s expectations.