When it comes to the light commercial market, it is vital for installers to take a considered, informed approach to washroom product specification. Chris Tranter, Product Manager at Bristan, provides an overview of some of the key issues that need to be addressed.
Chris Tranter, Product Manager at Bristan
It is easy to see why more and more installers are choosing to diversify into the light commercial sector. As the booming construction industry continues to deliver opportunities for the bigger subcontractors, this is creating a gap in the market for smaller businesses looking to pick up small-scale commercial contracts.
The good news is that the move into light commercial work can be done with relative ease. A standard plumbing City & Guilds NVQ course covers mainly domestic applications, but this knowledge is easily transferred to larger projects such as schools, offices, hotels, restaurants, leisure centres and even hospitals. Many of the additional skills required – for example learning to work with 52mm pipe opposed to 15mm or 22mm – can be learnt on site too.
Safety first
However, one important area which mustn’t be overlooked and requires up-skilling is the approach to product specification. Unlike the domestic world, anyone specifying taps and showers for commercial and public sector applications will have many issues to think about – these include the principal concerns of hot water safety and water efficiency, coupled with functionality and maintenance.
In terms of safety, hot water temperature control is paramount. Each year, 20 people die and almost 600 are seriously injured from scalds caused from hot water. In the main these incidents involve baths, but hand washing and showering facilities pose a very real hazard too.
The risk of scalding often occurs because hot water must be stored at 60ºC or above in order to limit the growth of harmful legionella bacteria. The problem is, if water reaches a tap at this temperature, people can be scalded and, in severe cases, third degree burns can occur in just five seconds. This is particularly pertinent for children and the elderly, where there is increased potential for scalding due to skin sensitivity.
In the mix
The easiest way to alleviate this risk is to use a thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) anywhere that hot water is delivered. TMVs allow water to be stored and distributed at a high enough temperature to kill harmful legionella bacteria, but reduce it to a safe temperature at the point of use by mixing it with cold water supply. More so, TMVs can maintain the desired water temperature even when the incoming water pressures/flow rates change.
Notably, the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 recommend the use of TMVs for safety in public buildings and other public facilities. It is now considered best practice to install a TMV in all cases, unless a risk assessment has established that it is absolutely safe not to do so, and current legislation in healthcare and education makes the use of TMVs a must.
There are two different types of TMV (2 or 3), which offer vital protection to people against scalding when showering, bathing and hand washing. However, TMV3-approved valves offer the highest level of protection, being the only models considered suitable for NHS and healthcare applications. As such, they are the obvious recommendation in areas where safe hot water is vital.
Water saving
Conversely, water efficiency is a major consideration. With more and more businesses realising the financial and reputational acumen of water-saving, installers must ensure all taps and showers have strong eco credentials. This is especially important in applications that use large amounts of water, such as schools, hospitals and large commercial builds.
Any water reduction can translate into major cost savings. Solutions include flow regulators for taps and showers, which enable flows of as little as one and four litres per minute respectively. Showerheads with additional spray inserts provide water economy, and some taps are fitted with a device that offers subtle resistance at the halfway point to raise the user’s awareness of the flow.
Meanwhile, timed-flow taps and showers prevent water being left running unnecessarily. Manual timed-flow controls provide a set amount of water after a button is pushed and switch off after a specific time.
At the next level there is non-touch technology. Utilising the latest infrared technology, these products result in an exceptional level of detection and elimination of unnecessary wastage.
These non-touch taps operate when a hand comes within their range and the water flow is automatically switched on. As long as the hand is moving with the action of washing, the water continues to flow. When the hand is removed from the sensor’s range, the control automatically switches off. The result is significant scope for water-saving and cost efficiencies while also working to optimise hygiene by lessening the risk of cross-contamination.
Automatic flush
For further water saving in washroom environments, a urinal infrared automatic flush is a solid recommendation. Working in a similar way, the infrared technology detects human contact and automatically flushes the individual urinal after use, ensuring only the minimum volume of water is supplied directly from the mains. Plus, the direct flush removes the need for an auto-flush cistern and associated plumbing used in traditional installations, which flush all urinals intermittently.
The specification considerations do not end there. Light commercial and public sector environments, of course, are subject to high volumes of people using the washing facilities on a regular basis, so product durability is an absolute must.
As such, many leading manufacturers have developed solutions specifically for the commercial sector featuring extra robust design to withstand tough treatment. Plus, corrosion-resistant finishes on most ranges also prolong the life of the product.
Indeed, commercial washroom specification can be complex, with the collective pressures of sustainable strategy, optimised safety and reducing end costs. However, with a little time spent on upskilling and manufacturers on board to provide innovations which make the job easier, there has never been a greater time for installers to enter the light commercial world.
