Chris Tranter from Bristan
Infrared technology offers an effective way to both improve hygiene standards and cut utility bills. Chris Tranter, Specification Product Manager at Bristan, argues that it should be an important part of the armoury of any installer looking to branch into commercial work.
The good news is that, following a hiatus either side of the EU referendum, UK construction activity recovered this summer. According to the latest reports, the Markit/CIPS UK Construction Pur-chasing Manager’s Index (PMI) rose to 49.2% in August from 45.9% in July – a figure much higher than widely predicted – with the commercial market continuing to hold its own.
Of course, new commercial buildings require wash-rooms, and the general uplift in the economy could also be encouraging the owners and managers of existing buildings to upgrade outdated washroom facilities. Therefore, it can be easy to see why traditional plumbing installers may choose to branch into the commercial field and capitalise on these opportunities.
It is important to remember though that commercial and public sector buildings have very different requirements to domestic properties – and these will vary from application to application. For some projects, washroom products that reduce the spread of germs and bacteria or lower water usage will be important. For others, accessibility in line with Part M of the Building Regulations (Access to and Use of Buildings) or trouble-free maintenance could be crucial factors.
However, one product category which boasts numerous benefits and is therefore sure to meet the demand of most applications is infrared technology. First and foremost, infrared washroom products can drastically improve hygiene measures. An integral infrared sensor will automatically detect movement and turn the water on/off, as required, eliminating the risk of germs being spread via the hands. Secondly, these devices can make for major water savings by ensuring water is only used as required and also preventing devices being left running when not in use.
Switched on
In terms of what to recommend, an infrared tap range is a no-brainer. Infrared technology will detect human presence and switch on the water flow, delivering the right amount of water when required. In this way, the non-touch mechanism alleviates the risk of germs spreading, making it ideal for use in all premises seeking to optimise hygiene levels – all while eliminating water waste too.
Another solid recommendation is a urinal infrared automatic flush. Working in a similar way, the infrared technology detects human contact and automatically flushes the individual urinal after use, thus alleviating the need for human contact. Plus, the direct flush removes the need for an auto-flush cistern and associated plumbing used in traditional installations, which flush all urinals intermittently.
And again there is a major added bonus to using both of these technologies – efficiency. With traditional setups, taps may be left running, or simply drip, while cisterns may have an unnecessarily high water demand, but non-touch technology means water is only used as needed. This enables buildings to significantly minimise mains water use in order to lower their environmental impact and cut water bills.
Soap saving
But the considerations don’t quite end there, with the recent introduction of a new infrared soap dispenser specifically created to aid infection control in premises where hygiene needs to be at the highest possible level. In a similar vein to water-related infrared products, the dispenser spout incorporates infrared technology to detect human presence and dispenses a user-set volume of soap thus avoiding the risk of cross-contamination between hands. In addition wastage is eliminated, further helping with efficiency measures.
The importance of infrared washroom technology in the commercial environment cannot be underestimated. Not only can it drastically reduce the risk of cross contamination, aiding infection control measures – but it can also help to eliminate wastage, leading to cost reductions. Therefore, for the domestic installer who is looking to diversify into commercial installations, it’s one technology to surely take stock of.
