Hands Off

Sensor-operated fixtures and taps offer the benefit of more control over water consumption in schools than manual units. Sensor-operated fixtures for water systems and urinals, for example, activate once per user, clear waste immediately after a person walks away from the fixture, and reset themselves within seconds.

Touchless, sensor-operated taps that activate on demand are another source of water savings. Instead of water continuously running from the tap during hand washing or when the tap was accidentally left on, these units activate only when a user’s hands are under the spout.

Queen Mary University of London microbiologist Dr Ron Cutler reports that hand washing is one of the “most important means of preventing the spread of infection”. It is the first line of defence for infectious diseases.

After using school washrooms, a pupil’s hands can have a bacteria population of 200 million. It takes just seconds for hands to become re-contaminated after washing by touching dirty taps, towel dispensers or even the washroom door.

That’s why educational facility managers should be re-examining washrooms in terms of selecting fixtures, as well as the physical design.

The layout of the washroom can improve hygiene. For instance, washrooms can be designed without doors and existing facilities can be retro-fitted with safe opening systems, which eliminates one potential spot for picking up germs. This allows educational establishments to improve hygiene without sacrificing privacy.