FEATURE
33
1808 – 35 which should be installed to SANS 10252 part
1, making both the unit and the installation compulsory,
there needs to be a compulsory requirement that in any
public restroom whether it be in hospitals (excluded
here are the specifically designed medical elbow and/
or contactless mixers) hotels, restaurants, conference
centres, shopping centres, public buildings and restrooms,
airports, office blocks and a host of other places where
public and staff have to ‘go.’
Before putting the case forward, we must acknowledge
those mentioned above who have voluntarily specified and
installed touchless fixtures in their restrooms. Clearly, they
think of their customers and visitors.
The advantages of touchless
• Touch-free fixtures are functional and aesthetically
pleasing
• Creates a hygienic/healthy environment
• Reduces operating costs, conserves water and energy
• Even less energy if batteries are used
• Dispensing water is controlled, ending water wastage
• Capital expenditure far outweighs the long-term
benefits
• Opportunity to upskill maintenance staff
• As most designs will fall under the rational design
banner the engineer can incorporate and control from
beginning to end.
practised. Cleanliness in public restrooms is not good and
we have a common factor that if the thing does not work –
break it! Instead of accepting these factors, why not use the
opportunity to develop and upskill?
Washroom attendants are there to ensure the place is
kept clean and to do a reasonable job. But they cannot
fix plumbing – so why are plumbers not doing regular
maintenance in public places, which is an opportunity.
Plumbing maintenance is not only about emergencies but
conducting planned maintenance to ensure that contactless
technology is always working.
So, add to the law that plumbers must be responsible for
the maintenance of public restroom/washroom touchless
fixtures. If one goes to the expense of installing touch-free,
then be prepared to make sure it is correctly maintained.
This is common sense.
Hands free taps and mixers have been around since the
1970s, but only came into their own in the mid-eighties
when critical mass was achieved. In the US, the government
issued the Energy Conservation Act of 1992 when the Act
dictated new water levels for taps and mixers. In the 1990s
the sensor technology was improving at a high rate and
continues to develop.
With South Africa considering a Water Efficiency XB
addition to the SANS 10400 National Building Regulations,
this is the time to consider not just water saving but what
components contribute to water saving like taps, mixers
and sanitaryware.
Sensing technologies
There are two types of sensing technologies, namely,
infrared and capacitance.
Infrared responds to the hand, which reflects an invisible
beam to start the water flow and capacitance responds to
the human body’s conductivity.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages and it will
be best-suited to the application as with most plumbing
systems and products.
Power options
In conjunction with SANS 10400 XA Energy Efficiency
the power options for touchless fixtures will fulfil the
requirements of the 50% alternative to electricity usage part
of the standard. Power can come from solar, battery and
water turbine, in addition to the central power supply. Again,
to suit the application.
The above represents an almost perfect situation and
lawmakers should jump at the idea of making touchless
fixtures compulsory.
But we are in South Africa, on the African Continent where
price (read cheap) is king and maintenance is not well-
Copper Development Association
Copper Development Association
Antimicrobial grab and hand rails at a clinic in Lusikisiki.
Worktop in a Dental Clinic.
October 2020 Volume 26 I Number 08
www.plumbingafrica.co.za