FEATURES
41
Tapping into the electronic
taps market
By Tristan Wiggill
Electronic taps are hygienic, easy to use, and beautiful to look at. But, are
these benefits really worth the trouble?
While many commercial restrooms in South Africa are kept
clean, have electronic systems in place, and a friendly
attendant in position with a welcoming smile, these are few
and far between.
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More often, the management of shopping centres fail to ensure
that cistern parts are working correctly, or simply ignore the
resultant health hazards, not to mention the potential to be sued
for this oversight.
Standards
While SANS 1808-35 is the framework for electronic taps in this
country, Patrick Gordon, n ational training manager at Grohe Dawn
Watertech, says no specification exists for the actual electronics in
these taps, how they are supposed to work, or even what complies
and what does not.
The case for electronic taps is borne from the truth that the less
people touch, push, and pull, the less chance there is of germs
spreading, a fact to which market leaders Hansgrohe, Grohe, Cobra,
and Geberit can attest.
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“Obviously, there is a SABS spec for the materials used for the
waterways, which have to be densification resistant,” he says. “They
must have acceptable connecting threads, which is where we start
having problems with some of the imported stuff,” he explains.
He says people import components (including the Grohe brand), but
when it comes to installing them they can’t, because they do not fit
onto South African pipe threads. “It’s a hassle, because where do
you find adapters? Most of them have to be purpose-made.”
“You should keep several things in mind: Is there support? Is it
a reputable company that has been around for ages and has a
reputation of having spares? If you buy from just any old store off the
shelf, you do not have that backup. Backup is a big thing,” he says.
Replaceable
Replaceability is advantageous. “That’s one thing that’s nice about our
taps; everything is replaceable — from the sensors to the solenoid
valves,” he says.
Another advantage of electronic taps is their flexibility. For paraplegics,
for instance, if you have a mechanical toilet valve, it will have to sit
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
Maintenance, warranties, and spares also prove to be
problematic with these imports. Gordon advises end users to pay
attention to continuity.
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Electronic taps are usually designed with a low flow rate, an
aerator in the spout, and a system or materials that prevent
leakage.
Appropriate delay-in and delay-out times have to be set to
ensure proper operation that doesn’t surprise users.
September 2017 Volume 23 I Number 7