Blog Highlights
They say a picture is worth 100,000 words, and this one from Senior Living tells a story of the germs found in commercial bathrooms. Many people would guess that the toilet would be the most germ-infested place in the bathroom – and they would be wrong. As you can see, the toilet paper dispenser has the highest amount of Colony Forming Units (CFU), with the commercial sink faucet coming in second place with over 3 million CFUs. Almost 90% of those bacteria being the type that makes us sick.
Facility managers always have a lot on their hands. Now more than ever, they are responsible for the health and safety of building occupants. We have seen a surge in building management decision-makers prioritizing health- and- safety options to reduce bacteria and virus transfer in commercial building restrooms.
As a facility manager, you are responsible for deciding between manual and touchless faucets. Which style will keep your building occupants safer? It's a more complicated question than many think. Different factors such as budget, accessibility needs, and water usage control contribute to the ultimate answer.
This guide will show you the best available options for reducing germ transfer for touchless and manual faucets to help you decide what is best for your next restroom renovation.
Commercial faucets are covered in infectious pathogens; 34% of the bacteria found on a faucet is Enterobacteriaceae, the family of bacteria with Salmonella and E. coli. Finding the right commercial faucet to reduce touch is essential to minimize germ transfer in commercial restrooms.
Touchless Faucets are the Safest Option for Occupants
Touchless faucets or sensor-operated faucets are motion-activated. Sensors under the faucet's surface measure the human body's electricity, sensing when a hand is nearby. There is no need to touch anything to activate the water for use, reducing the read of germs making them the best choice for germ reduction.
However, touchless faucets are not always the first choice for a commercial project. This affinity may stem from a previous bad experience with an early version touchless faucet (disclaimer – certainly not a Chicago Faucet), the facility type, or simply a preference for manual over touchless faucets. To protect the building's occupants from bacteria on manual faucets, you must reduce germ transfer; it is possible with a low-touch manual faucet design.
Low-touch faucets, such as easy-to-use single-handle faucets, are a great choice when necessary. Single-handled faucets are easier to operate for occupants with accessibility issues than a two-handled faucet.
A single lever faucet with an extended handle like Chicago Faucets' long-handled 410 or 420 manual faucets were designed to be ADA compliant. The handle extension in the design was created to require less effort to reach and the ability to operate without the need to grasp, pinch, or twist.
A supplementary benefit of the long-handle is that it helps fight against the battle against bacteria by helping reduce the spread of germs. The long-handle can be turned on or off with an elbow to reduce manual touch, helping to minimize germ transfer. As shown in the image below from the animated video on National Health Service's 12 steps to effective hand washing.
Manual faucets with antimicrobial handles decrease pathogen transfer thanks to Sureshield technology. In a 28-day dried fungal test, untreated handles showed significant fungal growth while Sureshield antimicrobial coated faucet handles had virtually no growth. Antimicrobial faucet handles are a budget-friendly choice for facilities with a tight budget for germ reduction upgrades.
Whether you prefer manual or touchless commercial faucets, there is always an option to reduce germ transfer.
Many facility managers prefer manual sink faucets. They're easy to understand and have fewer up-front costs than touchless counterparts. However, they harbor germs, users must re-handle to turn off the water, and long-term savings are more significant with electronic faucets.
When frequent handwashing is essential, and virus transfer is on everyone's minds - choosing the right faucet is critical. There is a reason that the popularity of sensor faucets is on the rise.
Don't worry; whatever your preference, Chicago Faucets have you covered for years to come.
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