The Best Emergency Eyewash Faucets in 2023

Image of an emergency eyewash faucet in a laboratory.

Eye injuries can lead to permanent damage when left untreated. That's why you need an emergency eyewash faucet if you own, operate, or manage a facility coded to have them. 

These include laboratories, research facilities, hospitals, kitchens, manufacturing, construction, and industrial settings.

Experts expect that the number of people who are blind or have other visual impairments will double by 2050. Many of these impairments will be due to inadequately treated eye injuries, like not having an eyewash station within reach. 

If you are in the market to purchase emergency eyewash stations, there are five faucets and fittings by Chicago Faucets that experts recommend. First, let's cover some facts about eye injury and prevention.  

Key Takeaways:

  • Eye injury prevention is key to preserving your vision. However, treatment is vital to avoid permanent impairment or blindness when prevention is no longer possible. 
  • There are five emergency eyewash faucets and fittings experts recommend, including a counter-mount, eyewash with drench shower, and free-standing units.
  • OSHA points employers towards the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) code Z358.1 for determining appropriate inspection and maintenance standards.

Facts About Eye Injuries & Prevention

Did you know that March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month? Better yet, did you know that May is Healthy Vision Month, and June 6th is National Eyewear Day? These designated times of observation bring awareness to workplace eye injuries and how to prevent them. 

Bottom line, prevention is the best way to avoid eye injury. When prevention is no longer possible, the next step is to seek treatment quickly. 

The first step in treating an eye injury involving projectiles is to flush them from the eyes. An emergency eyewash faucet is necessary to flush the eyeball immediately after injury, whether the object is fluid or a solid particle.

Infograph about eye injuries


Review the infograph above for more information regarding eye safety and injury prevention. Take special note of the section that mentions “high risks jobs.” If you own, operate, or manage a facility with these jobs, ensure your facility has the appropriate emergency eyewash faucets.    

5 Industry-Leading Emergency Eyewash Faucets & Retrofits  

Need a new emergency eyewash faucet? Whether buying for a building project or replacing existing fixtures, here are the best emergency eyewash faucets for 2023 brought to you by Chicago Faucets:

1. Deck-Mount Eyewash Faucet   

One of the most popular choices, Chicago Faucets' customers choose this deck-mounted fixture because of its simplicity and ease of use. Get this faucet in either a right or left-facing direction. Swing options are also available. 

Product Specs: 

  • Eyewash assembly in ABS plastic
  • Highly visible, anti-corrosive polyamide plastic coating in bright yellow 
  • Two high-flow aerated spray heads using low pressure 
  • Automatic opening of anti-dust covers

2. Eyewash with Drench Shower  

This safety fitting flushes the user's eyes from chemicals or debris while also removing these contaminants from the body of the injured person with the drench shower. It's ideal for laboratory and healthcare settings.

Product Specs: 

  • Eyewash assembly in ABS plastic
  • Highly visible, anti-corrosive polyamide plastic coating in bright yellow 
  • Two high-flow aerated spray heads using low pressure 
  • Automatic opening of anti-dust covers
  • Pull handle activation 

3. Floor-Mounted Eye & Face Wash Station 

This floor-mounted unit lets you place your emergency eyewash faucet anywhere a water line is available. It comes in a bright yellow painted finish to make it easy to see from anywhere in the room.

Product Specs: 

  • Eyewash assembly in ABS plastic
  • Highly visible, anti-corrosive polyamide plastic coating in bright yellow 
  • Stainless steel wash bowl
  • Two high-flow aerated spray heads using low pressure 
  • Automatic opening of anti-dust covers

4. Barrier-Free Eye & Face Wash with Drench Shower  

Choose a barrier-free system to ensure that no obstacles get in the way of the person seeking treatment. The controls are easy to see and easy to access.

Product Specs: 

  • Eyewash assembly in ABS plastic
  • Highly visible, anti-corrosive polyamide plastic coating in bright yellow 
  • Stainless steel wash bowl & showerhead
  • Two high-flow aerated spray heads using low pressure 
  • Automatic opening of anti-dust covers
  • Pull handle activation

5. Emergency Eyewash Faucet Retrofit 

Image of Chicago Faucets Emergency Eyewash Faucet Retrofit


Another option is to retrofit a fixture with this safety fitting. Mount it to the top of a faucet with single handles, double handles, or sensors.

Product Specs: 

  • Fully functional single-control faucet with a dedicated line for the eyewash
  • Two high-flow aerated spray heads using low pressure 
  • Automatic opening of anti-dust covers
  • Solid brass construction

Inspecting Your Emergency Eyewash Station Regularly  

Regular inspection of your eyewash stations is vital, and many municipalities and local, state, and federal authorities require facilities to get one weekly (possibly more, depending on use). 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guides employers to The American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) standard Z358.1. This standard deals with the management of selection, installation, function, and maintenance provisions for performance and use requirements. 

These standards include:

  • Inspection frequency: Conduct weekly inspections (Section 5.5.2) and a more thorough one annually (Section 5.5.5).
  • Locations: Emergency eyewash faucets must be accessible within 10 seconds from the time of injury, or approximately 55 feet (Section 5.4.2).
  • Identification: Along with accessibility, the safety faucet must be well lit, have obvious signage (Section 5.4.3), and be easy to see (when vision is not impaired).
  • Hands-free operations: The user must be able to hold open their eyes while using the eyewash station. That means the faucet must offer a sensor or foot-operated remote valves for activating water flow (Section 5.1.4, 5.2). 
  • Water delivery: Users must be able to stand 8 inches from the spout and must deliver no less than 0.4 GPM of water for at least 15 minutes (Section 5.1.6, 5.4.5).  
  • Protective covers: The nozzles must be free from airborne contaminants. Therefore, the spray head covers must be intact (Section 5.1.3).

Emergency Eyewash Stations by Chicago Faucets   

We believe that safety is as vital as durability and sustainability here at Chicago Faucets. As an industry leader in faucets, fixtures, and fittings, we offer the highest quality emergency eyewash faucets available. With over 125 years of experience manufacturing the world's finest faucets, it's no wonder our customers choose us.

Are you in the market to purchase a new emergency eyewash faucet? Contact us today, and one of our helpful professionals can help ensure you get the best for your facility.

Topics: eyewash faucets, eyewash stations, eyewashes, emergency eyewash, emergency eyewash station, emergency eyewash faucet