Are touchless commercial faucets worth the hype? Should you consider installing them in your commercial building? Before you ask yourself these questions, first consider why owners and facility managers are switching from manual to touchless operations.
People prefer to use touchless commercial faucets, especially in public spaces. Roughly 76% of people feel that using hands-free faucets is more hygienic than a manual fixture.
If you are thinking of installing touchless fixtures throughout your facilities, take a moment to understand where and why they work best in public spaces.
Key Takeaways:
In the last two years, facility managers and commercial building owners have begun investing in touchless technology, causing a 7.5% growth in market size. Recent events made everyone more aware of virus transmission from surfaces.
In 2015, the global touchless faucet market was at $60.2 million. By Q4 of 2025, experts agree that the market will see a growth of more than three times over the ten years.
While public health is the primary factor in the growth, innovation is another key reason for this market increase. People want sleek, modern features, even in commercial spaces.
Contractors install touchless faucets in commercial buildings, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and food and beverage services. Each of these markets has one or more of these three basic applications.
Every commercial building has a restroom and needs heavy-duty faucets. Even in a small office building, the restroom faucets get used more than the ones in your home.
When shopping for commercial-grade faucets, look for ones manufactured from solid brass. Choose a touchless faucet with multiple power source options and long-lasting battery life.
For more help on what to look for in a touchless restroom faucet, contact a specialist near you who can break down the features and benefits of each model.
There are several faucet applications beneficial for facilities with commercial kitchens. Food prep stations with touchless faucets reduce cross-contamination. You can install touchless faucets for improved sanitation at beverage stations and restaurant bars.
Handwashing stations for wait staff and table bussers can be a hot spot for germs and bacteria. Touchless fixtures mean dirty hands don't touch clean surfaces (and vice-versa).
Not all hands-free commercial faucets have sensors. In laboratories, hospitals, and clinics, there are remote valves that you operate with your foot. They are also handy in commercial kitchen applications.
You can use these valves on safety fittings like eyewash stations. Hospitals use these fittings primarily in operating rooms, intensive care units, neonatal units, and the emergency department. Other clinical applications include:
Foot-operated faucet valves are more sanitary than touchless faucets because you might touch a sensor if your hand gets too close. That's why you're more likely to see these fixtures in a clinical setting.
Since the most recent global health crisis, people are more aware of their surroundings and how they can become sick. Many are concerned with exposure to germs when going in public.
Installing sensor faucets reduces this exposure. It offers users peace of mind to know they do not have to touch contaminated faucet handles when using the sink.
Here are some more reasons why touchless commercial faucets work best in public spaces:
Just over half (57%) of the population wash their hands more than six times a day. However, many do not do so for the recommended 20 seconds.
Installing touchless faucets encourages people to wash their hands more often. That improves public hygiene and reduces exposure to illness-causing germs.
Cross-contamination is a common concern in commercial kitchens and restrooms, and any surface can create this hazard. A cook might touch a faucet handle after touching raw meat. A child may not have washed their hands thoroughly after using the restroom. You mitigate the risk of cross-contamination by reducing the number of surfaces people must touch throughout the day.
Touchless faucets are easy to use and convenient. They simplify food prep in the kitchen by allowing staff to turn on the water with a wave of their hand.
Also, it makes the restrooms easier for your janitorial staff to keep clean. Include touchless actuators for your toilets and urinals and contactless soap and towel dispensers for a completely hands-free user experience.
Touchless faucets are relatively easy to install. There are only a few steps to follow, and the entire process is straightforward. If you are unsure, it is best to hire a plumber to install your faucet to ensure the job gets done correctly.
We are proud to say that Chicago Faucets, a Geberit company, is among the leading faucet manufacturers in the world. Recognized by Market Watch as a key player in the touchless automatic faucet industry, we provide durable and sustainable plumbing products perfect for high-traffic locations.
For more than 120 years, we have been innovating commercial faucet technology. We continue to advance our touchless fixtures and actuators to give your commercial spaces a clean, modern look and feel.
Is it time to upgrade your manual fixtures? Reach out to speak to one of our helpful associates who can help you get the best touchless commercial faucets for every application.