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When it comes to specifying what type of faucets you need in a particular building, the top requirement that comes to mind is probably durability. Restroom features like faucets need to work hard day-in and day-out, and the last thing a maintenance manager wants to deal with is frequently leaky or broken faucets.
Why are durable faucets crucial?
Fully functioning restrooms with reliable, durable faucets are things that we all take for granted no matter what kind of public building we are in. We expect to wash our hands or access running water when and where we need it.
For most commercial buildings with large populations, faucets must be long-lasting and durable. Although most facilities have a maintenance team or at least a few technicians, those folks are responsible for a myriad of details to keep the building operating smoothly and comfortably. Installing durable faucets can keep tasks like broken or leaky faucets off their daily to-do lists.
What types of facilities NEED durable faucets?
Although most of us would argue that even our private homes need durable faucets, particular high-traffic buildings genuinely benefit from having long-lasting fixtures like faucets in their public restrooms.
- Convention Centers. Convention centers can host thousands of people each day for various conferences, meetings, trade shows, training sessions, or other gatherings. For example, McCormick Place in Chicago can accommodate 18,000 people in its assembly seating alone. Attendees and organizers are often moving fast, trying to accomplish their goals in a short period. The last thing they want to encounter is a broken or leaky faucet.
- Schools. Everyone knows that children seem to attract dirt and germs. Since most children spend their day in school buildings, schools must have durable faucets to help them stay clean and healthy. Younger children can also be rough on bathroom features, so having taps that can withstand students' not-so-gentle use is also essential.
- Amusement Parks. As a staple of the quintessential summer vacation, an amusement park is a place that holds happy memories for many. Consider that a major park like Walt Disney World welcomes more than 13 million visitors each season. You can understand why durable faucets are an essential part of such a facility.
- Airports. In some international airports, thousands of people worldwide can pass through public restrooms in a day. The transient nature of airports makes it even more critical to have durable accessories like heavy-duty faucets in these private spaces within this public place.
Components of a durable faucet
Although a long-lasting faucet has the necessary parts of most modern faucets such as gaskets, flanges, handles, and aerators, a durable faucet should have some particular features. Be sure you select a durable faucet that has the following components.
- Brass Body. An alloy of copper and zinc, brass contains small quantities of other materials to make it easy to form into desired designs. Today, bismuth has replaced dangerous lead to improve brass's malleability, and aluminum may be added to increase the strength and reduce corrosion. Brass may also contain tin to help it retain its zinc, and the copper in brass is anti-microbial. Brass has the unique combination of being easy to cast, accepting finishes such as chrome, and tolerating bathroom faucets' rigors.
- Thermostatic Protection. Reduce the risk of bacterial growth in hot water storage tanks by storing hot water at 140+ degrees. However, that high temperature increases the risk that the end-user is scalded by hot water. Thermostatic mixing valves automatically mix the safer hot water with cold water so that the scalding risk is drastically reduced or eliminated at the point of delivery.
- One-Piece Body. Long-lasting faucets are typically cast from a single piece of metal, making the entire unit more durable and stronger.
- Cartridge Faucet. By using a movable stem cartridge, a cartridge faucet regulates water flow. When a user turns a faucet handle, the sleeves of the cartridge move, which aligns and blocks various holes to control water flow. These types of faucets make handles much smoother and more comfortable to operate.
- Power Supply Options. If you choose to install a touchless faucet, you'll need to have a power supply to keep the sensors working correctly. Several battery options, as well as AC power options, are available on the market today that allow remote monitoring of multiple power-operated faucets in a single facility.
Final thoughts on long-lasting faucets
Durable faucets are one of those things most of us take for granted in our daily lives. For engineers responsible for specifying faucets in high-traffic facilities, it's vital to select long-lasting faucets that can withstand heavy daily usage from various visitors.
In doing so, a business, school, or other facility will have reliable faucets that require very little maintenance or repair and be dependable throughout events, meetings, activities, and other gatherings.
