Among microbes, the premier social networking site is the public restroom. With all of those levers, handles and buttons, it’s a global germ bazaar of touchpoints for cross-contamination.
Thankfully, touchless technology designed to save water, money and maintenance refill fly-bys also helps reduce exposure to viruses and bacteria.
Increasingly, businesses are installing sensor-controlled faucets, soap and towel dispensers, and air dryers — eliminating rarely cleaned handles, levers and buttons. Those red electronic eyes aren’t Big Brother watching you, but Virtual Mom signaling “wash your hands.”
In an age beset by deadly flu strains and MRSA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls hand-washing the most effective way to stop the spread of germs and disease.
“Intelligent buildings” expert Darlene Pope with Realcomm in Sterling, Va., says trends include sensor-driven equipment that e-mails alerts to precisely time refills of toilet paper, towels, soap and even hand sanitizer.
The foam soap trend has hygiene and green benefits, reducing lather-up time. Maintenance-wise, pre-mixed cleaning solutions ensure the right balance to kill microbes.
New-generation ultra-low flush toilets compensate for reduced water volume with velocity. Tankless “flush valve” toilets leverage commercial buildings’ wider water supply pipes for high-pressure flow. Caroma’s innovative push-button “dualflush” system jets 0.8 gallons for “liquid waste” and 1.6 gallons for “solid waste.” High-efficiency toilets beat federal standards, using less than 1.3 gallons.
Toto’s high-end Neorest features dual flush, “cyclone” flush engine, hands-free auto-open lid, heated seat, automatic air purifier, warm water spray and warm air dryer. Infrared detectors assess the waste to determine how much water is needed to clear the bowl. The newest wave: sensors that regulate flush flow based on sitting time.
Eliminating H20 altogether, waterless urinals pay off quickly through water savings while minimizing bacteria growth. And there’s no handle to touch.
Doors are the final frontier. Since doorless entryways aren’t practical for most buildings, privy pros have developed automatic devices that spray sanitizer on door and stall handles when users are out of range. And a lower-tech alternative: door-mounted dispensers that issue tissues for grasping handles.
High-tech hygiene tips
» Most automatic faucets run for a pre-set time. Need more water? Pass hands in front of the sensor again.
» Make a case for germ-fighting fixtures by citing sick leave and resource savings. Sensor-operated faucets can cut water waste up to 80 percent.
» If self-flush toilets misfire or miss their cue, complain to the facility manager. Many sensors are overly sensitive to movement, wasting water and annoying end users. Smart automatic toilets have a manual override button that enables flushing by choice.
» Have an exit strategy to avoid contamination. The American Society for Microbiology’s 2007 Hand Washing Survey found that only 66 percent of men and 88 percent of women washed after using public restrooms. Carry tissue or paper towel to grasp handles on your way out.
