Education Sector

Specifying for Education

Specifying for education is serious business. Safety is of paramount importance and thermostatic water controls are recommended. Water controls also need to be durable enough to withstand tough treatment and easy to use by small hands. And, with the average pupil estimated to use around 4,000 litres of water every year, water efficiency is vital.

With schools legally responsible for providing a safe environment for their students and staff: promoting high standards of personal hygiene and maintaining a clean environment are a must. Bristan's Single Basin Soft Touch Time Flow Tap is ideal for timed flow operation and perfect for even the smallest hands to use.

The easiest way to alleviate this risk is to use a thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) anywhere that hot water is delivered. TMVs allow water to be stored and distributed at a high enough temperature to kill harmful legionella bacteria, but reduce it to a safe temperature at the point of use by mixing it with cold water supply. More so, TMVs can maintain the desired water temperature even when the incoming water pressures/flow rates change.

In a campus environment, every fitting has to be durable and, for want of a better term, as ‘prank proof’ as possible. Robust design is a must, and anti-vandal safeguards, such as release-to-activate timed flow taps, can prevent against tampering.

Showers and taps which use ¼ turn ceramic disc cartridges are also advisable, as they cannot be over-tightened by the user, a practice which can, over time, lead to looseness or leaks.

Integral ‘tough’ designs such as concealed shower valves which are hard-wearing, and maintain are also an ideal solution for busy university premises.

In terms of infection control measures, non-touch (infrared) taps and showers are becoming increasingly prevalent as they minimise the risk of cross-contamination.