How convenient are public conveniences?

Public toilets have long held a certain notoriety. Originally designed for convenience to provide comfort outside of the home, today’s reality is very different. Far from offering “amenities” and “comfort breaks”, they are often unhygienic, uninspiring and unappealing – the antithesis of what is required of public washrooms.

As we finally return to shared spaces, it’s time to address this lack of comfort and place a renewed emphasis on hygiene when refurbishing communal washrooms and designing public facilities for offices, shopping centres, restaurants and transport hubs.

Great expectations

Nowadays, public washroom users expect: cleanliness, aesthetic designs and comfort in terms of touch-free water and soap delivery; and full temperature control. The facility manager demands reliable, safe, and hygienic products, in addition to water and energy savings. The installer, for his part, looks for easy installation and reduced maintenance. The real challenge is meeting everyone’s expectations.

DELABIE’s new range of BINOPTIC mixers and taps, with coordinating accessories, weaves an elegant link between design, functionality, hygiene and comfort. Our product designers combined form and function to deliver sleek profiles in matte black which withstand intensive daily use, yet retain their elegant looks.

Touch-free taps

Completely touch-free, the user can wash, soap, rinse and dry their hands without touching any surfaces. However, hygiene runs deeper, with key features to reduce water stagnation and limit bacterial development such as an automatic duty flush, a smooth interior with low water capacity, and a reduced-stagnation solenoid valve. Mixer versions also have a side lever to adjust the water temperature with a maximum limiter to prevent scalding. User comfort is assured.

Specifying BINOPTIC taps in public washrooms guarantees sustainability. They avoid unnecessary waste, activating only when a user is detected, and closing when their presence is no longer detected. The flow rate is 3 lpm, but can be set as low as 1.5 lpm to meet water efficiency standards. Reducing water usage also impacts energy consumption. If less hot water is used, less energy is required to heat it.

Keeping it simple

DELABIE’s taps and soap dispensers are battery-operated and, since they need no electrical connection, they are simple to install. Maintenance for the electronic taps is also less onerous, assisted by LED diagnostic aids. Parts are standardised and they can be easily accessed without isolating the water supply since the mechanism, solenoid valve and battery are integrated within the body.

As footfall increases and since hand hygiene has become second nature, the fittings in public washrooms must be resilient. BINOPTIC taps feature shock-resistant mechanisms and sensors, housed in a solid brass body. The taps and soap dispensers also feature anti-blocking which ensures that no water or soap is delivered if the sensor is permanently covered.

The matte black range from DELABIE offers a stylish solution to fulfil the complex demands on modern washrooms. Specifically designed for public and commercial places, it delivers user comfort, reduces waste, controls consumption and contributes to good hygiene practices, and all delivered in a stylish package.