Gulf Construction Online - Geberit supplies quality fittings

Airport Construction

Geberit ... a single-source supplier for sanitary fittings.

Geberit supplies quality fittings

01 July 2018

Switzerland-based Geberit says it has provided sanitary and piping solutions for several airports in the Gulf region, addressing the requirements for aesthetics, hygiene and reliability in these highly trafficked facilities.

Among its recent projects are the Kuwait International Airport; Muscat Airport in Oman; the King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulla Airport in Jizan and the Madinah International Airport, all in Saudi Arabia; and the Etihad terminal (first class lounge) at Abu Dhabi International Airport and Al Ain Airport, both in the UAE.

“Products for such public facilities have to meet a huge range of demanding requirements, from hygiene and ease of maintenance to safety in everyday use and protection against vandalism. Economic considerations also play a key role both during installation and in everyday use,” says Gabriel Nassar, managing director of Geberit Gulf.

Gabriel Nassar, managing director of Geberit Gulf

Geberit, he says, enables clients to plan and implement solutions which are aesthetically and functionally tailored to the requirements of the application. “This makes it possible to operate public toilet facilities in a straightforward, resource-saving manner,” he adds.

Geberit offers a wide range of washbasin taps, ceramics, actuator plates, sanitary fittings and urinal divisions for public toilets.

All components such as urinal ceramics, traps and urinal flush controls can be optimally coordinated with one another within the system, thus providing the benefits of using a single source supplier, Nassar remarks.

The company latest rimless urinal ceramics are available in various models, namely Preda, Selva and Tamina. These can be combined with Geberit Duofix urinal flush controls – available in three different operating modes: concealed, integrated urinal flush control, and waterless operation – to offer a high degree of functional reliability. Also, the company’s urinal divisions are visually matched to the urinal ceramics, ensuring a coordinated design throughout the entire facility. The high-quality partitions are available in various glass colours or in white plastic.

Beside aesthetics, hygiene and reliability are of vital importance in public toilets, the spokesman points out. Safe, touchless Geberit WC flush controls ensure that the flush is activated reliably and automatically when the user moves away or moves a hand towards the visible infrared (IR) sensor. In addition, the flush can be activated manually with a mechanical actuator, which is placed in a visible position above the urinal ceramic appliance.

“Geberit urinal and WC controls detect the presence of the user with shortwave infrared emissions and activate the automatic flush immediately after each use. The sensor is protected by a highly resistant and yet elegant cover. In addition to flushing after use, automatic flushes can be programmed at set intervals to avoid stagnation in the toilet and pipes. This means that for every given set of circumstances, it is possible to find the balance of hygiene and economy of water consumption,” he says.

Geberit’s comprehensive product range considerably simplifies the planning, installation and maintenance of urinal systems. All function elements can be accessed with ease – a key advantage compared to conventional urinals. For example, the trap can be reached easily from above without having to remove the urinal ceramic appliance.

These urinal traps have a high discharge rate, do not emit odour and are easy to service as the drainage system can be accessed easily. Thanks to the uniform interfaces, the operating mode can be switched from flushed to waterless at any time.

Integrated controls can also be used for flushing the Geberit urinals Preda and Selva. These are invisible but can easily be reached in the lower part of the urinal ceramic appliance and can be removed from their practical docking station in just a few simple steps.

Washbasin taps

Meanwhile, for washbasins, Geberit’s latest Brenta and Piave taps are available as deck-mounted and wall-mounted versions.

“Wall-mounted taps are the sophisticated solution for public and semi-public sanitary facilities. As well as a more attractive aesthetic, they also offer more space for hand washing than conventional deck-mounted solutions and are therefore easier to clean, making them more hygienic in turn,” says Nassar.

The Geberit tap system provides functional reliability, particularly in highly frequented areas. The tap housing is anchored firmly in the installation element and delicate components are separate from the tap, virtually eliminating the risk of damage due to moisture or vandalism.

The spokesman points out that while in the past, the control technology made many touchless taps larger and less elegant than conventional ones, Geberit’s new system provides a superior solution to this problem.

Headquartered in Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland, the Geberit Group has more than 30 production facilities, of which six are located overseas. Geberit has been in the Middle East for over 25 years. Its 500-sq-m regional operation based at the Dubai Design District includes its showroom, information centre, a small design office, specifications team, a sales and after-service team, and a training centre. Geberit has a staff strength of 35 in the region of whom 30 are directly involved in serving customers in the region.