Gulf Construction Online - Mac Al Gurg ahead of game in hygiene

Bathrooms

Mac Al Gurg Sanitary Ware Division offers a range of solutions to address hygiene concerns.

Mac Al Gurg ahead of game in hygiene

Mac Al Gurg Sanitary Ware division puts the limelight on water safety in the super-virus era, indicating that advanced technology is currently available to ensure hygienic and efficient handling of water.

01 December 2020

Turn on the TV or look at your smartphone and you immediately realise we are entering an era of super-viruses and other similar threats. People everywhere are now highly sensitised towards the need for personal and public hygiene.

With the ongoing Covid-19 crisis impacting the way we live and think about hygiene standards, companies require to think ahead and be at the forefront of the latest technologies.

Mac Al Gurg Sanitary Ware division, which for the last 45 years has been bringing cutting-edge products to the UAE, has been taking a proactive approach to offer state-of-the-art solutions to address the requirements of the new world.

The company also emphasises that we, as humans, need to respond fast enough so that we can stay healthy and our environment is protected.

We need to focus attention on how we handle water. Viruses and bacteria are transmitted by water and other liquids, in their various forms. Careless handling of water and its sources such as sanitary fittings has a direct impact on our living environment, by creating habitats suitable for superbugs to grow and spread.

In the sanitary fittings sector, manufacturers, suppliers, specifiers and end-users must take the lead in implementing certain key mindset changes. The technologies to enable these changes are already available. Here are some:

• Zero-contact actuation: Zero-contact settings and actuations are common features in many sanitary fittings, but mainly in public facilities. They are rarely seen in residential properties. In a post-pandemic environment, we can expect that it will become mandatory that all public facilities should have only touch-free fittings and sensor-operated actuators. We can also expect that demand for such fittings for private households will increase dramatically. This will drive innovation tailored to electronic fittings for home use. Countries at the cutting edge of modernsation should seek to implement a zero-touch environment in public facilities, without exception.

• Thermal and other disinfection features: In health and related facilities, an important feature in fittings is to have the piping and other delivery mechanisms thermally disinfected every 12 or 24 hours or more. This apart, there are numerous disinfection solutions for water itself. Many products currently have the thermal disinfection feature enabled for 12-hour routines, especially in hospitals and similar care facilities. However, in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, this feature will be required to be activated at shorter and more regular intervals. Some brands have products tailored to such requirements; others will have to catch up quickly.

In a changed world, there is likely to be a near-paranoid focus on the sanitary condition of surfaces around the house and particularly in bathrooms and kitchens. A materials revolution has been going on worldwide for well over a decade now. We will begin to see its active application in the sanitary sector. Be prepared to ask for innovations like “ionised ceramic surfaces” that do not leave room for bacteria to settle, integration of ultraviolet treatment devices in building spaces to kill viruses and bacteria, hydrophobic (repelling water) coatings on surfaces, etc.

• State-of-the-art fault monitoring and remedy: Today, there are highly sophisticated fault and waste monitoring systems available to ensure that water consumption is regulated, monitored and measured. However, the bulk of these systems focus on larger commercial or residential buildings such as mixed-use developments and apartment complexes. In the coming era, there will be much greater demand from individual households and residences for such systems. For example, in the post-Covid-19 world, families will be much more responsive to the problem of stagnant water in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms, especially in places that are not highly visible.

• Technical reliability and durability: For the end-users of these products, the primary concern – apart from the features and benefits – will be the reliability and durability of these products. In other words, does the product function as advertised? Brand reputation for quality technology, a record of trustworthiness, as well as a well-known heritage will be accorded high priority by the market. Equally important will be an ability to provide support locally either through representative offices or trained distributor personnel.

Most of the technologies mentioned are available. However, end-users are not always aware of them. It will be increasingly necessary for responsible brands to educate the public in a pandemic-sensitised world on the availability and use of these technologies. There will certainly be greater receptivity towards, and faster absorption of, such innovations going forward.

*Since 1974, Mac Al Gurg Sanitary Division has been an integral part of numerous prestigious projects, delivering to the UAE market the best products from leading manufacturers in Europe and US. Its diverse product portfolio ranges from acrylic solid surfaces, stainless steel washroom products, concealed flush systems, brassware and accessories, sanitary ware accessories and glass shower enclosures.

Some of the key landmark projects it has supplied to include Route 2020 Metro Project, Mirdiff Private Hospital, Latifa Hospital, Danat El Emarat Hospital expansion project and many more.