Gulf Construction Online - Touchless is the way to go, says Geberit

Bathrooms

Engelhard ... touchless faucets seeing an unprecedented demand.

Touchless is the way to go, says Geberit

01 December 2020

The current Covid-19 outbreak has created a heightened awareness of the need to maintain outstanding hygiene standards and all public spaces are now being subjected to scrutiny by visitors to these areas. This is especially so for bathrooms, where users need to be assured that appropriate hygiene and cleaning standards are in place.

To maximise hygiene in the bathroom, the obvious solution is going touchless. Swiss sanitary solutions specialist Geberit has been producing touchless products for many years which have been used in commercial and public installations worldwide.

Faucets

Geberit’s touchless infra-red wall-mounted faucets, which optimise hand hygiene in heavy footfall washrooms, are seeing an unprecedented demand across the Middle East region, according to Daniel Engelhard, Managing Director, Geberit International Sales.

Brenta fitting in a public restroom.

Elaborating on some of these products, he says: “The Geberit washbasin tap models, Piave and Brenta – designed by London-based design studio Christoph Behling Design – feature an incredibly slim, timeless and elegant form. They are aesthetic and easy to clean. With the modular tap system, Geberit has developed an impressive solution to remedy the general shortcomings of many touchless washbasin taps and specific problems that arise during the installation of wall-mounted taps.”

All electronic components in these systems, with the exception of the IR sensor, are well protected from moisture in a separate function box. It is built-in under the washbasin behind the wall and thus enables completely new possibilities for tap design, Engelhard says.

The wall-mounted taps are supplied in lengths of 170 mm and 220 mm in order to accommodate the multitude of possible combinations. The beautiful tap housings are made of chrome-plated brass. The water is guided through a reinforced plastic hose that extends from the functional unit in the function box to the tap aerator on the tap outlet, ensuring that the quality of the potable water is not impaired at any point in the tap system.

The bright chrome-plated surfaces and compact design of the washbasin taps make them easy to clean and maintain as well as attractive to look at, he adds.

Flush actuators

Geberit WC flush controls are typically actuated automatically and touchlessly when the WC user leaves, or by a hand motion near the visible IR sensor. In the event of a power failure, manual actuation is also possible. In this way, the WC flush controls meet the strictest hygiene requirements and the dual flush function meets the necessity and desire to save water.

“The WC flush controls work using reliable proximity detection,” Engelhard explains. “The emitted IR beam is reflected by the user and picked up by the position receiver. If the user is outside the detection range, he is not picked up. In contrast to conventional processes, which measure the intensity of the reflected light beam, this active proximity detection guarantees that the user is reliably detected even if he is wearing black clothing and in changing light conditions.”

In addition to the automatic flush or flush actuated by a hand motion, a pre-flush can also be programmed, which triggers a flush before use when the user approaches the WC. A permanently adjustable interval flush, which prevents stagnation in the drinking water pipe, likewise ensures increased cleanliness and improved hygiene. For maximum safety during installation and operation, Geberit WC flush controls work with extra-low voltage and plug connections equipped with cross-polarity protection. Individual settings can also be made at a later date with the Geberit Service Handy. IR controls and servomotors are pre-mounted. Sigma10 actuator plates with infrared windows can be screwed on quickly and easily.

Urinals

In public and semi-public areas, safe and reliable operation of urinal systems is particularly important. Touchless urinal flush controls offer better hygiene in the public and semi-public bathroom and ensure the user always encounters a well-flushed urinal. A sensor allows the unit to flush as soon as the urinal has been used.

Geberit offers innovative, well-coordinated and tested solutions to guarantee permanent functional reliability, attractive design and economic efficiency, says Engelhard. The urinal and WC actuators design language complement each other, matching any style with their elegant, easy-to-clean surfaces. Models are available in die-cast zinc and stainless steel to meet the highest standards of safety and durability.

“But it’s not just this infra-red technology that can help put hygiene front-of-mind,” Engelhard continues. “Other product developments from manufacturers help ensure all-round bathroom hygiene; for instance, Geberit KeraTect makes cleaning easier with a non-porous and smoother surface. The glaze can also help prevent staining of the ceramics and create a high-gloss effect not only helping to maintain high levels of hygiene but also to enhance the look and feel of the bathroom as a clean space.”

In addition, Geberit Rimfree ceramic appliances can eliminate tricky corners and hard-to-reach areas around the pan, with removable toilet seats also helping eradicate any hidden areas where dust and bacteria may harbour.

“When considering a WC, go for a wall-hung solution. Lifting the toilet from the floor naturally makes maintenance and cleaning much easier with no hard-to-reach areas for dirt to accumulate,” Engelhard concludes.