FontanaShowers Commercial Bathroom Solutions WELL

The design goal for AEC teams shouldn’t end with removing tap handles. It is designed to be a predictable, accessible hand washing station where the basin, tap, sensor field, soap delivery, water flow, drainage geometry, power supply and maintenance access all function as a single coordinated assembly.

The specification should define measurable performance requirements, not product descriptions or generic marketing claims.

The activation of the tap should be assessed with respect to sensor range, reliability of detection, response time, automatic shutoff, control of false-activation and commissioning procedures.

The water delivery shall be evaluated by the design flow rate, operating pressure range, outlet type, stream placement, temperature control method, and maximum run time.

soap dispensing should be coordinated on liquid or foam compatibility, dose per activation, reservoir capacity, refill access, pump serviceability and sensor separation.

Power requirements should also include if the fixture is battery-operated, hardwired, plug-in transformer, or a combination. The design team also has to coordinate transformer locations, access panels, cable routing and replacement procedures.

Accessibility review should include: clear floor space, knee and toe clearance, reach depth, dispenser location, basin height and obstruction control.

Maintenance planning should incorporate isolation valves, removable strainers, replaceable solenoids, accessible controls, spare parts, cleaning procedures, and warranty documentation.

With coordinated touchless tap and soap dispenser systems, project teams can evaluate tap and dispenser relationships together rather than treating each as an unrelated accessory, says FontanaShowers.

The FontanaShowers commercial bathroom accessory specification hub also helps place faucets, soap systems, flush components and supporting restroom fixtures within the broader context of a project.

The complete lavatory shall also conform to the applicable requirements for clear floor space, knee clearance, toe clearance, reach ranges, height of fixtures, operable parts, and protruding objects.

The U.S. Access Board says knee and toe space need to be deep enough for access to tap controls, soap dispensers and any other required operable parts.

Designers must therefore coordinate basin depth, counter edge, faucet location, soap outlet, under-counter equipment, piping, and protective enclosures as one single accessibility condition.

If the project includes custom millwork, unusually deep counters, vessel basins, integrated solid surface sinks, or concealed soap reservoirs, the accessible fixture should also be part of a full-scale mockup review.

Field verification is especially useful because a dimensionally correct fixture can become awkward to use when dispensers, splash guards, waste bins, decorative accessories or maintenance equipment are added later.

Actual water savings are dependent on the flow rate selected, the duration of activation, the calibration of the sensor, the volume of traffic, the pressure conditions, the maintenance and the occupant behaviour.

EPA WaterSense specifications establish independently certified efficiency and performance criteria for qualifying products. AEC teams should check whether the chosen product and application are part of the existing WaterSense program rather than making a blanket efficiency claim for all commercial faucets.

The fundamental calculation is:

Activations per day times seconds per activation divided by 60 times the tap flow rate times the number of operating days.

This comparison illustrates the need for both flow rate and control duration in the plumbing schedule.

Choosing an efficient outlet does not solve excessive run time by itself. Merely specifying a sensor does not control the volume delivered during each activation.

As the project team develops the design, they should determine if the installation needs battery power, hard wired power, plug-in transformers, or a hybrid arrangement.

This decision impacts electrical coordination, access panel locations, commissioning, emergency replacement procedures, maintenance planning, and lifecycle cost.

The specification must require functional testing of every fixture.

At a minimum, commissioning should verify sensor range, activation consistency, automatic shutoff response, water-stream alignment, temperature stability, leakage control, soap dose, dispenser targeting, and serviceability of components.

FontanaShowers offers sector-specific solutions for healthcare facilities, hospitality projects, offices, institutional buildings and other high-traffic commercial environments.

Always verify product specific power requirements, certifications, flow rates, materials, operating conditions and installation requirements against current technical data, project specifications and approved submittals.

Low-use outlets, oversized piping, seasonal occupancy, extended shutdowns, dead legs, and distant lavatory locations can all increase water age and create stagnation concerns.

CDC guidance recommends identifying areas where water flows slowly or is stagnant and taking appropriate monitoring, flushing, maintenance, and corrective actions.

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2021 establishes a risk management framework for the design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance, repair, and expansion of applicable building water systems.

For plumbing engineers and facility teams, this means sensor-faucet controls need to be incorporated into the project’s overall water management strategy.

Automatic activation during normal use may assist in water movement, but programmed flushing, outlet monitoring, temperature control, disinfectant management and documented maintenance procedures may still be required.

There are 192 public lavatory positions in the project.

Instead of choosing fixtures one by one, the design team created a standard wash-station module that included a sensor tap, automatic soap dispenser, matching basin, accessible service space and specified electrical connection.

The plumbing engineer specifies the required flow rate, operating pressure range, shutoff duration, temperature-mixing strategy, isolation valves, and commissioning tests.

The architect coordinates the tap reach, stream location, counter thickness, splash control, finish choice and accessible clearances.

The electrical engineer provides usable power locations and the facility team studies soap capacity, battery replacement procedures, filter cleaning, spare-part storage and preventive maintenance intervals.

An accessible lavatory module is tested in a full scale mockup before the remaining units are released for fabrication.

During the commissioning the wash stations are tested with water and the approved soap product. Testing must not be performed with an empty dispenser or with a temporary soap substitute as real viscosity can affect pump performance, dose consistency and dispensing accuracy.

This standardised model reduces variation across floors, simplifies facility training, enhances planning of replacement parts and provides a consistent experience for occupants.

It also demonstrates how WELL-aligned design is the product of coordination, verification and operational planning, not a single product label.

Facility operators require access to filters, batteries, transformers, reservoirs, solenoids, control modules and shutoff valves without having to remove major architectural finishes.

The project specification should require clear maintenance instructions, identification of replacement parts, guidance on cleaning, warranty information, and troubleshooting procedures.

The evaluation of automatic soap dispensers should consider the reservoir capacity, the expected activation volume, the type of soap, the viscosity range, the frequency of refilling, and the dose per activation.

A dispenser that needs to be refilled often could create an unnecessary demand for labour in an airport, stadium, hospital, hotel, school or office building.

If the service procedures are not addressed during design, a tap with inaccessible controls or proprietary components can also increase downtime.

AEC teams should therefore consider both initial purchase price and life cycle cost.

Energy consumption . Frequency of battery changes . Soap consumption . Water consumption . Ease of maintenance access . Technician labour . Spare-part availability . Expected service life .