FontanaShowers WELL Healthcare Bathroom Fixtures | Infection Control Solutions

CDC guidance, therefore, supports consideration of basin depth, faucet orientation, drain location, water pressure, and splash control when sinks are installed or modified.

This makes faucet-to-basin coordination a health-care engineering problem, not merely an interior-design decision.

Check the elevation of the discharge stream and design so that the water does not hit the drain directly. Appropriately sized flow characteristics and adequate basin depth can reduce excessive splash under maximum operating conditions.

• Fixtures that can be operated hygienically, handsfree or otherwise.
• Usable handwashing clearance and correct basin sizes.
• Consistent soap delivery.
• Simple fixture placement.
• Surfaces around easy to clean.
• Water delivery is controlled.
• Non-disruptive demolition for maintenance access.

Instead of choosing each component separately, a coordinated package may include architectural touchless bathroom faucets with automatic soap dispensing and lavatories of a suitable size.

Thus, for the AEC team, the submittal should confirm the full relationship:

Spout reach → discharge location → basin shape → drain location → operating pressure .

A fixture that looks appropriate based on appearance or mounting style alone may be poor from an infection-control planning standpoint if its discharge stream strikes the drain directly or causes excessive splash.

Wall-mounted applications can be especially helpful when the design team wants to minimise deck penetrations and make counter cleaning easier. Deck-mounted fixtures remain a good choice when existing infrastructure or standard lavatory assemblies make traditional rough-ins more convenient.

For this reason, the plumbing engineer should differentiate between fixture applications rather than assign a uniform flow requirement to an entire healthcare campus.

Flow rate should also be coordinated with supply pressure and basin shape. However, reducing nominal flow does not necessarily eliminate splash if outlet geometry, stream characteristics or drain alignment are poorly coordinated.

Engineers may also evaluate the outlet configuration, including laminar-flow devices, depending on the project requirements, if the infection-control standards of the healthcare facility require it.

This coordination matrix is most useful during schematic design, design development, specification writing, and submittal review—not after the plumbing rough-in has already been done.

Selection of fixtures cannot be a standalone control of Legionella risk.

Engineers should consider the entire domestic-water system: temperature management, potential for stagnation, branch configuration, water age, commissioning procedures, flushing protocols and ongoing maintenance.

Thus, documented operating requirements, clear maintenance instructions, serviceable valves, and accessible strainers are all useful components of the healthcare fixture specification.

For sensor faucets, consider access to the solenoid valve, controller, power source, filter or strainer, supply connections and sensing components before finalising walls, millwork or access panels.

The project team considers the entire handwashing assembly rather than as a like-for-like replacement of the fixture.

The redesign moves the tap discharge away from the drain.

Spout reach and basin depth are verified.

Splash control. Operating pressure review.

The outlet configuration is checked for the facility requirements.

Accessibility sensor activation confirmed.

The electrical components and solenoid are still available for service.

Cleaning requirements are coordinated with the facility operations and environmental services personnel.

The design improvement should not be promoted as a quantified reduction in healthcare associated infections without project specific clinical evidence.

Instead it is a more defensible, infection-control-oriented configuration of plumbing based on accepted principles of splash control, serviceability, hygienic operation and healthcare water management.

BIM coordination can identify conflicts with spout projection, basin location, supply routing, control boxes, electrical connections, access panels and surrounding casework prior to installation.

Also, the specification documents need to contain the precise performance requirements for each selected fixture, not just generic product descriptions.

The AEC team may be required to check requirements related to: Depending on the project jurisdiction and product configuration,

• ASME A112.18.1/CSA B125.
• NSF/ANSI/CAN 61.
• NSF/ANSI/CAN 372.
• ADA 2010 Standards for Accessible Design
• ICC A117.1 Accessibility Requirements
• Plumbing code, as applicable.
• Flow rate requirements.
• Needs for temperature control.
• Power supply requirements.
• Pressure restrictions.
• Operating range of the sensor.
• Growing demands.
• Solenoid and control box access.
• Cleaning of strainers or filters.
• Applicable health care facility standards.

Please confirm these requirements on a per SKU and per project basis – do not assume that all fixture configurations have the same listings or certifications.

Battery-powered systems can make retrofit installation easier where electrical rough-ins are not available. For facilities that need centralised electrical infrastructure and less frequent routine battery replacements, hardwired systems might be suitable.

Some project configurations may also utilise backup power arrangements.

The specification shall state the intended power source, voltage requirements, battery type if applicable, transformer location, controller location and access requirements.

Avoid hiding important service elements behind inaccessible finishes, AEC teams.

Accessible Healthcare Coordination & ADA

Accessible lavatory design is more than choosing a sensor tap.

Check the entire lavatory assembly for operable clearances, approach, knee and toe space where applicable, mounting height, reach range, protruding objects and placement of surrounding accessories.

Automatic activation may ease the operation of the tap since it does not involve grasping, twisting or pinching conventional controls.

The performance of the sensors, however, still needs to be reliable for the expected hand positions and user approaches.

In mock-up or commissioning the team should verify that the sensing zone corresponds to the usable area of the basin and does not trigger too early, too late, or inconsistently.

Design Criteria for Cleanliness and Maintainability

Healthcare fixtures should be maintainable after turnover.

A tap that works correctly on opening day but requires removal of major finish materials to access the solenoid or strainer creates an avoidable maintenance burden.

Specifications should take into account:

• Accessible shut-off valves.
• Usable filters or strainers.
• 2. Solenoid assemblies, changeable.
• Power supplies and controllers are available.
• Documented cleaning processes
• Compatibilità totale con i prodotti di pulizia approvati.
• availability of spare parts availability of spare parts
• Clear instructions for maintaining.
• Simple identification of components.

These criteria are useful for long term operation of the facility and support the maintenance of the intended performance of the handwashing station.