Restrooms are visible evidence of the overall standards in a building, and with the continuing heightened awareness around hygiene in buildings, restroom upgrade projects are moving up in priority. In research conducted by Zurn Water Solutions into the impact of COVID-19 on the restroom experience, respondents ranked “touching fixtures” as their top concern in public restrooms. Three in four (74%) people would make more trips to businesses that have touch-free fixtures.
The need to meet higher standards for a hygienic environment is a tipping point for facilities managers and owners who were already considering improvements in aging buildings. In the past, the complexity and cost of upgrade projects have been barriers to getting started. Now, there’s a new option to consider for more easily meeting hygiene standards with hassle-free, hygienic, and sustainable restroom upgrades.
Touchless Is Just the Start
Touchless fixtures are one of the most visible cues of a hygienic environment. However, facilities managers and owners can introduce other products as they upgrade to sensor-activated faucets and flush valves that work together to make restrooms not only more sanitary, but also more cost-efficient to maintain and sustainable for the environment. The decision to upgrade is easier when the solution delivers on multiple goals.
Another decision point is the upgrade itself. Facilities managers and owners can select a bundled restroom solution that makes upgrades easier. Choosing all of the products they need from a single-source, high-performance portfolio increases renovation speed, reduces costs, and ensures that the upgrade project will deliver on all fronts.
Creating High-Performing Restrooms More Easily
Building that feeling of safe hygiene for guests is just part of the equation in high-performing restrooms. With technology-driven product innovation, restrooms can also be made more efficient and sustainable. Here’s a look at how to do it.
More efficient to maintain. Upgrading to high-performing flush valves and handwashing systems with touchless sensor activation is an effective way to save on restroom costs. Look for gear-driven flush valves that eliminate the solenoid. These require less maintenance and replacement, and create efficiencies for facilities maintenance teams. It’s also possible to upgrade some handle-operated flush valves to a touchless experience in just a few minutes with a retrofit kit. Another upgrade option is touchless hand dryers, which reduce mess and waste and eliminate the need for custodial teams to restock. Touchless hand dryers also save 99% over paper towel costs.
Meet increased hygiene standards. Touchless fixtures are one of several options for creating more sanitary restroom environments. Some handwashing systems feature faucets, soap, and sinks that work together to reduce contact points and the spread of germs. HEPA-filtered touchless hand dryers clean the air before it reaches guests’ hands, and ensure hands are completely dry to reduce the risk of transmitting germs. Stall partitions with enhanced privacy options can block the spread of germs over and under stalls and between urinals. All of these strategies improve hygiene in the environment and create restroom experiences that help guests feel safe and comfortable.
Meet sustainability goals. Some high-performance portfolios are designed to help meet stewardship goals with products that reduce the environmental impact of restrooms. Products that facilities managers and owners might choose for restroom upgrades include high-efficiency low flow rate fixtures, faucets, and flush valves, which conserve water. Hydro-powered faucets and flush valves, which conserve energy and reduce batteries going into landfills, are another option. Facilities managers and owners can also select restroom partitions made from recycled content. The single-source approach eliminates the need to search for multiple suppliers in order to increase restroom sustainability.
The Ease of a Complete Solution
The single-source approach reduces the stress of upgrades and the hassle of maintenance over the life of the restroom with a seamless experience. Facilities managers and owners can easily design an upgrade that pays for itself by saving on operational, maintenance, and repair costs. They secure the same single point of contact for repairs and replenishment, too.
Krystal Pesch is Director of Strategic Marketing at Zurn.