The all-in-one sink handwashing and drying station is changing the way high-traffic restrooms function by creating cleaner, safer and more efficient spaces in institutional and commercial facilities. These systems, which incorporate a sink, faucet, soap dispenser and hand dryer all in one fixture, keep water off the floor and reduce liability and maintenance needs.
As demand has grown for these products from facility executives, manufacturers have also taken steps to improve their appearance from an aesthetic perspective and step up smart technology.
“Technology advancements have a lot of people excited; it’s a new way of washing your hands with an all-in-one product,” says Cassie Keeler, product manager, handwashing fixtures, Bradley Company. She was instrumental in coming up with the design of Bradley’s all-in-one solution.
The COVID-19 pandemic also changed the way people think about handwashing and hygiene creating a need for sensor-activated, touchless features. Sloan’s integrated sink system was introduced in 2016 but saw a major uptick in demand for their design that allows users to simply place their hands under each designated zone without having to touch anything or leave the area.
“People didn't want to touch the faucet or touch the soap dispenser,” says Emerson Vogel, associate product line for sink systems for Sloan. “Indirectly, we did see more interest into that kind of three-in-one system as a result, but ultimately the interest has always been there.”
All-in-one sink handwashing and drying stations are ideal for high-traffic environments such as airports, higher education and venues with private suites such as stadiums.
“By seamlessly fusing the soap dispenser, faucet and high speed, energy efficient hand dryer in the one cohesive fixture, the users tend to have an intuitive, easy-to-use product that gets them quickly in and out of the restroom,” says Chris DeGray, e-commerce marketing specialist, Excel Dryer Inc.
Safety is another important consideration when selecting an all-in-one product. The main goal of these types of solutions is to prevent water from getting on the ground.
“A big piece of it is limiting the amount of water getting on the floor,” says Vogel. “If you're able to complete your handwashing process without having to move your hands to go get a paper towel or walk across the floor and dry it off, you’re giving a safer environment for whoever's using the restroom. It's limiting the amount of water getting on the ground.”
Sloan works with several major airports, where slip-and-fall lawsuits are a major concern. This means cleanliness and ensuring the flow of the restroom is consistent and streaming is a top priority when choosing restroom fixtures.
“Having everything right there, you're preventing people from bumping into each other, walking across to get a paper towel or dry their hands somewhere else,” says Vogel. “You're not having people walking back and forth.”
Amy Wunderlin is a freelance writer based in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.
Public Restrooms Improve Efficiency with All-in-One Handwashing Stations
