| Almost 33% of all the water used in office buildings | | | | used for a prescribed period, or when the office is |
| comes out of washroom taps and mixers. By | | | | unoccupied, can reduce the volume of water used by |
| specifying a tap with a flow limiter, the Environment | | | | 74%. |
| Agency has measured an 80% reduction in this | | | | Better yet, recent developments in waterless urinal |
| figure. | | | | technology can reduce water usage to virtually zero. |
| Alternatively electronic sensor taps, or timed shut-off | | | | The use of space is crucial to the success of an |
| push taps, may be used to reduce consumption by | | | | office washroom. Both large and small facilities have |
| 15% and prevent wastage due to taps left running | | | | their own challenges. Surfaces can be used to create |
| by careless users. Why use a manual mixer's full flow | | | | an illusion of space in smaller washrooms. Bright and |
| rate? A special cartridge allows the lever to be | | | | simple wall colours will bounce ambient light around |
| 'clicked' from off to 50% flow and then to 100% if | | | | the room to give the illusion of space. |
| required. | | | | Floor finishes are equally critical and any pattern |
| A water efficient WC can reduce the volume flushed | | | | should be chosen to ensure it does not make the |
| each day by over 50%. The office washroom is | | | | room feel smaller. In the case of floor tiles, the larger |
| particularly suitable for dual flush WCs as it is an | | | | the better for a small room. In larger washrooms it is |
| easily controlled environment with repeat users. | | | | important that the designer incorporates a sensible |
| 6/4 litre dual flush WCs are now common, however | | | | pattern of user flow so that the facilities can be used |
| an additional 34% water saving is possible by using a | | | | efficiently. |
| 4/2.6 litre water saving dual flush cistern. By adding | | | | The creation of awkward traffic patterns within the |
| delayed-fill operation, where the cistern only begins to | | | | room may easily lead to capacity being exceeded. |
| fill once all the water has emptied out, a further | | | | Busy washrooms are perceived as 'dirty'. People |
| saving of up to 0.5 litre per flush is possible. | | | | maybe obliged to use the last cubicle/urinal that 'no |
| Correct usage and maintenance are important to | | | | one else wants'. This last WC or urinal is often |
| realise the water saving benefits of this technology. | | | | perceived as below standard, or unclean. Using scale |
| For visitor areas a single flush 4.5ltr cistern should be | | | | of provision data will ensure overcrowding does not |
| considered. This removes any confusion about which | | | | occur. |
| flush button to press and so stops the infrequent | | | | All our senses are used to judge hygiene; aroma, |
| user wasting water by 'double flushing'. | | | | lighting, texture and colour all play a part in our |
| Urinals typically account for 20% of water usage in | | | | assessment. The designer must therefore produce a |
| offices. Each urinal in an uncontrolled washroom will | | | | scheme that does not just rely on a cleaning regime |
| use 900 litres of water per day. Current Water | | | | for its hygiene performance. It must feel clean too. |
| Supply (Fittings) regulations 1999 call for a flush | | | | Cleanliness and hygiene are the primary concern of |
| control device to be used that stops urinals flushing | | | | washroom users. |
| when the washroom has not been used for a set | | | | There are several points that must be considered |
| time. | | | | when designing hygiene into the washroom. We |
| Waterless urinals do not use water to flush. A | | | | adopt rituals to deal with many aspects of life. In the |
| replaceable cartridge prevents odour and normal | | | | washroom we have personal rituals aimed at avoiding |
| cleaning keeps the bowl clean, and it has the potential | | | | physical contact with surfaces. |
| to save at least 80,000 litres of water per urinal per | | | | The challenge is to produce a design that reduces |
| year. | | | | contact with items in the washroom. Product |
| The Environment Agency estimates that most office | | | | selection is crucial. Remote operated 'no-touch' taps |
| buildings can easily reduce water consumption, and | | | | such as Sensorflow are triggered by proximity |
| their water bills, by around 50%. Consider the humble | | | | sensors and completely eliminate the need to touch a |
| urinal. Increasing the ratio of urinals to WCs in male | | | | handle or lever. After washing their hands people |
| toilets will immediately save water. | | | | want to avoid touch contamination and will try to |
| Even so, urinals still account for 20% of water usage | | | | push open doors with elbows, use tissue paper to |
| in offices. Fitting a flush control device that stops | | | | grip the door handle or wait for another user to open |
| them auto-flushing when the washroom has not been | | | | the door! |