03 August 2022
1. Design
Automatic hand dryer
Commercial hand dryers are available in numerous mounting options, sizes, and designs to suit any style and layout of today’s modern washroom.
“Hands under” or “hands in” designs range from behind the mirror, blade, recessed mounted, to standard wall mounted hand dryers, each with their own unique design features to suit your commercial washroom.
Automatic hand dryers can be coated in a beautiful range of finishes such as Ceramic coating, Physical Vapour Deposition, and Polyester Powder Coat, or choose a mirror polished stainless steel or a brushed satin finish to add something special to the fitting.
Paper towel dispenser
Paper towel dispensers are available in a wide variety of touch free or manual options, sizes, behind the mirror, counter recessed, flat based, lockable, and recessed mounted styles.
The options do not end there as paper towel dispensers include characteristic features such as “pulling down” from a wall mounted dispenser or “pulling up” from a surface mounted dispenser and a choice between different paper towel folds such as an interfold or C fold.
For a chic look, paper towel dispensers can be Polyester Powder Coat or finished in a Ceramic coating. Stainless steel and brushed satin are also available to match the special finishes in the washroom, for example, taps, hand dryers, toilet roll holders etc.
3. Accessibility
Automatic hand dryer
BS 8300-2:2018 – Design of an accessible and inclusive built environment – Part 2: Buildings – Code of practice specifies that hand dryers should be readily accessible to persons with disabilities and should be operated either by a sensor or an easy to push button. It should be located close to the door side next to the washbasin and must not obstruct access to the WC.
Keep in mind that hand dryers may cause difficulties for those with heightened sensitivity to noise or neurological processing difficulties. There are hand dryer models available that produce quiet sound levels as low as 67 dB at 1 metre which is an appropriate and unobtrusive noise level for noise-sensitive areas.
Paper towel dispenser
BS 8300-2:2018 provides guidance that paper towel dispensers should be suitable for single-handed use or for those with limited dexterity. The dispenser should be incorporated into the design to not obstruct transfer from the wheelchair to the WC pan and should not be placed within the manoeuvring area for wheelchairs.
Single-sheet toilet paper dispensers are more suitable as they are easier to pull a paper towel down and out rather than tearing off a sheet from a roller towel.
5. Cost
Automatic hand dryer
The capital expense for a hand dryer is significantly more than a paper towel dispenser. A further cost factor to consider is whether the chosen hand dryer is a standard design or high-speed, low-energy.
A standard hand dryer is proven to use more electricity which increases the energy bill whereas a high-speed, low-energy hand dryer consumes less electricity, thus reducing energy costs and saving you money in the long run.
Depending on whether a special finish is applied to the hand dryer will also add to the cost.
Paper towel dispenser
The purchase price may be cost-effective but there is an ongoing cost to refill depleted stocks. The number of paper towels used by each person determines how often the paper towels will need to be replenished.
For example, each person uses two sheets after washing their hands. In a building of 50 people, each person visits the washroom three times a day. That means 300 sheets of paper towels are used in just one day. Based on this average, should you purchase a case quantity of 3000 paper towels, the stock would need replenishing within ten days.
The type of fold in a paper towel must also be considered in the cost factor. Interfold (or Z fold) paper towels are a little more expensive than a C fold but are much easier to use because the tail of the next towel presents itself when a towel is pulled out.
C fold paper towels are less expensive than interfold paper towels but are not so easy to pull out the dispenser as the next tail does not present itself.
Which hand drying appliance should you choose?
Click here to get in touch and book in a meeting, or to see more information on washroom design visit our learning hub here.
Whatever you aim to achieve in your commercial washroom, you must determine what best fits your budget and design vision and ensure the users get the most out of your chosen hand drying appliance.
If your goal is to achieve a WELL, BREEAM, NABERS UK, or LEED certified building, then speak to your washroom supplier regarding the best product specifications in line with the relevant standards.
Are you still torn between which hand drying appliance is best? Find out how you can achieve your project goals with Dolphin Solutions.
