Foolproof fittings: intuitive solutions for schools and day nurseries

Sanitary facilities are an integral part of day-to-day life at schools and day nurseries: They are in constant use, mostly by the kids themselves, who may often be unable to fully appreciate how taps and fittings work – or the proper way to use them. So it’s very important that these systems are self-explanatory. Fittings need to have obvious controls that respond safely and offer automatic support for hygiene. Especially in day nurseries and schools, intuitive controls help to reduce risks, and ensure fittings can be operated hygienically and correctly.

Why intuitive controls are especially important for children

In day nurseries and schools, the same sanitary facilities are used by a range of age groups. Fittings that are self-explanatory for older kids can cause difficulties for younger children. Younger children also have yet to fully develop their motor functions and are physically smaller . The movements needed to operate fittings must be easy to perform and have obvious effects. Safety must not be something kids have to learn: fittings must work without a second’s thought. This is especially important when opening and closing the fitting, and adjusting the water temperature.

Advantages of intuitive controls

Intuitive controls work without needing to be explained – immediately keeping children safer. This makes day-to-day life much easier:

• kids understand the controls without being told.
• Controls that look and work the same create routine and confidence.
• Mistakes made when opening and closing the fitting or adjusting the temperature occur less often.
• This relieves the burden on carers and teachers.

Three types of intuitive controls

Intuitive doesn’t mean ‘all the same’.
Various technical solutions exist – each with its own advantages.

Mechanical control
A lever, a knob, a clear movement. Simplicity is the key idea here. Cause and effect are clear and obvious.

Digital sensor or touch field control.
Clear, quick and precise. Especially useful for reducing points of contact.

Multi-functional control
Several functions in one fitting – and nevertheless easy to understand. User guidance must be clear here.

Children learn from repetition and comparison. But they also learn by trying things out: step by step, curious to find out more. A carefully chosen mix of control types supports this learning process, makes day-to-day interactions with water safer and simultaneously relieves the burden on nursery personnel. This can be clearly seen in various contexts:

• Children learn the effects of different types of controls.
• Children learn how to open and close fittings, and the right way to adjust water flow and temperature.
• Mechanical fittings help to promote motor function development.
• Sensor fittings reduce water consumption while improving hygiene.
• With sensor fittings and self-closing fittings, the flow of water stops automatically – even if kids forget to shut them off.

In schools, kids must be able to use sanitary facilities independently and without help. Intuitive fittings can be used by kids at various stages of development and therefore ensure that the daily routines are not interrupted. Specifically, this means that:

• Operation is self-explanatory, regardless of age
• Barriers to use are reduced – especially for younger school pupils
• Experience from day nurseries is automatically applied to the school setting
• Fittings used with confidence and not avoided

The end result is greater independence, less of a need for explanations and a stable, uninterrupted daily routine at school.

A key safety aspect is protection from contact with very hot water. In day nurseries and primary schools, the risk of scald injuries should never be underestimated, as young skin is very sensitive. Sanitary equipment for washrooms and showers therefore needs to be chosen carefully. Temperature limitation ensures that fittings cannot even produce water that is excessively hot. These kinds of protective mechanisms work independently of user behaviour. They are ‘always on’ – which is why they are so important. Intuitive fittings combine simple operation with integrated safety features. Accordingly, they spare children from having to make potentially incorrect decisions.

Wash basins

Children need fittings that are easy to understand – they should be able to use them safely without adult supervision. In nursery schools, it makes sense to install a variety of models, so that children learn how to use contactless fittings and self-closing fittings as well as conventional single-lever mixers.

In day nurseries and schools in particular, reliable anti-scalding protection for wash basins and showers is absolutely essential: kids are often unable to properly assess the dangers posed by hot water.

All HD-M faucets in the new E² series are equipped with mechanical hot water limiting. This allows adjustment of the maximum flow of hot water through the faucet – and therefore the draw-off temperature – to individual usage requirements.

In the daily routine at day nurseries and schools, intuitive fittings supply much more than just water. They provide safety, promote independence and relieve the burden on personnel. If fitting controls are intuitive and protective mechanisms work reliably in the background, sanitary facilities can stay safe and operational even when they see heavy use. This creates solutions that are kid-friendly while also meeting the requirements of modern educational institutions. This is the key to creating future-proof designs for sanitary equipment.

Spitzholz public day nursery, Sindelfingen

Project data

Property type: Day nursery
Requirements: Renovations
Completion: September 2022
Location: Sindelfingen
Country: Germany
SCHELL products: SWS Server, SMART.SWS, PURIS E electronic wash basin tap, CELIS E electronic wash basin tap, GRANDIS E electronic kitchen tap, angle valve thermostat set

Theodor-Heuss Primary School, Wesel-Bislich, Germany

Project data

Property type: Community primary school
Requirements: Renovations
Completion: September 2020
Location: Wesel-Bislich
Country: Germany
SCHELL products: SMART.SWS, XERIS E HD-K electronic wash basin tap, LINUS Basic D-C-T concealed shower, concealed masterbox, reduced aerosol shower head