Planning and renovating sanitary facilities in hospitals

During a hospital stay, patients expectto find a safe and protective environment. Many patients are weakened due to ill health, which means that infections are much more of a problem.Hygiene and safety are therefore top priorities– especially in operating theatres and sanitary facilities. Many existing sanitary facilities are showing their age, however:outdated equipment, a lack of anti-scalding protection or inadequate drinking water hygiene can easily become hazards. With its durable, efficient and hygienic fittings, plus the SWS Water Management System,SCHELL offers the perfect solution for efficient and future-proof hospital renovation projects.

Sanitary facilities in hospitals demand especially highstandards of hygiene. These facilities offerplenty of points of contact for spreading pathogens– putting both patients and medical personnel at risk. Alongsidehygiene and safety,aspects such asfunctionality and ease of upkeepalso play a central role. Key requirements are presented below.

General requirements

User safety: Sanitary facilities in hospitals are used by people from all age groups and with a wide variety of physical conditions. The facilities must be safe to use by all these individuals. Effective protection against burns and scalding is therefore essential to avoid injuries. In addition, safe usage by people with reduced mobility must also be possible at all times.

User hygiene: High standards of hygiene are essential to minimise the risk of infection and ensure the safe use of these facilities.

Clean and easy to maintain: Sanitary facilities in hospitals must be especially hard-wearing, and able to withstand intensive cleaning and disinfection processes. Quick and thorough cleaning is also equally important.

Drinking water hygiene: Sanitary facilities in areas of hospitals open to visitors typically see a very high level of use. At the same time, some private patient rooms may remain unoccupied for longer periods of time. As water starts to stagnate in the piping here, this can promote the excessive growth of Legionella.

Operational sustainability and saving water: The economical use of water and energy is also an all-important topic for hospitals – which makes sustainable and water-saving solutions increasingly relevant.

Specific requirements

Wash basins: Wash basins in hospitals must be safe and intuitive to use for everyone. Temperature limitation is essential to avoid the risk of scald injuries. Materials must also meet strict requirements for hygiene, robustness and resource conservation.

Theatre and treatment areas: Hygiene requirements are especially strict in operating theatres and treatment rooms. Fittings and sanitary equipment here must all be completely sterile. Durable, low-maintenance solutions are also needed, to avoid equipment failure in the high-risk theatre area.

WC facilities: The WC facilities in hospitals are used by a great many people with a wide range of health conditions. Flush systems and fittings must therefore be robust, easy to clean and proof against vandalism.

Showers: Showers must guarantee a high level of hygiene safety and reliably prevent any chance of a scald injury. Safe usage must also be ensured for people with reduced mobility. Requirements for efficiency, ease of upkeep and resource-friendly operation must also be satisfied.

Kitchens: In hospital kitchens, ensuring the water supply is hygienic is a top priority: this is needed to avoid cross-contamination while also maintaining strict standards for food preparation. Robust materials and straightforward cleaning are also all-important here.

Technical/utility rooms: Technical/utility rooms are often infrequently used, although they still require reliable sanitary solutions. Compact, space-saving fittings that require no additional installation effort are needed here.

Whether old facilities are being modernised or new sanitary facilities are planned, the goal is always to achieve a safe, hygienic and functional installation. Clear requirements apply here for both planning and operations.

User safety: anti-scalding and burn protection

To protect both patients and visitors, the sanitary equipment installed must offer reliable protection against scald injuries and burns. Technical codes require specific action to be taken here. DVGW W 551 states that draw-off taps with individual locks must be used and with anti-scalding protection provided as necessary. DIN EN 806-2 recommends the use of thermostatic mixing valves with a maximum temperature of 43 °C. Steps should also be taken to eliminate the risk of burns from excessively hot surfaces.

Important: Go here to find out more about standards, legal duties and solutions for anti-scalding protection.

Drinking water hygiene

A basic requirement for maintaining drinking water quality – keep the water moving! Hospitals may also have empty patient rooms or rarely used tapping points – e.g. in technical/utility rooms or basements – which lead to stagnation in the installation piping and therefore a greater risk of higher concentrations of harmful Legionella bacteria. As a preventive measure, Part 1 of the German VDI 6023 technical code requires a full exchange of water across all tapping points at least every 72 hours. Building operators are required by law to ensure specified normal operation and keep full records of the same.

Wash basins

With the VITUS VW-AH exposed wash basin tap and the MODUS Care AH wash basin tap, SCHELL offers specialised solutions for use in doctor’s practices, examination rooms, operating theatres and hospitals. The extended arm lever permits hygienic operation with an elbow and thereby reduces the risk of bacterial transmission. Straightforward hot/cold controls, hot water limiting and clear colour coding ensure safe and intuitive operation. The VITUS VW-AH is optionally available with an integrated ThermoProtect thermostat: thanks to its reliable anti-scalding protection, this provides an extra level of safety – even if the cold water line fails.

SCHELL designed the VITUS VW-AH exposed wash basin tap with clinic arm lever specifically to meet the stringent requirements for high-risk medical applications.

The MODUS Care AH wash basin tap is operated with the elbow along a single axis: as it is moved to the left, the flow of water starts cold and becomes warmer as the lever is moved further.

Contactless wash basin faucets like the XERIS E², CELIS E² and PURIS E² are an ideal choice for hospital visitor areas. Thanks to their high-precision time-of-flight (ToF) sensors, the water flow is triggered without touch, reducing the risk of contact infections. An automatic shut-off saves water and energy. The faucets also feature mechanical hot water limiting. The XERIS E²-T features a ThermoProtect thermostat that provides reliable, precise anti-scalding protection and an instant water stop if the cold water line fails.

SCHELL has designed the MONTUS Type CS 120 and MONTUS Flow H cistern modules especially for use in accessible sanitary facilities. Thanks to their narrow frame design, these cistern modules can be easily combined with the SCHELL MONTUS high load mounting modules. The high load mounting modules enable the simple and standardised installation of wall-mounted grab bars and other types of fixtures – even as later retrofits.

The SCHELL SWS Water Management System is an especially smart choice for hospitals, as it offers support for maintaining drinking water quality. Building operators are required by law to ensure drinking water is exchanged every 72 hours across all tapping points. For healthcare facilities, the VDI 6023 technical code recommends even shorter cycles of 24 hours. With SWS, automated stagnation flushes can be performed across all important tapping points: the ideal approach to preventing high concentrations of Legionella. Thanks to the centralised management of all electronic fittings, the system offers effective help for complying with hygiene standards for drinking water installations.

Requirements for sanitary facilities in hospitals are challenging: hygiene, safety, functionality and sustainability must all be properly attended to. SCHELL offers durable, low-maintenance and efficient solutions that make hospitals fit for the future – to protect patients, employees and the environment.