Außenansicht der Lüdenscheider Freimaurerloge „Zum Märkischen Hammer“ e.V.

Johannes Lodge ‘Zum Märkischen Hammer’ e.V.

Electronic SCHELL fittings improve user hygiene and energy efficiency in this listed freemasons lodge building

Traditional architecture meets ultramodern sanitary systems: renovations to the female and male WCs at the freemasons lodge ‘Zum Märkischen Hammer’ e.V. in Lüdenscheid utilised electronic wash basin taps as well as WC and urinal modules from SCHELL. These products now improve user hygiene and energy efficiency in this listed villa, which dates from the year 1885. 

Project data

Property type: Freemasons lodge

Requirements: Renovations to listed building

Completion: 2022

Location: Lüdenscheid

Country: Germany

SCHELL products: MONTUS wash basin module, XERIS E HD-K and XERIS E HD-M electronic wash basin taps

MONTUS WC module, BOARD WC operating panel

MONTUS COMPACT II urinal module, EDITION E urinal control

COMFORT angle valve with regulating function

Challenge

One aim of the renovations to the female and male WCs on the premises of the freemasons lodge ‘Zum Märkischen Hammer’ e.V. in Lüdenscheid was to improve the level of user hygiene by installing a modern suite of sanitary equipment. An intelligent solution was needed that would provide technically advanced and hygienic facilities to lodge members and visitors while effectively reducing the risk of contact infection. The new sanitary systems also needed to support economical, water-saving and energy-saving building operations.

Solution

State-of-the-art sanitary equipment from SCHELL meets the highest hygienic and functional requirements in the renovated female and male WCs at the Johannes Lodge. On the wash basins, XERIS E HD-K and XERIS E HD-M fittings were installed: these taps are equipped with infrared sensors, and this contactless triggering reduces the risk of contact infections and therefore improves user hygiene. The infrared controls on the taps ensure that water only flows when it is actually needed, so this also helps to save water and energy while fittings are being used. The WCs were equipped with the elegant MONTUS BOARD operating panel and its ingenious dual-flush system. The electronic EDITION E urinal control ensures hygienic use of the urinals. The flush mechanism is also triggered by a contactless, infrared sensor: the control does not need to be touched by the hands and therefore reduces the risk of disease transmission.

The XERIS E HD-K electronic wash basin tap was installed in the male sanitary facilities, while the female facilities were fitted out with the XERIS E HD-M electronic wash basin tap, whose elegant and minimalist design plus high-gloss chrome finish turns it into a real eye-catcher on the wash basins. The taps equipped with infrared sensors offer contactless – and therefore especially hygienic – triggering of the flow of water. This reduces the risk of the transmission of infectious diseases. The XERIS E is also especially economical with water and energy during use: for handwashing, the flow of water starts only when hands are present in the sensor field and then stops automatically afterwards. Individual parameters such as sensor range, flow time and follow-up time can be configured by short-range reflex. Stagnation flushes can also be set up, either at fixed intervals, for example, or at a fixed point in time after their last use. In this way, the XERIS E taps therefore not only improve user hygiene but also help to maintain the quality of the drinking water. Thanks to their COMFORT handles, the angle valves with the COMFORT regulating function installed on the wash basins are easy to operate, and make light work of adjustments to water volume, maintenance and repairs. 

MONTUS BOARD WC operating panels were also installed in each of the female and male WCs. Featuring a chromed front, these operating panels provide a water-saving dual flush function. Usage is also intuitive, thanks to the single and double wave symbols marked on the buttons, which trigger an ‘eco’ or main flush, respectively. 

The EDITION E urinal control was installed on the urinals in the male WCs. The electronic flushing mechanism here features contactless, hygienic operation via an infrared sensor. The sensor window is located on the flushing mechanism’s chrome-finished front panel. The EDITION E model also offers the option of an odour trap flush and an energy-saving mode. 

The renovated building’s modern approach to sanitary design is rounded off by MONTUS modules from SCHELL: two MONTUS wash basin modules, two MONTUS WC modules and a MONTUS COMPACT II urinal module were used here. The self-supporting, powder-coated steel profiled frame with height-adjustable feet made module installation both simple and flexible. The MONTUS modules were securely attached using the matching SCHELL wall bracket sets. 
 

The Johannes Lodge was first established in the late 19th century: formed in 1888 under the aegis of Emperor (and freemason) Frederick III, the Johannes Lodge was the only freemasons lodge created in the brief period that this ‘99-Day-King’ spent on the Prussian throne. In 1900, the members of this lodge, named after John the Baptist, acquired the plot now occupied by the present-day lodge building. An annex was added to this listed villa, which dates from 1885, and which was used from then on as a meeting-place and event venue for the brotherhood. Since then, this venerable building has experienced a somewhat chequered history. After the outbreak of the First World War, the villa was temporarily used as a military hospital for reservists before then being commandeered by the National Socialist regime and converted into a dairy. It was not until 1953 that the members of the Johannes Lodge took possession of the property again, by court order. Today, the Johannes Lodge ‘Zum Märkischen Hammer’ e.V. is used as a venue for weekly lodge meetings, philosophical and other public discussion groups, communal meals and lodge feast days for this strongly Christian association, which has not only declared its commitment to the French Revolution values of ‘liberté, égalité, fraternité’ but also the more modern values of tolerance and humanism.