Self-flushing fittings from SCHELL help to maintain drinking water hygiene

5-minute read

Fittings with a stagnation flush option are important if support is required for maintaining water quality in a building. SCHELL offers a diverse portfolio of these types of products, which are often referred to as ‘self-flushing fittings’. These high-quality self-flushing fittings offer the option of triggering a stagnation flush automatically – such as 24 hours after the last use, for example. This is important for maintaining water quality in the drinking water installation.

SCHELL offers the right fitting for the right application – whether for wash basins, kitchens, showers, WCs or urinals. One example is the XERIS E-T: this self-flushing wash basin tap is equipped with a sensor that can be configured using short-range reflex to set the time when a stagnation flush should be triggered. Two options are available here: every 24 hours or 24 hours after the last use/flush. With its option for carrying out stagnation flushes independently, the tap helps to maintain water quality. In addition, the tap’s contactless operation using a sensor also helps to improve user hygiene. Thanks to this feature, the tap does not need to be shut off once hands are clean: the flow of water stops automatically once hands are no longer within sensor range. The recipient of multiple awards for design, innovation and functionality, this tap is also compatible with SSC and SWS, which offers further benefits that we will come to in a minute. Like other self-flushing fittings from SCHELL, the XERIS E-T is robust and durable, thanks to the legendary SCHELL quality and the premium materials used in its construction.

To stay legally compliant, building operators must avoid prolonged periods of stagnation in the drinking water installation, as this can allow dangerous bacteria like Legionella to spread unchecked. If a regular exchange of water across all tapping points cannot be ensured at least every 72 hours, building operators must take steps to initiate such an exchange of water and flush the installation piping. Simulating this ‘specified normal operation’ with manual flushing is prone to error, however. For facility management, this a very time-consuming task that ties up personnel resources, since the tapping points to be flushed include all fittings in the building – not just the wash basin taps but also all shower and WC fittings as well. Due to personnel costs and the large volumes of water required, carrying out stagnation flushes by hand is an expensive and error-prone business for facility managers. 

Automated stagnation flushes can ensure the regular exchange of water and therefore help to maintain a high level of water quality. This is not only important for buildings whose sanitary facilities see different levels of use as a result of seasonal variations, for example. Even a long weekend can in fact make stagnation flushes necessary in many commercially used buildings. Self-flushing fittings are designed to handle this task and lighten the load for facility personnel.

Various adjustment options can be activated depending on the SCHELL fitting model. In the case of the contactless electronic MODUS E wash basin tap, for example – which is an ideal choice for facility managers on a budget – this fitting can be adjusted by short-range reflex to carry out a stagnation flush lasting 30 seconds 24 hours after its last use. Other SCHELL models offer additional options. The contactless electronic PURIS E wash basin tap offers another alternative, for example, and can be activated to perform a stagnation flush every 24 hours.

The SCHELL product portfolio offers a wide range of fittings with stagnation flush features:

Self-flushing fittings offer another huge advantage: where fittings permit contactless operation, self-flushing wash basin taps can also help to save water – and therefore cut down on energy consumption. With these taps, the flow of water is triggered by an infrared sensor whenever a hand moves into the range of the sensor field. This means that water only flows when it is actually needed for hand washing. As a result, this can achieve water savings of up to 70 percent. Go here to find out more about water-saving contactless fittings from SCHELL. 

High-quality self-flushing fittings from SCHELL offer many ways to help maintain drinking water hygiene, and always adapt to the individual needs of the facility manager and their respective building. Stagnation flush options are easy and straightforward to activate, with a range of intervals available for stagnation flushes depending on the fitting model. Even more options for setting up stagnation flushes are offered when setting the parameters of fittings compatible with SCHELL Single Control (SSC). The innovative SCHELL Water Management System is the perfect choice for the centralised programming of networked fittings. The system’s browser-based add-on SMART.SWS can also be used by authorised facility managers to adjust SWS-capable SCHELL fittings remotely. Last but not least, the use of electronic sensor wash basin taps from SCHELL can cut water usage by up to 70 percent when compared with a single-lever tap. Thanks to this combination of outstanding properties, SCHELL fittings offer optimum support when it comes to saving water and maintaining drinking water hygiene, while also making a valuable contribution to good user hygiene.