Whether a facility is looking to install touch-free toilets, faucets, soap dispensers, towel dispensers or hand dryers, it must first assess how the dispensers will be operated. Most wall-mounted dispensers, including those for towels and soap, are typically batter-operated. Those that require plumbing, such as faucets and toilets, are available in battery-operated or hard-wired versions. Most hand dryers, as they need lots of power in short bursts, need to be electrically wired to the wall — and that can require the hiring of an electrician in order to install the proper wiring. Battery-powered devices are installed easily and in any location they can be mounted, but require scheduled maintenance to ensure that they are working properly and that batteries are functioning. An additional benefit to battery-powered devices is that they are not affected during a power outage.


posted on 9/21/2009