Delabie will feature its ‘innovative’ direct flush system for toilets at Healthcare Estates 2022. The company said: “Toilets are an obvious source of harmful germs. The cistern poses a hygiene risk because water is stored at ambient temperatures in the presence of oxygen – ideal conditions for bacterial development.
These bacteria are released in an aerosol plume during flushing, but they can also spread back through the pipes and colonise the system. Direct flush reduces the contamination risk by connecting directly to the water supply. A self-closing valve discharges a pre-determined flush volume without having to store water. By employing system pressure, there is no stagnation, scale deposition, or build-up of impurities upstream of the flush mechanism.”
(Xhead) Direct flush improves hygiene
Water Supply Regulations require the pan content to be cleared effectively with a single flush. According to Delabie, gravity-fed cistern-flush mechanisms may not have sufficient dynamic pressure to ensure an effective rinse with a single flush. Delabie explained: “Direct flush systems are more hygienic, and save water. The mechanism harnesses the system’s dynamic pressure, and there is no refill time, so the flush is instantly available.” Delabie’s direct flush with dual flush is pre-set to 3L/6L, and can be adjusted to 2/4L for ecological or smaller children’s WC pans. This also prevents ‘unhygienic splashing’, and removes the risk of slipping on wet floors.
Intelligent rinsing
For optimum hygiene, Delabie’s Tempomatic Dual Control direct flush valve activates via a push-button, or automatically if the user forgets. An intelligent rinsing system identifies the duration of use, and flushes accordingly. There are three programme options, including an ecological setting for maximum accreditation with environmental schemes. Delabie says this ‘guarantees that the bowl is always rinsed, while a hygienic duty flush every 12 or 24 hours prevents stagnation in the pipework’. Furthermore, no manual contact is required, so the toilet is accessible to any user, ‘regardless of age or mobility level’.
Fit-for-purpose
Delabie added: “Cistern-flush mechanisms are not suitable for intensive use. Heavy-handed users can easily break their fragile mechanisms, or cause deliberate flooding. Scale build-up in the cistern can compromise the seal, resulting in leaks which often go undetected. Waterwise estimates that a leaking toilet can waste up to 400 litres per day. Even if leaks are detected rapidly, maintaining large numbers of toilets is time-consuming. Mechanisms can be difficult to access, and parts can wear out quickly with intensive use, requiring frequent repairs.
“Tempomatic Dual Control’s mechanism, designed for public washrooms, is more robust. The actuator plate withstands high levels of demand, and the solenoid valve’s lifespan extends beyond 350,000 cycles. An anti-blocking system means the valve cannot be activated inadvertently or blocked to flush continuously; the flush takes place once the button is released. Thanks to the push-button, the flush still activates even if the power fails.
