A Guide to Commercial Hand Dryers

Proper hand drying is an essential part of a complete hand-washing routine. Unlike wet hands, dry hands reduce the risk of spreading bacteria and viruses to surfaces. Therefore, a commercial hand dryer is essential for proper hand hygiene in public bathrooms.

A wide range of hand dryers is available on the market, and choosing which is best for your public restroom is essential! Join us as we explore the realm of commercial hand dryers.

Types of Commercial Hand Dryers
Important Features of Commercial Hand Dryers
Why Your Business Needs Commercial Hand Dryers

Types of Commercial Hand Dryers

There is a wide variety of hand dryers that are suitable for use in commercial premises. Any heavy-duty environment needs a high-speed dryer to keep up with the continuous cycle of wet hands throughout the day!

There are two main categories of commercial hand dryers, as described below:

Automatic Hand Dryer

Automatic dryers use powerful air jets to blow water off hands, drying them within 10 seconds. These dryers are hands-free, meaning they begin to expel hot air with a hand motion. Without a button to press, these dryers reduce the spread of germs.

Conventional Hand Dryers

Traditional hand dryers tend to be operated through manual force. They often have a button that must be pressed to activate them. The dryer then runs for a predetermined length of time.

Important Features of a Commercial Hand Dryer

Several features of commercial hand dryers should be considered when investing in one for your premises:

Style & Size

While functionality is a priority for a hand dryer, it must also be aesthetically pleasing for any commercial environment. From small, simple hand dryers to large, sleek jet-blade dryers, you can source a hand dryer that meets your operational requirements while looking smart in your building.

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Energy Efficiency

Automatic hand dryers use an infrared sensor to recognise when a person's hand is within range and only run for an average of 15 seconds. Traditional hand dryers run for 30 seconds once turned on and continue to run within this time frame, even if the user has walked away. Automatic hand dryers are, therefore, more energy-efficient than conventional dryers.

Noise Levels

The decibel level of a hand dryer is largely dependent on its speed. Typically, the higher the power, the louder the sound. Therefore, it is important to consider the environment in which the hand dryer is situated to determine which hand dryer will suit your business needs. It is recommended to look at hand dryer models with an operating sound pressure level of less than 60 dB.

Hygiene

Hands-free hand dryers offer a touchless solution to drying your hands. Wet hands spread germs more easily than dry hands, so it is essential to dry them thoroughly before continuing with your day. Automatic hand dryers have grown in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. They allow individuals to dry their hands without having to come in contact with any surface.

ADA Compliance

All hand dryers must comply with ADA standards. To meet these regulations, a hand dryer must be easy to locate. It must be placed no higher than 48 inches from the floor, and if it is wall-mounted, it must be recessed using a recess kit or have a greater depth than 4 inches.

Why Your Business Needs Commercial Hand Dryers

There is no doubt that commercial buildings should provide a hand-drying option in their washrooms. There has long been controversy over whether hand dryers offer better benefits than paper towels, but there are many reasons why your commercial building needs a hand dryer.

Cost-Effective

While having a higher upfront cost, automatic hand dryers work out cheaper in the long run when you consider that you are not faced with the associated costs of shipping, storing, and then disposing of paper towels. If 150 hands are dried daily, this equates to more than £1000 spent on paper towels before factoring in wastage and disposal costs.

Improved Washroom Experience

Equipping your commercial building with hand dryers will enhance your visitors' hand-washing experience. Fast and efficient hand dryers can improve individual washroom experiences by ensuring that the flow of your washroom traffic is not bottlenecked and that your washroom is organised and clean.

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Hygiene & Cleanliness

Commercial washrooms with paper towels over a hand dryer can result in damp, discarded towels left on surfaces and the floor. These damp towels can harbour bacteria and must be disposed of immediately. Hand dryers are crucial for washrooms as germs thrive on moisture, and wet hands will spread bacteria fast. Automatic hand dryers are preferred by many individuals who wish to avoid touching public surfaces; as long as visitors ensure that their hands are completely dry, they reduce the spreading of germs.

Minimum Maintenance

Installing commercial hand dryers will boost the efficiency of your washroom. They require little upkeep and maintenance after installation and only need servicing once a year. This differs from paper towels, where a person is responsible for ordering, monitoring, and replenishing paper towel dispensers, which creates unnecessary work for your maintenance department.

Commercial Hand Dryer FAQs

How efficient is a hand dryer?

To be deemed energy efficient by the Carbon Trust, a hand dryer must be rated at least 1.6kw or lower and able to dry hands in 15 seconds or less.

Are hand dryers eco-friendly?

Hand dryers are considerably more sustainable than paper towels, as they generate lower carbon emissions and waste. Eco-friendly hand dryers benefit the environment, are more cost-effective, and improve the washroom experience.

Do hand dryers need servicing?

Hand dryers should be checked weekly to ensure debris does not build up within the air holes. Depending on the level of usage, maintenance should be performed by a qualified professional at least every 12 months to ensure the hand dryer meets proper standards of care.

Choose Woosh for Your Commercial Hand Drying Needs

When you are managing a business, installing remarkable bathroom facilities is paramount. Hygiene and cleanliness should be at the forefront of your washroom design, and this can be achieved by investing in one of our eco-friendly, automatic, commercial hand dryers.

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Explore our range of products today and excel your washroom facilities with our handwashing equipment, too, to leave your visitors with immaculate and dry hands.

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