Hansa - Blog

What are EPDs and why is it important to look at the full lifecycle of a faucet?

Hansa — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 12:00:37 GMT

We’ve gathered our sustainability experts to discuss everything project planners need to know about navigating the complex world of environmental certifications and documentation in the future.

In the past years, project planners have been under pressure to meet an increasing number of standards and requirements on a building’s environmental performances. These are known as BREEAM, WELL and LEED or the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and typically, several of them are used in combination.

That often requires lots of research, detailed documentation, and a constant need to stay up to date on the latest sustainability trends and best practices. Working with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) can save project planners some of that work. That’s why we at HANSA provide EPDs to a dedicated range of our faucets to make selection and documentation a little easier.

So, what can EPDs do for you, how do they work and why should project planners care?

EPDs are expected to become a market requirement

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and lifecycle assessments (LCAs) ensure that manufacturers analyze their environmental impact throughout the entire production process – from raw material extraction to its usage by the end consumer.

As ECO certifications are gaining traction across Europe, we can expect EPDs to become an important market requirement in the building industry. This will have profound implications for manufacturers worldwide. In the future, it will be up to them to deliver solutions that satisfy these certification requirements and to document the environmental impact of every product delivered to our buildings.

Among these products are faucets, which are a necessary fixture in buildings, but may not always be given sufficient consideration for their environmental impact.

Manufacturing footprint vs. lifecycle footprint: what's the difference?

Including EPDs on products sends an important signal on the journey towards environmentally certified buildings. They allow us to examine the immediate carbon footprint during manufacturing and throughout the entire lifecycle of a product – including parameters such as energy consumption, recycled materials, emissions, hazardous substances, and end-of-life.

"It’s about focusing on source separation and reuse as well as setting strict requirements for our suppliers and partners to ensure there are adequate conditions throughout the value chain. Equally important is being able to provide standardized documentation of the lifecycle of our products, as well as other measures to help customers become more informed,” explains Country Manager Lars Erik Fossum.

That is what lifecycle assessments (LCAs) are for. They look at everything that happens during a product's lifecycle, including how much energy it takes to make and use the product.

“That can be quite a task. It's usually not enough to say that we do it this way or that way. Everything must be documented and verified through external audits,” Fossum adds.

“On the flip side, these analyses also allow us to identify areas where we can improve the sustainability of our faucets most effectively.”

Taking sustainability assessments to new heights

At HANSA, our most recent studies have shown that we might think most of our faucets’ environmental impact comes from manufacturing. However, the carbon footprint of the usage phase is in fact more significant.

“While the manufacturing process does contribute to a faucet's carbon footprint, the bigger impact comes from the usage phase – specifically, the energy and water consumed during use,” explains Kasper Thomsen, responsible for Hansa sustainability product portfolio.

By considering energy and water consumption during use, we have been able to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of our faucets.

This not only helps to conserve resources but also has an impact on reducing carbon emissions – even more than the most sustainable manufacturing methods.

Navigating sustainability standards today and tomorrow

Industries need to prioritize sustainable practices. But providing extensive documentation won’t be enough as demand for ready-made, documented solutions for various environmental standards is growing rapidly.

That’s why we at HANSA have equipped a selected range of our faucets with EPDs, created guides that help our professional customers find the right type of installations for their next ECO building and set up special task forces to consult on environmental standards in our different markets. With the plan to continuously expand the EPD product portfolio over the coming years.

“This will help us ensure everyone involved in a construction project can get recommendations on which products to use in reference to the environmental requirements that have been set,” concludes Marketing Specialist Susanne Karine Halck.

Project planners can already make a difference today by choosing products with lower carbon footprints. By looking out for EPDs and LCAs, the future project market will not only be well-equipped to examine their installations' immediate environmental impact during manufacturing but also throughout the entire lifecycle of a product.

Architecting a flagship faucet experience onboard one of the world’s most climate-smart passenger ships

Hansa — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 08:00:00 GMT

When Viking Line planned the design and interior of its new passenger cruise ship, Viking Glory, equipping the 222-metre vessel’s bathrooms and kitchens with the right choice of faucets was a smooth sailing process. Putting environment and comfort first, Viking Line naturally turned to HANSA as the reliable partner to help them deliver a variety of faucet solutions renowned for being user- and environmentally friendly.

Thanks to advanced, innovative technological solutions, Viking Glory, which will sail passengers from Finland and Sweden, including some international passengers, is set to become the world’s most environmentally friendly passenger ship. From bow to stern, no compromise was made ensuring the highest standards of comfort, safety and sustainability were upheld onboard the vessel – and where else to look for evidence of this other than the faucets?

The challenge: Designing an interior anchored in style and sustainability

At the helm of coordinating interior design for Viking Glory and responsible for the planning of crew areas and cabins was, Architect, Johan Nordberg. He was tasked with the challenge of designing an interior that would spark continued interest amongst passengers in travelling on Viking Line ships.

This meant installing a variety of faucet solutions that echoed Viking Glory’s taste for Nordic maritime, timeless thinking and understated luxury. As well as achieving the right aesthetic, a ship of this calibre also required innovative and sustainable faucet solutions to live up to its pledge of being the world’s most environmentally friendly passenger ship.

The solution: A familiar faucet delivered by a reliable partner

HANSA was selected as the obvious partner to provide faucet solutions for Viking Glory’s bathrooms and kitchens. With a variety of HANSA faucet solutions installed on Viking Line’s older fleet, ship personnel were already familiar with them.

“HANSA is a renowned manufacturer that we have been using since the 1980s, which meant it felt natural to continue this relationship.”

By partnering up, Viking Line combined their extensive expertise of ship projects with HANSA’ s customised support and solutions. Models were agreed early in the project to avoid logistical delays between Finland and the Shipbuilding yard in China. Due to well-organised planning, HANSA products and solutions arrived on schedule.

The project placed high importance on installing familiar products with a reputation for sustainable innovation. For this reason, HANSAPINTO washbasin faucets were chosen for the cabins. Their sleek, universal design and sustainable 6l/min water consumption made them the perfect choice, striking the right balance between comfort and style while helping save water and energy on board the vessel.

A wide range of shower sets and systems enabled the Viking Line team to tailor installations to their visitors’ needs and the vessel’s individual requirements, finding a perfect match for every bathroom layout. By selecting the HANSAMICRA shower solutions, for example, guests get to enjoy both timeless design and functional features that ensure uniquely comfortable, safe and ecofriendly shower experiences.

With touchless fittings, water consumption can be reduced by half, while user-friendliness and hygiene rise to new heights. For these reasons, the HANSAELECTRA range was selected for public WCs and kitchens. The touchless technology will help Viking Line’s new ship deliver on its commitment to safety and responsible operations, as it prepares to welcome passengers in a post-pandemic and climate-concerned world.

The result: All hands on deck: A ship with a new design and a unique interior

A few delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic meant that the ship was finally delivered in February 2022, six and a half years after plans for the ship commenced. The newly designed vessel brought a familiar yet striking interior that went down well with passengers.

With the overall goal to deliver the most environmentally friendly passenger ship ever built, Viking Line looks back on a successful building project that upheld Viking Glory’s commitment to passenger safety and comfort, whilst saving energy and water consumption onboard the vessel of tomorrow.

How to consult your customers on sustainable faucets

Hansa — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 08:00:00 GMT

Long-lasting and resource-efficient installations are in high demand – today more than ever before.

As more and more homeowners are turning to installers to find more sustainable appliances and reduce their overall water and energy costs, here’s what you need to know to consult your customer in the best possible way.

From products that limit water and energy use to innovative digital features that allow you to monitor and control daily consumption patterns, many of today’s faucets come with plenty of ECO features.

But how can installers navigate a jungle of eco-labels and features and provide customers with the kind of information that’s most important to them?

Here are four steps you can take to cut to the core of any eco product.

1. Check for EPDs

EPDs have become an essential standard in the industry. The foundation of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are so-called lifecycle assessments (LCAs). They help you access transparent, verified and comparable information about the life-cycle environmental impact of the products and services you purchase.

(Learn more about SDG 12: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal12)

This typically includes the full value chain, from material extraction and manufacturing to its usage and end of life.

So, before purchasing or recommending an appliance to your customer, always make sure to check for EPDs to get a first assessment of the faucet’s environmental footprint.

Get a quick overview of all our EPD-classified HANSA products and use advanced filters to search for specific categories, product- or installation-types.

2. Get to know crucial resource-saving features

Low flow

Faucets with integrated low-flow features reduce the amount of water released per minute, which can significantly minimise the overall water and energy consumption of your customers’ homes.

Low-flow products come in various forms: from low-flow shower systems to washbasin or kitchen faucets. They are a great choice for customers that aim to save water in their daily lives without cutting down on comfort or convenience.

Cold start

Cold start features help significantly cut down energy use by allowing you to set the default lever position on cold water during installation.

That way, no energy is wasted on heating up water during simple day-by-day operations when there’s no actual need for hot water.

ECO mode

In the shower, thermostats with EcoFlow control and safety-stop, for example, are a great choice for reducing the amount of water released per wash (to only 12l/minute) while a temperature safety stop at 38°C helps save energy and ensures a pleasant temperature to cut down heating costs. 

3. Digital solutions that help save water in a smart and convenient manner

Bluetooth-enabled applications

A variety of today’s faucets are equipped with Bluetooth signal which connects the faucet to a user-friendly App. This is a great sustainability benefit for your customers, enabling them to oversee water temperatures and water usage and flexibly customize the faucets’ settings via their mobile device.

Touchless features

Touchless features can further help your customers minimise water use as water only runs when actually needed.

Water flow is activated and deactivated based on smart integrated sensors, making sure that no water is wasted throughout the day.

Real-time tracking features

If your customers decide to go a step further, there’s a variety of smart features out there allowing them to track their daily consumption.

By installing a digital hand shower, for example, they get to monitor water use via an integrated display that signals if the shower time is too long and shows the exact water temperature in real-time. That way, users not only become more aware of their daily water consumption but also adopt more resource-conscious bathroom habits.

4. Sustainability that pays off in the long run 

Finally, it’s important to focus on the entire lifecycle of the faucet. While the manufacturing, sourcing and use of materials all play a crucial role, built-in resource-saving features have become the single most effective means to reducing both costs and CO2 emissions.

Fixtures with dedicated ECO functions that limit water and energy use throughout their entire lifetime have a decisive long-lasting impact on our planet and significantly exceed the savings we can achieve through sustainable production and manufacturing methods.

How to talk to customers about safe drinking water

Hansa — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 18:01:16 GMT

How can fixtures help ensure safe and healthy drinking water? Here's how to talk to your customers about water quality.

Over the past years, the EU has been committed to improving the state of Europe’s freshwater supply, declaring high-quality, safe and sufficient drinking water essential for our daily lives.

Especially for drinking and food preparation in residential and commercial buildings, water must be free from chemical substances or germs that can affect the health of people.

Thanks to key legislative directives, such as the EU Drinking Water Directive, water coming from our faucets is carefully monitored to guarantee high-quality standards and protect us from contaminated waters.

But what does it mean for water to be safe for human consumption? Here's how to talk to your customers about safe drinking water.

How can stagnated waters affect water safety?

Our drinking water is a natural product from the water cycle and is therefore not 100% sterile.

Even after treatment in the waterworks, it contains low concentrations of microorganisms. Generally, they are harmless and don’t pose a health risk.

However, if drinking water stays in the pipes for more than several hours, it stagnates. This shapes the perfect conditions for microorganisms to develop and multiply, which poses a significant health risk to end-users.

Legionellae, for example, is one type of widespread environmental bacteria that are a natural component of surface and groundwater in low concentrations and can also be found in drinking water.

Increased water temperature and long dwell times of water generally promote the multiplication of undesirable substances and bacteria in water pipes.

As microorganisms can migrate from contaminated stagnation areas into regularly used pipe sections, they endanger the quality of the drinking water and can increase the risk of infection.

Private households are particularly prone to water stagnation, where installations haven’t been used for a long time (for example, in guest toilets, holiday apartments or vacant apartments) or public premises that haven’t been active for a long period of time, such as hotels, restaurants and schools during the holiday season.

How can customers avoid stagnant waters?

Ensure a regular water flow to avoid long dwell times of the water in the installation.

Once infected with legionellae or other bacteria, it's extremely time- and cost-intensive to recover the water safety of the building, especially in larger building projects.

This can be done by both building owners or private users.

+ 4 hours: If water has been left in the tap for 4 hours or more.

Water that has been in the pipes for more than four hours should not be used for drinking or preparing food.

For stagnation water to run off, run the tap until the water is cool over your fingers. You can recognise the freshwater by the cooler temperature.

Legionellae multiply very slowly in cold water with temperatures below 20 °C and die from approx. 70 °C. However, temperatures ranging between 25 °C and 55 °C can lead to a high concentration of Legionellae that affect the health and safety standards of the water.

+ 3 days: If water has been left in the tap for 3 days or more.

Open the faucet and run the water for several minutes to ensure the complete exchange of drinking water in the system and system parts.

+ 4 weeks: If water has been left in the tap for 4 weeks or more.

Shut off the pipes before you are absent. Flush the pipes when starting up again.

Especially in places with longer absences, such as holiday apartments, hotels, or guest bathrooms, automatic flushing can help ensure the pipes are flushed regularly when not in use.

How can customers bypass manual flushing?

Manual flushing can be a time-consuming task – especially in larger public buildings. And although crucial for ensuring optimal water safety, it’s often overlooked by end-users.

To provide a more reliable, comfortable and efficient user experience, many of HANSA’s faucets are equipped with automatic flushing features. That way, customers can easily manage flushing intervals, flushing duration and cleaning time through a Bluetooth-enabled connection via the HANSA App (e.g., by setting a fixed flushing interval, which is automatically activated every 72 hours).

Schedule weekly or daily automatic flush with the HANSA Connect app.

Learn more about how automatic flushing can prevent undesired substances and bacteria from growing.

How can the faucet’s material affect water quality?

Materials built into fixtures can release small amounts of chemical substances and impair water quality.

A common concern of customers is traces of lead that can end up in drinking water when plumbing materials containing lead, such as pipes, faucets, and fixtures, corrode over time.

That's why, to ensure safe drinking water, faucets must comply with strict quality regulations.

Which materials are best for ensuring safe drinking water?

An essential standard for manufactured materials is the 4MS Common Composition List, classifying the materials that comply with EU standards.

For pipes, the following materials can be commonly found in drinking water installations

▸ copper

▸ stainless steel

▸ plastics

Outer components

For outer body parts, covers and levers, dezincification resistant (DZR) brass or chrome-plated zinc is mainly used.

Depending on its quality, water is quite aggressive in the long run and can wash out the zinc from the brass alloy. That’s why high-quality faucets are equipped with particularly resistant MS63 brass.

It’s one of the best brass materials to be used in the sanitary industry and a good investment, not only because of its extremely durable qualities but also as a guarantee for safe drinking water. In addition to lowering the contamination of the water with zinc, this means reduced overall corrosion and the risk of pitting.

HANSAPOLO is a lead-free kitchen faucet with < 0,1% Pb content making it a safe choice for customers with the highest water purity standards.

If your customers demand the highest water purity standards, lead-free products and nickel-free waterways are a great choice. Watching out for the HANSA Protect label can help you identify the products in our range, which contain less than 0.3% lead to keep levels of lead in the water supply as low as possible.

Inner components

For inner components, such as cartridges, valves, aerators and pipes, different types of polymers are used to ensure a high level of hygiene.

For the spout’s interior, for example, PSU/PPSU and POM engineering plastics are commonly used due to their excellent chemical properties.

They are an extremely hygienic choice for components that are in contact with water and food, reducing exposure to chemicals microbes and resisting humidity and mold.

To further improve water purity and reduce the propagation of harmful microbial growth, all plastic materials which are expected to come in contact with water are approved by local certifications, such as KTW and W270 approvals.

Find out more about the different uses and traits of plastic.

Carefully selecting the right materials and ensuring regular flushing intervals is essential for securing high water purity. Make sure to get to know your fixtures’ chemical properties and functions to guarantee a safe and substance-free water supply for your customers.

From mechanic switches to electronic shut-off valves – Here’s all you need to know about dishwasher valves

Hansa — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 07:00:00 GMT

Mechanic and electronic dishwasher valves. What’s the difference and what does that mean for your installation?

In multiple European countries, it has become mandatory to guarantee secure and visible shut-off valves. That's why many modern faucets integrate dishwasher valve functionalities that are built into the fitting – via mechanical switches on the faucet or an electronically operated push button.

Find out about the main differences between mechanical and electronic dishwasher valves and learn how you can ensure a quick and smooth installation.

From separate units to integrated features

Originally, shut-off valves would be installed as a separate valve under the sink [double spindle angle valve].

This setup, however, is quite impractical for both installers and end users as access under the sink is limited and doesn’t allow for much space to move around.

Mechanical dishwasher valves – Relocating the shut-off switch onto the faucet

That’s why, as a first innovation step, many modern faucets feature a third connection hose leading from the fitting to the dishwasher.

Featuring a mechanical shut-off valve, they open and close the ceramic sealing disks through an integrated switch (see numbers 9 and 10 in image below).

Example: HANSAMIX (01152283)

What to keep in mind for installation?

There may be different connection sizes ½" & ¾", depending on which country you’re located in.

What’s the main advantage?

This setup allows you to conveniently switch the water supply on and off – without having to crawl underneath the sink.

Electronic shut-off valves via one simple “push”

A new generation of electronically operated faucets allows users to send an impulse via a simple "push button" on the electronically operated solenoid valve (see images below)

Number 11: Push-button Electronic shut-off valve Hansa Designo Style Comfort+ (Art.nr.51372283 /3031)

What to keep in mind for installation?

Keep in mind that this variant requires additional cables to ensure a stable power supply – either via a power unit supply, if a socket is available, or a battery-powered control unit.

It also requires you to attach an electronically controlled solenoid valve onto the cold-water inlet before the connection hose/pipe continues.

What’s the main advantage?

The electronic valve closes automatically after each flushing interval and allows you to individually set the opening time of the valve according to your preferences.

For faucets with an electronic dishwasher valve or solenoid valve, make sure to install a fine filter to protect the solenoid valve. A filter is included in your product package.

At HANSA, we continuously examine smart and convenient extra functionalities as part of our product development.

Check your country’s building requirements:

Land	JA	NEIN
Germany		X
Austria		X
Benelux		X
Italy		X
Spain		X
Finland	X
Sweden	X
Norway	X
Denmark		X
Eastern Europe		X
Asia		X

Manual vs. automatic – How to choose the right shower panel?

Hansa — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 07:00:00 GMT

Looking for shower panels? For your next project, make sure you know the main features to find the right fit for your building's requirements.

You may wonder which shower panel to get for your next project. Not only coming in different designs but also offering various functions, choices are wide.

Whether you’re installing shower panels in a gym, in schools or a housing cooperative, make sure you answer these 3 essential questions to find the right fit for your application.

1. Manual vs. automatic shower panels?

Shower panels are known for their easy-to-clean and easy-to-operate-character, which is why they are a common go-to solution for public bathrooms, such as gym showers or swimming halls.

However, there are variations. Not just in terms of ease of use or cleaning required, but also in terms of water and energy consumed.

Whereas manual shower panels, for example, are the cheaper solution, they are also more prone to misuse and water overconsumption.

That’s why, if water use is a priority in your project, touchless shower panels may be the better choice. By only activating the water when needed, the building can save huge amounts of water. In fact, touchless showers can cut down water consumption by up to 50%.

By using touchless shower panels, a building can cut water use in half.

2. Fixed power supply vs. battery-operated shower panels?

If you’ve set your eyes on a touchless shower panel solution, make sure to check and locate the nearest power source available for your installation.

If there’s a power supply nearby, fixed transformer shower panels are a great choice. They ensure a stable and strong energy supply and can withstand heavy use in busy environments.

You can choose between two fixed power options:

FTW model with a transformer: A maximum of four showers can be connected to one transformer at a time, making them a popular choice in public spaces, e.g., showers in schools, sports halls and swimming pools or housing cooperatives.
FTX model with a bus transformer: A maximum of ten showers can be connected to the bus transformer at a time, making them particularly popular for large-scale projects.

Other times, your next job may include a renovation project and power sources may not always be available. In that case, we recommend going for battery-driven shower panels.

Shower panels, operating on lithium batteries, are a common picture in offices, small gyms and other medium-sized semi-public spaces and can be the perfect choice for bathrooms with moderate use of the showers.

3. Basic vs. advanced features?

Different projects have different requirements. And for many, e.g., small public bathrooms, a simple standard solution will do. Larger-scale or more complex projects, however, may require additional smart features to ensure showers and pipes can be cleaned and maintained in the easiest way possible.

Features, such as automatic flushing times, are crucial to schedule the flushing of the pipes when showers are not in use and to meet standards on water quality and water safety.

Shower panels come with multiple configurations and additional features. It could come with pre-mixed water or require extra features, such as a temperature regulator or an additional hand shower.

No matter the size or application of your next project, always pay attention to your project’s specifications and contact one of our specialists, when in doubt.

Find more information about touchless shower panels or get in touch.

Bath and tile rim systems – How to make sure everything works the way it should

Hansa — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 07:00:00 GMT

Troubleshooting bath and tile rim systems: What to do when the roll box no longer works, how to replace the shower hose and how to find the right parts for your project?

In tile rim and bath rim systems, you’ll typically find a built-in roll box unit with an automatic hose wind, making sure the shower hose can be flexibly pulled out and drawn in when needed. They can be easily installed and serviced – if you stick to a few simple rules.

Here’s what you need to know about fixing and servicing roll box systems in both bath and tile rim systems.

Troubleshooting: what to do if the roll box no longer works?

A malfunctioning or broken return automatic usually requires you to replace the roll box with a new model.

That often means disassembling the concealed system into several parts to access the old and install a new roll box.

To lower the risk of injuries or incorrect installations, make sure to follow these three simple rules.

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Locate the roll box 
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First, make sure whether the roll-up box is integrated into the bath or tile rim.

If integrated into the bath rim, you’ll have to open an inspection opening to access the roll box system.

If integrated into the tile rim, you’ll be able to lift out the entire roll box system from the top to insert a new one.

Simply follow our maintenance guide to correctly place the new roll box into your system.

2. Do not disassemble the roll box

No matter what’s causing the malfunction, never attempt to disassemble the roll box. In any case, the roll box must be completely replaced. If you open the roll box system, you may risk getting injured as the spring might pop out.

3. Make sure everything is sealed

Once you successfully replaced the roll box with a new model, make sure all parts of the tile or bath rim system are correctly fitted and sealed. Check if the drain on the bottom of the roll box lies flat on the floor so the water can drain off properly.

How to exchange the shower hose?

Your customers may also ask you to replace the existing shower hose with a new one. Fortunately, the hose can be exchanged easily without uninstalling the roll box.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for exchanging the shower hose in no time

Pull the hose all the way to the stop out of the holder
Detach the hand shower from the shower hose
Remove the cover rosette
Loosen the Allen screws with a size 3 mm Allen wrench
Now, you can take out the hose bushing together with the hose holder
Pull out the hose all the way until you can see the pressure hose
Detach the shower hose from the pressure hose. B.: Make sure to lock it to avoid back-flow (You can, for example, use the plastic ring that’s included for transport security in the packaging)
Use a ring wrench to remove the shower hose
Once both hoses are separated from one another, you can attach the new shower hose, refit the cover rosette and mount the hand shower to the new hose

On our YouTube Channel, you’ll find a step-by-step guide for changing the shower hose (in German).

N.B.: The roll box should also be connected to the drain. Our packages include a hose for the drain that perfectly fits with our bath fill and drain sets.

Find the right body parts

Finding the right body parts is key for ensuring the frictionless operation of bath and tile rim systems as it, for instance, impacts the automatic retraction functionality of the roll box.

To select the right one that matches your system’s dimensions, check the features and product number of your roll box and make sure each component can be fitted with the concealed body parts.

Here’s what that means in 3 steps:

Verify the type of concealed body : There are three different types of concealed bodies for the bathtub. Make sure you check your existing bathtub setup to find the right, fitting body parts.

You can choose between bodies that are:

Check the setup of your body part : You’ll find that each body requires different cover parts. Check if your chosen system comes with 3 or 4 holes (see example below) to find matching cover parts.

Our tile rim systems, for example, come in two models with 3 or 4 holes.

Explore your design options: Once you’ve narrowed down your body parts and know which type of cover parts (3 or 4 holes) match the existing body, you can start exploring a range of different style options for the cover parts.

Explore your design options for a 3-hole setup

Explore your design options for a 4-hole setup

As one of our latest editions, the HANSASTELA, for example, comes in two variants for both 3- and 4-hole set-ups.

Tipp: If you have a 3-hole setup, you can consider installing the HANSAFILL bath fill and drain sets.

How to make the most of HANSA’s digital tools

Hansa — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 07:00:00 GMT

From digital product finders and product comparisons to QR codes and promising AR technology, here’s how installers can make HANSA’s digital tools a vital part of their daily work routine.

You might be familiar with our HANSA apps already. Perhaps, you’ve even checked out more of our digital tools while searching for and comparing products online. Navigating new digital tools, however, can be overwhelming and finding the right technology that saves time prior to and during installation can take hours of research.

That’s why, we gathered the most important HANSA digital tools in one place to help you make the most of what’s out there.

Product finders, video guides, advanced search and comparison tools

Find products quickly and access relevant product information: A product finder helps installers gather all relevant product information in one place. You can search by product category, keywords, product names or numbers and gain quick and simple access to guides, data sheets and 3D models.
Learn more about installation and maintenance in our video library: By accessing our video library, you can browse through a variety of tutorials on installation and maintenance and quickly learn about new product functionalities.
Search for products and spare parts through advanced filters: Search filters allow installers to quickly filter products by category and narrow their search down to a precise selection of product parts.
Easily compare products online: By makings use of our comparison view, you can quickly save products in your bookmarks and get a better overview of the selected products.

QR codes for easy product identification

Product packaging with integrated QR codes help installers scan their products with their smartphones or tablets. Instead of searching for product leaflets and instructions in old registers, they are linked directly to relevant product information, installation and maintenance guides online.

HANSA virtual showrooms for inspiration

By using our virtual showroom, you can preview a variety of faucet models in a virtual space and help customers discover the latest of our HANSA faucet designs.

This saves lots of time previously spent on guiding customers through product novelties as they can now browse through the latest additions to the portfolio and playfully learn about novel models before making a purchase decision.

Bathroom configurator for easier planning

The HANSAMATRIX configurator helps installers make the planning process significantly less complex. By entering the virtual planning platform, installers and customers can mix and match various products with washbasins, bathtubs and showers and visualise different combinations on the platform.

From functionality to design and optional accessories, once selected, the configurator automatically creates a list of all the products required so that both installers and customers know exactly what they need.

3D visual representation with AR technology

Augmented reality is the newest of all technologies and helps installers visualise and position different faucet models in an interactive 3D view

You can access the interactive view via our App or our website. To enter the product view via a product page, simply follow 4 easy steps:

Select a model on the product page and enter the interactive 3D product view.
Activate the AR function and scan the QR code with a mobile device.
Use the camera of a mobile device and point to an even surface until the product appears.
You can now view the selected model from different angles and distances by using your mobile device as if it were a magnifying glass. Each product is displayed on a real scale. That way, you can ensure the right match between faucet and the overall dimensions of the intended installation area.

For many of your customers, it may be hard to visualise the faucet in its intended position. And even if visualised via floorplans and other representations, it’s often not enough to judge from pictures how different fittings blend with the overall environment of the rest of the room – both in style and functionality.

With the expansion of virtual showrooms, AR technology and instructional training videos we can expect more and more digital services to help installers save valuable time before and during installations.

The role of faucets in our future homes

Hansa — Wed, 18 May 2022 07:00:00 GMT

From hybrid homes that intelligently merge our work and living spaces to bathrooms designed for relaxing, dwelling and collecting important health data. How has the way we use bathrooms and kitchens changed and what can project planners expect in the future?

IoT is one of the major technology trends of our time. Our homes are becoming more digital, spanning from voice-controlled assistants to intelligent water sensors and installations that can be monitored and controlled via connected Apps on our smartphones.

As installations are becoming smarter and more connected, they are also becoming more embedded in our surrounding interior, designed to blend seamlessly with traditional objects of our homes.

Inevitably, this will also have an impact on how we interact within our own four walls – even in spaces as personal as our home bathrooms.

So, what can we expect from smart living features in the future? And what functions do we expect our kitchen and bathroom installations to serve?

We looked at the latest technology trends and what they mean for the future of faucets.

The bathroom becomes a place for personalized health management

We’ve experienced a growing demand for smart technology, aimed at helping us manage our physical health. This includes monitoring and measuring features that collect and analyse data on our personal fitness, such as smartwatches, but may also affect how we design our future bathrooms.

Smart features that are installed throughout the bathroom are expected to collect data on various parameters, such as hygiene as well as physical fitness, which can be fed back to the homeowners. Important health data could, for example, be monitored daily and visualised by projecting it on installed glass and ceramic surfaces, such as our bathroom mirrors.

This is not as futuristic as many may think. A major share of today’s installations already integrates intelligent features to track water consumption and faucet use, allowing consumers to hold water consumption low while monitoring handwashing routines to improve hand hygiene and reduce infection risk.

Additionally, digital hand showers can help users track and adjust their water consumption by following their shower routine with an integrated digital shower app.

The kitchen becomes a hybrid space

In the past years, many of us have transformed our homes into hybrid office and living spaces, merging kitchen, living room and workstations into one open, multi-multifunctional area.

This not only calls for a design but also a functional evolution of our installations. For the kitchen setup that could, for example, mean installing faucets with low noise water flow.

Sound measurements are typically performed by using the ISO 3822 standard and help classify faucets according to their sound level. By selecting Class I faucets with flow rates below 20 dB, project planners can ensure an undisturbed atmosphere for those who use their kitchen as an office space during the day.

With more technology entering our homes, we also expect surfaces to be clean and safe to protect surrounding work equipment and appliances from potential water spills and other damages.

Hybrid faucets with flexible spouts can help project planners ensure safe, comfortable and intelligently designed hybrid living spaces. By combining both manual and automatic features, users can clean surrounding areas more easily and keep their hands and equipment free by making use of touchless features.

Up until today, we’ve seen immense progress in the way we use and interact with our home installations. With more and more digital tools on the rise, we expect our homes to fulfil even more purposes in the years to come. Whether its health-related smart features or household appliances that connect with multiple personal items, such as our phones or watches, the future of residential project planning will not get around connected and individualized home setups.

3 must-have features for a fast and simple shower installation

Hansa — Wed, 11 May 2022 07:00:00 GMT

Why is it so important that shower solutions can be shortened and why should installers be aware of adjustable bar holders?

Here’s how to save time and effort during installation by paying attention to three small features.

If your next project involves installing a new shower solution, here are three essential features that will help make your workday much easier.

Shower solutions that can be adjusted in height

If you’re replacing an old shower with a new shower solution, you may realise that existing installation and connection points don’t match the dimensions of your new fixture. They can be placed too high or too low.

To prevent the new shower head from hitting the ceiling, make sure to invest in shower solutions that can be shortened. Heigh-adjustable shower solutions, such as the HANSAFIT or HANSAMICRA, can help save valuable time, allowing you to flexibly cut the pipe and adjust the height of the shower to any space.

If connection points are positioned too low, the shower may not be fit for taller users. If this is a common challenge of yours, consider going for shower solutions that come with additional extension parts. They can, for example, help you easily extend the shower solution by up to 10 cm during installation. For further Information please contact our customer service.

Adjustable wall brackets

If you’re planning to use existing holes from an old shower bar, adjustable wall brackets are a must-have.

They help you easily mount the new fixture onto existing connection points of the old system without having to drill extra holes. It also enables you to flexibly set the optimal distance between wall and rail to guarantee a perfectly parallel installation.

High-quality wall connections

When it comes to materials, investing in high-quality, durable components will always pay off. Using high-quality connections that are made from durable materials are essential for guaranteeing shower components can be properly tightened without damaging the material’s surface.

Ensuring optimal installation on-site already starts at the planning phase. When looking for a shower solution for your next project, make sure you pay attention to small features prior to your installation job to save time and effort.

Get smarter and learn about the most common pitfalls when installing shower solutions

How smart resource-saving faucets help project planners tackle rising electricity costs

Hansa — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 06:06:00 GMT

Today, keeping the carbon footprint of new building low has become an integral part of project planning. Whether it’s about meeting strict sustainability targets or accommodating fluctuating energy prices, here’s how to keep energy consumption low and tackle the EU’s energy price surge by using smart, resource-saving technologies.

In the past years, the construction sector has been forced to alter the energy performance of existing building stock and pave the way for low-carbon buildings of the future. Meanwhile, a current surge in European energy prices puts pressure on project planners to save resources and keep energy costs of buildings low.

Here’s how to cut down on energy costs and what role water-saving installations play in the green transition.

How will rising energy prices impact the future of the building sector?

Many of today’s building stock was built without following significant energy performance standards and the European Commission estimates that 75 percent of existing buildings will continue to exist by 2050. As energy prices are skyrocketing and the demand for resource-efficient buildings continues to grow, energy renovations offer great potential to achieve a lower carbon footprint and tackle the rising utility costs of public and private buildings.

How does water use drive up a building’s energy costs?

Water consumption takes up a considerable share of a building’s utility bill in both residential and public buildings. In large commercial buildings with high traffic, such as airport or shopping mall bathrooms, faucets are often subject to resource-inefficient use, e.g., by leaving the water running for too long or repeatedly adjusting water temperature throughout the day. This quickly ramps up utility bills.

Meanwhile, residential buildings make up 72 percent of the total water use of all buildings across Europe. And a large portion of this is spent on showering and bathing, which majorly impacts energy costs. In fact, one minute in a warm shower is average equivalent to one full day of the electricity used for lighting in a three-person household.

That's why more and more building operators demand upgrades that not only keep electricity but also water consumption to a minimum.

How can water-saving faucets help keep electricity costs low?

In residential buildings

Showers make up a large share of water use in private dwellings. That’s why water-saving shower solutions are often used to cut down on water consumption. But they also come with significant price effects as in most European countries it’s the heated water of our showers that’s responsible for a building’s high electricity bill.

By installing water-saving thermostats and showerheads, such as low-flow showerheads, for example, users have been able to restrict water flow and reduce water consumption by up to 50 percent.

Thermostats with EcoFlow control and safety-stop can further help reduce the amount of water released per shower (e.g., to less than 10 litres per minute) while a temperature safety stop at 38 °C helps save energy and ensures a pleasant temperature.

In public buildings

In public buildings, faucets with an integrated low flow function and temperature lock can cut warm water consumption by 50 percent. As maximum flow time and temperature can be limited per use, less energy is required to heat the water, leading to lower overall utility costs.

Smart faucets with integrated Bluetooth technology further help building operators monitor and control energy and water consumption of larger projects. Connected to the HANSA Connect app, they can adjust the flow time of each faucet throughout the building complex via the connected app. This also facilitates easier reporting and enables building operators to ensure the building satisfies local sustainability certificates and permits.

How can project planners meet energy certifications and standards?

Alongside features such as safety, security, moisture, thermal health and ventilation, efficient use of energy and water are vital requirements of sustainability certifications, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method).

This demands project planners to know their installed solutions’ energy profile to the tiniest detail. To satisfy a Level 4 BREEAM approval, for example, water installations may not exceed a maximum water outlet of 12.75 liters. Meeting this criterion means finding the right combination of the shower, bathroom faucet and kitchen faucet.

At HANSA, we’re dedicated to helping you find the right product mix for your specific requirement. Have a look at a few examples of product combinations we recommend to our customers:

Combination 1: Total Flow of 12,6 litres

	Model	Water consumption in litres per minute
	HANSAMICRA ECO Shower System	7,5
	HANSAPINTO ECO Kitchen Faucet	3,4
	HANSAPINTO ECO Washbasin Faucet	1,7

Combination 2: Total Flow of 11,1 litres

	Model	Water consumption in litres per minute
	HANSAMICRA Shower Faucet	6
	HANSABASICJET Shower Set	0 (the consumption is limited by the faucet)
	HANSAPINTO ECO Kitchen Faucet	3,4
	HANSAPINTO ECO Washbasin Faucet	1,7

In the future, getting on top of water and energy costs will become a fundamental part of successful project planning. But not all projects are the same and finding the right solutions for each setting may be complex and time-consuming. That's why at HANSA we test our solutions together with our customers to mobilise better energy-efficient bathroom fixtures and meet tomorrow’s energy requirements.

Installing a touchless spout faucet only takes 3 easy steps

Hansa — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 06:30:00 GMT

Touchless spout faucets are a common picture in public restrooms, such as airports and malls but also medical buildings. They are not only easy to operate, but also easy to install. In fact, it only takes a few quick steps. Here’s all you need to know about installing touchless spout faucets.

Smarter faucets and advanced technology demand more and more from professionals. And with more exciting benefits, such as touchless features, also come more parameters that installers need to look out for. Luckily, installing new-generation faucets is as easy as installing a traditional manual faucet.

The intuitive plug-and-play system keeps the number of individual parts and tools to a minimum to make installation and maintenance as easy as possible for the installer.

To ensure a quick and trouble-free process, make sure you keep the following in mind.

What you need to know before installation

All spout faucets are designed to integrate the technology in the spout’s body. That includes water outlet, sensors, and electronics (including batteries and the magnetic valve, that’s necessary to switch the water flow on and off).

That also means that the faucet’s dimensions are fixed and can’t be shortened, so make sure you choose the right model. You can choose between two faucet sizes, which are based on the dimensions of common washbasins:

Models with a 175mm length (measured from the wall to the spout’s outlet)
Models with a 225mm length (measured from the wall to the spout’s outlet)

Installing a touchless spout faucet in 3 easy steps

Step 1:

Place the silicone seal on the installation hole and add the cover plate
Seal the fitting body with a Teflon tape to create a tight connection between the internal and external thread

NOTE: In the silicone seal, there’s a recess that prevents water that may originate from leaks to collect in the inner body of the faucet. Make sure that the recess is facing down to allow drainage.

Step 2:

Screw the inner body on the thread and align with a spirit level. All models come with an indentation so that you can position the spirit level without complications.

Step 3:

Push the front part of the spout onto the protruding inner body and establish the electrical connection. Guide the sealing rings neatly into the recess of the sealing body so that the water pipe meets the water outlet.
Secure the outlet so that it cannot be pulled off towards the front.
Once the plug connection is established, the sensor receives a signal that it’s connected to the solenoid valve and can start working.

Good to know

If maintenance work (e.g. battery replacement) is necessary, an integrated shut-off valve can be used. That means that building operators or installers don’t need to shut off the entire water supply of the building to carry out maintenance work.

NOTE: If you need to change the batteries, make sure to use lithium batteries to ensure long service life.

After installation

As the faucet comes with a Bluetooth-connected sensor, installers can make use of the HANSA app to adjust the parameters of the valve, such as afterflow time, or schedule automatic flushing intervals if a fitting has not been used for a certain period of time, to maintain water hygiene and flush stagnant water out of the pipes.

Touchless spout faucets can be easily integrated into any environment if you pay attention to a few important details. That’s why, to guarantee a seamless and quick installation, always make sure that the recess is properly positioned, the inner body is aligned with the spirit level and that the electrical and mechanical connection is established.

How digital guidance and rewards help children wash their hands well

Hansa — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 07:00:00 GMT

Smart and engaging technology can have a true impact on hand hygiene. Pilot projects in several kindergartens have confirmed the success of the digital system, leading to a significant increase in hand washing time and joyful faces at the sink.

Smart and engaging technology can have a true impact on hand hygiene.

As a result of widespread campaigns, most of us have become more aware of infection transmission to help keep ourselves and others around us safe. For children, however, following a proper handwashing routine is not as intuitive.

Up to 80% of the most common diseases are transmitted by touch

Source: Study on hand hygiene by SRH Heidelberg, 2018.

Kindergartens are one of the many places, where teaching good hand hygiene can have a true, long-lasting impact.

Long-lasting behavioural changes that lead to great results

Achieving sustainable behavioural changes requires knowledge-sharing and collaboration. That’s why, together with the University of Bamberg, HANSA is testing various pilot studies across Europe to improve our daily hand washing routines through innovative, gamified nudges.

And the results speak for themselves. By making use of engaging gamification elements and integrated digital systems, soaping and washing time could be significantly improved.

From posters to interactive screens with real-time user feedback

In most of today’s public bathrooms, we can find posters, reward charts or playful instructions aiming to make handwashing a part of our daily routines. However, they often have limited impact and quickly fade into the background.

The new digital system by HANSA makes use of smart faucets and soap dispensers that are connected to small interactive screens, which can be mounted directly next to the washbasin.

Playful nudges and smart insights that have a true impact – Here’s how it works

The setup measures washing and soaping time and guides children through their handwashing routine via playful animations.

Using real-time technology, known from appliances such as electric toothbrushes, the setup measures washing and soaping time and guides children through their handwashing routine via playful animations. By following the instructions on the screen, children receive a reward animation, which turns handwashing into a fun, engaging game with great overall results.

By measuring and evaluating washing and soaping time, it also provides feedback on single hand washing sessions and collects data to assess overall hygiene levels on a long-term basis.

By following the instructions on the screen, children receive a reward animation, which turns handwashing into a fun, engaging game with great overall results.

The future of bathrooms – in private and public buildings

Running multiple test pilots and research projects across European kindergartens, hospitals and other public institutions, we are expecting to share more insights in the near future.

This opens up a whole new world of opportunities:

By monitoring usage patterns and collecting vital data, we can start building a universal hand hygiene index that compares the data of multiple projects.
Building managers or staff can set hygiene targets and compare their performance with others.
By analysing different reward systems and guidance videos, we can test which ones have the greatest effect on users and develop new insights together with our customers.
Companies can safeguard the health of their employee base by using the hand hygiene service. Investments in hand hygiene not only reduce sick days and related costs. It also improves the well-being and productivity of personnel by seeing tangible results and targets.

Better hand hygiene can break chains of infection, reduce infection-related downtimes and create a healthier environment for children, staff and their families. Guiding users through their handwashing routine via playful, interactive videos has a huge impact and contributes to better, healthier handwashing habits. By taking digital features into consideration during the planning phase, project planners can have a large, long-lasting impact on the health of users in public and private spaces.

Manual flushing vs. automatic flushing

Hansa — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 07:00:00 GMT

Manual flushing can take up the valuable time of cleaning personnel and staff, especially in larger public buildings. And too often, it’s overlooked or not done correctly. Here’s how automatically scheduled flushing intervals can help.

HANSA touchless faucets with Bluetooth can be controlled via the HANSA Connect App, which enables automatic flushing at set intervals.

In buildings with low occupancy rates and sparse vacancies, such as holiday homes or apartments, ensuring regular water circulation is key to avoiding stagnant waters and ensuring drinking water quality.

Providing regular flushing of pipes and installations is already a common practice in premises that follow strict hygiene requirements, such as hospitals and care homes. In our daily environments, however, it’s often overlooked.

It’s up to installers to educate customers on the important health aspects of flushing and start the conversation about automatically scheduled intervals.

Flushing the pipes helps prevent bacteria growth

Water temperature and long dwell times of water promote the multiplication of undesirable substances and bacteria in our pipes.

Legionellae, for example, are a widespread type of environmental bacteria. They are a natural component of surface and groundwater in low concentrations and can also be found in drinking water.

The main issue of manual flushing

The main issue of manual flushing is simple: It’s overlooked in our everyday environments.

Building operators and staff are often not aware or forget to arrange flushing installations in critical spaces of our everyday lives, spanning from office buildings to shopping malls and daycares. And even if borne in mind in more sensitive environments, such as hospitals, flushing the installations manually means opening each of the building’s faucets individually on a regular basis. This can be very time-consuming.

Water hygiene done correctly with automatic flushing

With automatic flushing schedules, installers, building managers or private end users can create weekly or daily automatic flushing intervals to replace the manual rinsing of pipes and installations.

Public buildings, such as daycares, for example, could schedule daily automatic flushing on Monday mornings before opening hours to ensure the water is safe for children to drink.

In larger buildings, automatic flushing features can further help users easily manage flushing intervals and flushing duration (e.g., by setting a fixed flushing interval and duration for all faucets of the building).

How to schedule automatic flushing correctly

HANSA touchless faucets with Bluetooth can be controlled via the HANSA Connect App, which enables automatic flushing at set intervals.

Here’s how it works in 5 easy steps:

Download the HANSA Connect App in iOS version on the App Store or in Android version on the Google Play store
Turn on the Bluetooth® wireless connection in your smartphone or tablet settings
Open the App
All nearby Bluetooth® compatible HANSA faucets will be listed automatically (to a radius of up to 10 metres). Select the desired faucet and connect your phone to it
You will get an instant overview of the product information and gain access to the settings of the faucet: Here’s what they mean:

- Off: No automatic flush
- On: Choose between various options
  1. Weekly schedule: You can define automatic flush times in a weekly calendar. You have the option to choose max. two times per day.
  2. Fixed interval: The faucet flushes automatically in a fixed interval. You can define the Automatic flush interval (from 1 to 120 hours since the last usage) and the Automatic flush duration (from 1 to 180 seconds)
  3. Minimum flush volume: You can define the exact number of litres of water that flow through the faucet during the flushing interval (from 1 to 200 litres)

Optional: The App also allows users to create pre-sets according to individual settings. For example, by adjusting cleaning mode time, after flow time or other parameters, users can create and save their customised product settings. These settings can be copied and transferred to other installed faucets of the building. This becomes particularly handy in public buildings with several bathrooms.

A scheduled automatic flushing interval is easy to install and enables your customers to save valuable time to ensure the right level of hygiene in any environment. It also ensures greater flexibility as installers or private users can flexibly adjust settings and intervals. That means, they can themselves decide on the flushing interval and find the right settings for their specific needs.

Integrated hand hygiene: How can healthcare institutions use faucet data for better hand hygiene?

Oras — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 07:00:00 GMT

Most of today’s hospitals are left with no other option than relying on direct observation and a general trust in staff and visitors to comply with hand hygiene standards. However, this often comes with flaws. Luckily, the future is just around the corner: By integrating smart hygiene monitoring features into existing installations, hospitals can track and improve hand hygiene based on data and real-time feedback.

In the past years, ensuring proper hand and water hygiene has moved to the very top of the agenda, both for building operators and project planners. Especially the medical industry has experienced pressure from all sides to upgrade their buildings’ sanitary installations and enforce higher hygiene standards.

But when it comes to hand hygiene, we often only think of touchless installations to reduce infection risk. And while that’s a great start, the future requires us to look beyond and move towards new hand hygiene standards that are based on playful incentives and data analysis.

Let’s have a look at tomorrow’s digital services. Here’s how integrated hygiene can change the future of hand hygiene in medical buildings.

Why is integrated hand hygiene important in the first place?

According to the WHO, 10% of patients globally acquire a Healthcare-Associated Infection, which can be caused by poor hand hygiene in the most critical spaces. And too often, hospitals lack access to data on the level of hand hygiene compliance among their staff.

By installing smart monitoring systems, hospitals can provide real-time feedback, guiding staff and visitors through the correct hand washing routine while also analysing and improving compliance to hygiene requirements based on individual hand hygiene habits and patient contact.

What are integrated sensors and how do they work?

Today, we can already see more and more sensors integrated into multiple applications, such as showerheads to, for example, track water consumption and temperature.

“Integrating smart sensors with real-time feedback into faucets is only a natural step from here. This can be a major game-changer for how we, in the future, will talk about hand hygiene and handwashing habits,” says Juhani Lempinen, Product Category Manager, Smart & Digital Business at Oras Group.

The sensor comes as a miniature turbine, which uses water flow to generate electricity (removing the need for a battery) and measures water flow, consumption and water temperature during a faucet’s operation.

“A major benefit of these turbines is that they can run alongside any faucet model, whether manual or automatic. This also means that they can be flexibly installed into new as well as retrofitted into existing buildings, no matter the faucets’ brand,” Juhani Lempinen continues.

As the measuring module can be installed as a single unit under the sink, buildings don’t need to replace their existing faucets if they decide to upscale their installations.

Future digital services create new hygiene standards

Data can help drive improvements in handwashing behaviour and enable hospitals to create a global, data-based water quality index.

With the rise of connected systems that use multiple IoT sensors, information can be collected in a central location, such as a service cloud online storage. This allows building managers to access data to report, create actionable insights and shape awareness on hand and water hygiene via smart monitoring dashboards.

With access to users’ data in the entire building, hospitals can create automated reports and documentation of usage and (re)evaluate current practices to, for example, improve water hygiene programs directed to prevent the spread of legionella.

At the same time, tailored hygiene protocols for different types of rooms (think: patient rooms, operating rooms, public bathrooms) can show staff whether and how to properly sanitise a room and set goals for compliance based on the results.

Real-time feedback that improves handwashing habits

Apart from enabling monitoring, controlling and reporting, additional features such as an integrated handwashing coach can provide real-time feedback and influence users' handwashing habits.

“Digital faucets can become the personal trainer of handwashing for healthcare professionals and visitors,” Juhani Lempinen explains. “An interactive screen that’s connected to the faucet and, for example, installed above the washbasin, can address users with real-time visual feedback and playful nudges to improve handwashing routines. At the moment, we have several pilot projects up and running across Europe and have seen great improvements in users’ hand washing routines.”

This data can eventually help drive improvements in handwashing behaviour and enable hospitals to create a global, data-based water quality index.

What can we expect in the future?

With our everyday installations getting smarter and more connected, we can expect additional intelligent features to add extra comfort to users and building operators.

With the increase of data collected and stored in service clouds, building operators can manage and control installations comfortably and remotely via a monitoring dashboard. Easy localisation of each of the buildings’ fittings and their status can help identify malfunctions and leakages to prevent breakdowns or predict future maintenance issues. It would allow them to, for example, activate flushing or block a faucet remotely based on diagnostic error messages related to detected untypical behaviour.

An integrated hand hygiene system is not a wild future aspiration anymore. In fact, it's already a live solution that’s currently under heavy testing all over Europe.

With data recorded in more than 12 testing stations (ranging from airports to kindergartens and hospitals) leading to insights on more than 200,000 water extractions, we’re looking ahead towards a data-driven future.

Dos and don’ts when installing a touchless faucet

Hansa — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 07:00:00 GMT

Touchless faucets are designed to simplify installation for professionals. However, to guarantee an optimal and hassle-free installation, there are a few crucial things to keep in mind. Read our list of dos and don’ts and make sure your next touchless faucet installation runs as smoothly as possible.

To reduce complexity touchless faucets use the same infrastructure, configurations and fixing parts as traditional faucets to make sure they can be installed just as easily as manual faucets.

But, as for any installation, there are always a few crucial things to pay attention to. Following this simple list of dos and don’ts of installing touchless faucets will help make your job quicker and hassle-free.

Do:

Flush the piping before installation

Always make sure to flush the pipes before installing your touchless faucet to avoid residue and other substances from entering the new installation system and ensure it runs without friction.

Especially in highly sensitive environments, such as hospitals, creating a clean and bacteria-free environment prior to your installation is key for guaranteeing optimal hygiene.

Center the faucet

When installing the faucet, make sure you center the faucet correctly. This means two things:

1. Placing the faucet correctly in the installation hole: Not centering the faucet can result in gaps between the faucet and the hole. If the installation is not properly sealed, you may risk water drops running down the installation hole and, for example, entering the cabinet under the washbasin.
2. Centering the faucet at the right angle to the basin: If the faucet is not installed at the right angle, the water jet may hit the ceramic unfavourably and cause splashing.

For battery-operated faucets: Place the battery box upside down

When installing a battery-operated touchless faucet, make sure to turn the battery box upside down to avoid liquids from entering the box by accident.

Make use of digital tools

Once installed, all touchless faucets run on pre-set settings and don’t require further adjustments. However, in case your customers have a specific request, they can quickly adjust the faucet’s settings on-site by using the HANSA App. The App allows users to, for example, set automatic flushing intervals or adjust sensor sensitivity and after flow times.

Getting familiar with the App's functions can save valuable time and effort spent on maintenance and monitoring water use, especially in commercial buildings.

Learn more about the App’s features.

Don’t:

Get the sensor cable caught

Make sure to not get the sensor cable caught between the washbasin and countertop or the mounting nut and fixing plates.

Twist or bend the soft pex pipes on the faucets

If the connecting pipes are tightened too much or if the distance between the washbasin and angle coupling is too short, you may risk twisting or bending the soft pex pipes.

As it affects the inner pipes, it may risk closing the waterway and can eventually disturb regular temperature settings with the mixing handle. It may also damage the flexible pipe and cause leakages.

Squeeze the integrated non-return valve

Touchless faucets usually come with flexible pipes that can be fitted into tight spaces in case space is limited. However, when adjusting the position of the pipes, always make sure that you don’t squeeze the integrated non-return valve which lies in the inlet pipes of the touchless faucet.

Once damaged, you may risk impeding the faucet’s safety features as the non-return valve is essential for preventing possible crossflow between hot and cold water when the faucet is operated.

Forget to share the important installation and user information

Always remember to hand important user information over to your customer after the installation is done.

It contains helpful guidance on how to operate the faucet correctly as well as an ‘important notes’ section with valuable cleaning and maintenance tips.

Forget to hand over the cleaning cap

Finally, don't forget to hand over the included cleaning cap to your customer. It allows users to block the sensor when cleaning the faucet and washbasin and is invaluable for ensuring an easy cleaning routine.

Note that you can also block the sensor during the cleaning procedure by using the HANSA App.

Installing touchless faucets is not as hard as it seems. In fact, it can be as fast as installing a manual faucet. They come as both battery-operated and power-plug options and can be installed in various places, independent of a power source. As all models feature integrated installation systems, professionals can make use of innovative fixing parts and flexible installation keys, which makes installations an easy and quick procedure. Following the instruction manual step-by-step will help you get everything up and running the way it should.

Design for quality and reliability with touchless airport faucets

Hansa — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 06:55:00 GMT

Future airport bathrooms have to satisfy high standards of hygiene – even during the busiest holiday times. But they’re also expected to save time, resources and maintenance costs in the long run. Here’s how high-quality touchless faucets can deliver on that promise.

Handling large amounts of traffic each day, in the busy environment of airports, there’s no time for delays or malfunctions. And automatic faucets installed in airport bathrooms are no exception.

Whether your next project involves refurbishing an old airport, planning an additional terminal or designing a new airport building, hygiene and functional design must go hand in hand.

Here’s how smart bathroom technology can help ensure hassle-free operations, servicing and maintenance in the high-traffic environment of airports.

1. High-performing smart bathrooms for high-performing airports

Bathroom fittings in airports are expected to limit the spread of bacteria and other germs that result from multiple visitors touching the same surfaces every day. Meanwhile, they have to keep up with heavy use every day.

In the past years, automatically operated solutions, such as touchless faucets, have been the go-to measure for airport planners to help keep surfaces safe and bacteria-free. But they also fulfill another important function: keeping traffic flowing.

For the Oslo Airport in Norway, for example, touchless fixtures were already installed in 1998 and chosen again for its new terminal in 2017. With an estimated 24 million visitors every year and 1200 bathroom visits per hour during peak times, it’s key to ensure quality and durability in every bathroom fitting.

While touchless fixtures were a visionary move back in 1998, they are now a common feature in most modern airport buildings.

“We were early to market with touchless solutions, and we saw that there was a lot of fumbling among users at first. But now I think nobody wants to go back to using levers on faucets,” explains Works engineer Jon Henning Kristoffersen, responsible for site sanitation at Oslo Airport.

2. Maximise durability and minimise wear and tear

Simple and ergonomically designed electronic faucet models can further improve durability in high-traffic bathrooms. Their touchless operation and pre-mixed water setting help avoid wear and tear caused by frequent manual usage. A compact shape and pre-set flowtime also make them less prone to water spills, e.g. resulting from not closing levers correctly.

3. Offer simple and reliable servicing in highly complex buildings

Guaranteeing easy servicing of installed faucets is crucial, especially in highly complex buildings such as airports. When hosting multiple faucets that are connected to a central system, installers should be able to service a malfunctioning faucet without having to shut off the entire system.

Integrated features that are specifically designed for complex buildings, such as shut-off valves, are key to enabling building operators to remove, repair and replace a malfunctioning faucet without interrupting the flow of the remaining faucets in the building. At the same time, digital features that connect the faucet to an integrated app help access maintenance reports and adjust settings via the phone or tablet.

4. Reduce stagnation for a safe freshwater supply

Alongside intervals of high frequency, faucets must also be designed for low-traffic intervals or downtimes. This can impede water safety as stagnant waters in pipes and installations can easily lead to the growth of harmful bacteria, such as legionellae.

For example, water quality is already affected if a faucet is not used for more than 12 hours. That’s why conventional fixtures require manual flushing to keep installations clean and comply with regulations on drinking water hygiene.

Smart Bluetooth-enabled faucets with automatic flushing, such as the HANSAELECTRA can effectively reduce time and costs spent on regular manual flushing. Due to a smart connection to the HANSA Connect App, building operators can pre-set automatic flushing intervals, guaranteeing regular flushing of the fixtures to provide fresh water to passengers at all times.

For the new Berlin Airport, which is set to become Germany’s busiest airport, automatic flushing was a key priority on the hygiene agenda.

“We needed to reduce stagnation in the drinking water network as much as possible, and it was important for the process to be automatic,” explains facility manager Eriko Werth.

As every airport’s operation and needs are different, flush times can be customised and adapted to the airport’s specifications.

In an industry that has no time for delays, smart faucets can save valuable time and money. Not only for visitors but also for building operators.

For your next project, make sure to plan for smart operation, optimal performance and easy maintenance from the start by choosing a faucet that is designed for durability, hygiene and advanced functionality.

What is laminar flow and what does it mean for your customers?

Hansa — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 07:08:00 GMT

Enriching the water stream with air is usually not problematic. However, as water and air are mixed, infectious bacteria such as legionellae could be released into the surrounding air via small droplets. This can significantly affect the safety and health of high-risk patients. Here’s all you need to know about laminar flow and why it’s a crucial component in special settings, such as medical facilities.

Aerated and spray streams are great solutions for adding extra comfort and functionality to your customers’ bathroom experience. But they are not for all environments.

In some cases, laminar streams might be the better choice to deliver on high-performance standards and provide the right level of hygiene.

But what exactly is laminar flow? In which cases do you need laminar flow devices? And what to pay attention to during installation?

Here’s all you need to know about laminar flow.

The ABC of laminar flow

Laminar flow vs. aerated stream: What’s the difference?

Aerated stream

Aerators are often found in residential faucet applications. They can induce up to 50% of air into the water which helps reduce water consumed per wash and produces an aerated water stream that is soft to the touch and non-splashing.

Laminar stream

Laminar flow devices produce a crystal-clear and non-aerated water stream. They’re usually used in healthcare and patient care facilities.

When do you need laminar flow?

Enriching the water stream with air is usually not problematic. In special buildings, such as hospitals and healthcare institutions, however, it can negatively affect the room’s required air quality.

As water and air are mixed, infectious bacteria that might dwell in the piping can be released into the surrounding air via small droplets. This can significantly affect the safety and health of high-risk patients.

Laminar flow is crucial to avoid the spreading of microbes and guarantee hygienic operation in any environment. That’s why, when installing faucets in high-sensitive environments, always make sure to go for faucets that integrate laminar flow as a standard feature. Designed for hospitals and care centers, HANSA faucets, such as the HANSAMEDIPRO, offer a wide product range to choose from, so you can find the perfect fit for your installation.

HANSA faucets for Health & Care all have laminar flow as a build-in feature.

What to pay attention to when installing or changing to laminar flow?

Most faucets designed for the health care sector come with a built-in laminar flow feature. This ensures quick and easy installation. Whether you're about to install a new faucet or replace an existing one, the installation setup stays the same as for regular faucets. The laminar flow feature is integrated into the faucet's composition which means that you don’t have to pay attention to any additional installation requirements.

However, in case you decide to only replace the faucet's aerator with a laminar flow one, here's a quick guide to help you during installation.

Determine whether your faucet spout is female or male threaded. Whereas female-threaded spouts have their threads inside of the spout, male threads can be found on the outside of the spout.
If your faucet has a male thread, you’ll need a female threaded laminar flow device and vice versa.
Determine the faucet’s aerator housing size to find the right size of aerator you require. Just grab some spare change and compare these to the size of the threaded end of the outlet of the faucet spout.

1. Diameter of a 1 Euro coin: Regular size aerator: 23.5 - 24 mm thread Male (M24) or 21 - 21.5 mm thread Female (F22)
2. Diameter of a 5 Cent coin: Junior size aerator: 21.5 – 22 mm thread Male (M22) or 19-19.5 mm thread Female (F20)

Medical buildings have particularly high requirements for sanitary installations and laminar flow has become a must-have feature.

By checking on the sanitary requirements of your project, you can advise your customer on their faucet choice and ensure the water they use is not contaminated by bacteria or other particles flowing in the air.

How to guide your customers towards safer thermostats

Hansa — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT

Are you often asked to recommend a faucet that prevents burns or improves hygiene? This guide can help.

The shower is a common source of injury due to sudden temperature changes and possible hot surfaces. HANSACARE thermostatic shower faucet is a safe choice.

Avoiding burns and scalding

Sudden water temperature changes are a common source of injury in the bathroom, and a key concern for schools, kindergartens, and households with small children and elderly people. Thermostats with a temperature lock function can add extra safety and prevent accidents caused by hot water.

Automatic temperature control

If cold water stops flowing, the thermostat automatically blocks the hot water output. An additional built-in hot water stop prevents the water temperature from exceeding 38 °C. Depending on the model of the faucet, the temperature is fixed during installation or can be bypassed when in use through a separate temperature booster button that activates higher temperatures.

Anti-scalding surfaces

Anti-scalding surfaces are an essential safety feature in a variety of environments, such as nursing homes, clinics, or the family bathroom. Thermostatic faucets with an ABS cover ensure that surfaces are always at a comfortable temperature to touch.

Featuring a protective chrome-plated ABS cover over a brass body, anti-scalding thermostats have a double housing design, which creates a thermal separation between the brass body and the cover.

An air gap between the different layers within the thermostat effectively prevents the surface from overheating.

Avoiding illness and hospital-acquired infection

Hygiene is also a major safety concern, especially in hospitals and care homes. For customers looking for ultimate hygiene, consider the following features.

Laminar flow

Laminar flow ensures that no air enters the water stream. This minimises the risk of microbes formed in the pipes’ system from mixing with surrounding air when the faucet is used.

Thermal hygiene flush

By undergoing mechanical thermal disinfection, faucets can be flushed with hot water to eliminate microbial growth inside the faucet. Depending on a country’s regulation, thermostats and single-lever mixers are designed to resist local maximum temperatures to support thermal disinfection.

Automatic flushing

Automatic flushing features of modern Bluetooth-enabled installations, e.g., at a regular interval of 24-hours, minimise the risk of microbial growth.

Pre-determined after-flow time

Pre-set features during installation help improve hygiene and manage water usage. Setting after-flow to enough seconds to flush the basin can help keep bacteria from surfaces.

All of HANSA's Bluetooth-operated faucets offer automatic flushing and the ability to set the maximum flow time and after-flow time.

Safety in use

Beyond temperature control and hygiene, some customers may be looking for anti-slip features or general ease of use.

Ergonomic design

Ergonomic shapes with soft, gentle curves, haptic handles and clear labeling add extra safety. This guarantees that everyone, whether healthcare staff, small children or people with physical limitations, can use fixtures with ease.

In care and elderly homes, easy-to-use hand showers for people with low vision and limited mobility further maximise safety and ease of use.

Our CLINICA line of faucets offers a range of safety features to meet the needs of your customers. Use the table below to find the right washbasin or shower thermostat for your customer.

Our safety features at a glance

Every installation has different safety demands. To find the right thermostat that provides optimal safety and matches your project’s needs, our safety feature overview can help you find the right model.

Sustainable hotel bathrooms: How to choose the right bathroom fixtures

Hansa — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 07:00:00 GMT

Hotel guests are more conscious of water and energy consumed during their stays than ever before. Smart bathroom installations can save resources without compromising on elegance or customer experience.

The future of hotel design is sustainable

According to an assessment conducted by GRESB, hotels are among the most energy-intense buildings compared to other building facilities, such as offices or residential homes.

To meet the Paris Agreement, the hotel industry is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per room by 90 percent from 2010 levels by 2050 across all hotel operations.

Sustainably designed and operated buildings help achieve lower carbon emissions and improve a business’s overall bottom line. However, for the hotel industry, the incentive to embrace sustainability isn’t just about lowering energy costs.

From attracting new customer segments to providing an outstanding guest experience, designing for sustainability is key for running a successful hotel.

How to meet high-quality standards and consumer demands

For a long time, sustainable bathroom design in hotels has been considered just another way to reduce costs of housekeeping and water consumption.

But with more conscious guests and sustainability certifications on the rise, lowering a hotel’s resource footprint has become crucial for smart project planning. Here’s how to find the right fixture for each room.

Find the perfect sustainable faucet for each room

An enormous share of water consumption in hotels is taken up by bathrooms. But not all hotel bathrooms are the same. For example, a faucet’s style, functionality and frequency of use can differ according to whether it’s installed in private guestrooms or in public lobby bathrooms.

Let's have a look at what that means.

Lobby bathrooms

In high-use settings, such as larger lobby bathrooms, smart touchless installations can help manage water consumption more responsibly.

Offering a smart touchless design to reduce water consumption by up to 50 percent in public bathrooms.

Going for Bluetooth-operated faucets also comes with a major additional benefit for building operators as maximum water flow time and after-flow time can be adjusted for single or multiple faucets throughout the entire building complex with the integrated HANSA Connect App.

This allows building operators to follow up on the faucets’ use and water consumption and customise flow and after-flow times to their optimal rate.

Private guestrooms

In private hotel bathrooms, guests usually expect a high level of elegance and comfort. From showerheads offering multiple functions and spray settings to elegantly crafted faucets, extravagant design and advanced functionalities can create memorable guest experiences.

But how to guarantee elegant design and perfect water flow without compromising on sustainability?

The right shower solutions can help restrict water flow and reduce water consumption without compromising on customer experience.

Water-saving showers to maximise comfort with minimal resources

Modern installations not only provide a unique and luxurious wellness experience but also conserve resources through water-saving showers and economical smart faucets.

The right shower solutions, such as low-flow showerheads, for example, can help restrict water flow and reduce water consumption.

Shower thermostats with EcoFlow control and safety-stop are a great choice for reducing the amount of water released per wash (e.g., to only 12l/minute) while a temperature safety stop at 38°C helps save energy and ensures a pleasant temperature.

Innovations that change how guests experience water

To shape awareness on consumption and provide extra transparency, modern fixtures can further encourage more responsible consumption patterns.

For example, smart showerheads that feature the latest technologies enable guests to track their consumption in real-time. Through a simple LED light, which indicates shower duration, users can get an overview and monitor their water consumption while they shower.

Smart showerheads that feature the latest technologies enable guests to track their consumption in real-time.

Achieve the luxury feel sustainably

As today’s hotel guests expect sustainable design without compromising on luxury, smart project planning is all about combining elegant design with intelligent, eco-friendly features.

One way of achieving a distinctive look sustainably is by looking at the faucets’ water flow rate when exploring different design lines.

With touchless faucets, water consumption can be reduced by half without compromising on design.

Plan for sustainable maintenance and management

Hotel managers often have to manage longer intervals of high and low usage. And for the management of resources, that also means planning in advance and making the most of that downtime.

Bathroom fixtures with incorporated smart technologies can help regulate energy and water consumption while ensuring hygiene and water safety. As flushing intervals can be flexibly scheduled in an integrated App, hotel operators can flush pipes and fixtures when it’s most convenient for them.

Plan for sustainability that pays off in the long run

To prevent unnecessary wastage, choose faucets that are manufactured to last and contain re-usable components that can be used to create new products when the faucet reaches the end of its lifecycle.

High-quality finishes and long-living products significantly lower exchange rates while fixtures that offer long spare parts availability can prolong the faucets’ lifetime significantly and keep material consumption to a minimum.

Energy-efficient and sustainable design is moving to the top of the agenda of construction projects and sustainability certifications. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), for example, have become widely used schemes of major hotel chains and recognised among conscious consumers.

Bathroom fixtures designed to fulfill these criteria play a major part in enabling that transformation.

For your next project, make sure to select the right faucet to meet local regulations, reduce resource consumption and meet guests’ growing expectations for eco-friendly traveling.

How to choose the right faucet for your next hospital project

Hansa — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 06:00:00 GMT

Wondering about sanitary guidelines and ergonomics in medical facilities? Here’s how to elevate hygiene, safety and comfort in sensitive environments by choosing the right faucet.

Patient room with HANSAMEDIPRO washbasin faucet

From doctors to nurses and patients, if there is one fitting that’s used by everyone in a hospital building, it’s the faucet. But installing faucets in medical facilities is not a one-size-fits-all project. Faucets have to satisfy the needs of a range of different users, from patients to doctors, nurses and visitors.

Apart from ensuring long-lasting operations and a high level of hygiene, what else should project planners take into account?

Here’s a guide to choosing the right faucet in healthcare facilities.

Create a bacteria-free environment

The European Centre for Disease Control estimates that every year, up to 3.7 million people acquire a healthcare-associated infection when visiting acute care hospitals in the EU.

20 percent of these healthcare-associated infections are considered avoidable if better infection prevention and control were in place.

To reduce the spread of bacteria and meet the highest standards of quality and functionality, hospital buildings rely on easy-to-clean, easy-to-use and bacteria-free equipment.

Let’s have a look at the most important parameters.

Highly functional faucets for highly functional units

Whether it’s a special patient room or an operating theatre, efficient design is key to making optimal use of the available space so beds, wheelchairs, and medical equipment can be moved around freely.

This also includes the design of fixtures, from fitted, space-saving corner basins to optimally designed hospital faucets.

Hospitals and clinics have high requirements and standards for hospital faucets.

Ensure the greatest mobility for challenging tasks

Faucets with a long lever are crucial to simplify daily procedures for staff and patients.

Extra-long levers of models, such as the HANSAMEDIPRO or HANSACLINICA, for example, are particularly ergonomic for operating personnel. By using the back of the hand or one finger, levers can be lifted easily while maneuvering other medical equipment.

Also available as a wall-mounted model with a swivel spout, both models leave plenty of room under the spout to ensure convenient and hygienic handling.

Further, touchless and elbow-handled faucets can help reduce hand-to-hand transmission of bacteria, making them an ideal choice for high-risk environments, such as the operating theatre.

HANSACLINICA touchless thermostat is an ideal choice for operating theatres.

Faucet design for antimicrobial spaces

Microbes can hide everywhere. That’s why the right design and material of the faucet are key to minimising the risk of contamination.

Most hospital faucets are equipped with copper inlet pipes. Due to the material’s antimicrobial qualities, these models can significantly limit the number of contaminants inside the pipes and improve water hygiene.

When it comes to the faucet’s design, fully sealed connections with rounded edges and minimum joints can further reduce the spots for microbes to accumulate while guaranteeing a convenient and easy cleaning routine.

HANSAMEDIPRO medical faucets have minimal joints to prevent bacteria build

Investing in dedicated hygiene solutions, such as the touchless HANSAMEDIPRO faucets, can reduce hospital-acquired infections by almost 60 percent and meet demanding hygiene standards of future hospital projects.[1]

Touchless faucet HANSAMEDIPRO with laminar flow

Automatic faucets to minimise touchpoints in staff and patient rooms

Up to 80 percent of the most common diseases are transmitted by touch*. Touchless faucets help staff and patients keep high-usage surfaces as clean and hygienic as possible.

The touchless HANSAELECTRA or the HANSAMEDIPRO, for example, help to reduce essential touchpoints responsible for bacteria transmission in public areas of hospitals, such as levers in public bathrooms or patients’ rooms.

Note: Models with premixed water temperature can provide extra comfort and safety by effectively minimising the risk of scalding accidents.

Improve water hygiene in medical buildings

Alongside designing a clean, bacteria-free environment, ensuring optimal water hygiene is another key criterion of high-quality hospital fixtures. That’s why, for medical faucets, these three specialised features are a must-have:

1. Laminar flow

Most standard faucets come with built-in aerators that use a combination of air and water to produce an aerated water stream. In hospitals, however, mixing water with the surrounding air can lead to infectious, breathable droplets entering the room.

Specialised faucet models with incorporated laminar flow remove properties, such as the aerator, to ensure that no aerosol droplets are produced at the faucet - reducing the chance of infected droplets filling the air.

Laminar water flow means there is no aerator in the faucet that would cause water to mix with air.

2. Thermal disinfection

To further limit the risk of bacteria affecting water hygiene, many faucet models feature hygienic flush functions using thermal disinfection. This function makes sure that water is flushed through the pipe at a maximum hot water temperature of 70°C to effectively kill harmful bacteria, such as legionellae.

3. Automatic flushing

In the past years, modern integrated flushing functions have been introduced to the hospital market. This allows building operators to activate frequent flushing of the faucets (e.g., at a 24h interval) to further prevent bacteria from forming in stagnant waters.

Smart solutions with an integrated Bluetooth connection, for example, enable scheduling regular automatic flushing intervals of faucet and pipes by using a convenient mobile app, such as the HANSA Connect app.

Schedule weekly or daily automatic flush with HANSA Connect app.

Connect your way to better hygiene and efficiency

Hygienic and easy-to-use fixtures significantly improve the daily operations of hospital staff and usability for patients. And future technologies are predicted to keep advancing usability and infection control.

Alongside scheduled automatic rinsing, modern installations further allow buildings to control and advance overall energy efficiency.

Combined with the smart technology of touchless faucets, for example, water consumption of installed faucets around the building can be reduced by up to 50%, while flow time and after flow can be flexibly monitored and adjusted in the connected app.

Especially in hospital projects, sanitary fittings are expected to live up to a wide range of functionality and hygiene standards. In some cases, you may even need to look for customised solutions to fit the specific criteria of your project.

Find out how HANSA collaborates with hospitals to adapt product specifications and provide customised solutions that are adjusted to the needs of medical centres, hospitals, and nursing homes.

[1] Salgado, C., Sepkowitz, K., John, J., Cantey, J., Attaway, H., Freeman, K., . . . Schmidt, M. (2013). Copper Surfaces Reduce the Rate of Healthcare-Acquired Infections in the Intensive Care Unit. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 34(5), 479-486. doi:10.1086/670207

* Mäkinen R., Miettinen I.T., Pitkänen T., Kusnetsov J., Pursiainen A., Kovanen S., Riihinen K., Keinänen-Toivola M.M. (2013) Manual faucets induce more biofilms than electronic faucets. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 59(6), 407–412. DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2013-0131

The top 7 shower thermostat maintenance Q&As for installers

Hansa — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 06:00:00 GMT

What to do if the shower faucet is not working as it should? Here are the most frequently asked thermostat maintenance questions and answers to fix your customers’ faucets as quickly and efficiently as possible.

From low water pressure to temperature fluctuations, here are the seven most essential fixes to your customers’ shower faucet.

1. What to do if water pressure from the shower faucet is weak?

If the water pressure is low, clean or replace the litter filters in the thermostatic shower faucet and clean the aerator.

This can be done in seven easy steps:

Close the water inlet of the faucet.
Open the faucet.
Detach the shower faucet from the wall using a 30mm spanner or wrench by turning the connection nuts anti-clockwise.
Remove the litter filters from inside the connection nuts and clean or replace the filters. Check out how to best clean the litter filters by following our instructional video below:
Once filters have been cleaned or replaced, make sure they are correctly positioned, so that the convex side is placed against the water flow (see image).
Re-attach the faucet to the wall by turning the connection nuts clockwise.
Open the water supply to the faucet and test that the faucet works properly.

Changing litter filters in a thermostatic shower faucet.

For hand showers: Check the shower nozzles. Build-up, such as limescale and debris, accumulating in the holes can be removed quickly with the right cleaning method. Find out about how to best consult your customers on how to clean their shower head here.

If water flow remains weak, it’s time to clean the thermostatic cartridge (see question 4).

2. What to do if you can't set the water temperature or if the temperature fluctuates?

If there's only hot or cold water coming through the faucet or if the temperature fluctuates, check the connection at the rear of the faucet, to make sure nothing is blocking the passage of hot or cold water.

Fluctuating water temperature can be a result of:

clogged litter filters
wrongly installed hot and cold-water connections (e.g., if hot and cold water inlets are reversely installed)
clogged filters in the thermostatic cartridge.

If you notice that the hot and cold water are reversed, you can install a shower thermostat with reversed cold-hot water connection. For this, you can use the HANSAMICRA 58152171 with swapped cold/hot water connections.

For HANSATEMPRA shower faucets, you can install the HANSATEMPRA shower set and replace the regular thermostatic cartridge with a reversed cartridge. For this specific component, the HANSA spare part number is 59913463.

Please see questions 1 and 4 for further instructions.

3. Is it possible to limit or lock the temperature and water flow for a thermostatic faucet for safety reasons (e.g., in elderly case centers)?

Protection covers enable the control and limitation of temperature and water flow for thermostats. By using the covers, temperature and waterflow can only be bypassed with a special key. To order the needed protection covers, please reach out to HANSA technical support or your local sales representative.

For temperature control, order HANSA part 187070
For flow control, order HANSA 187071
Key is also needed 109536, the same key can be used for controlling temperature and waterflow

Protection covers enable the control and limitation of temperature and water flow for HANSAMICRA thermostats.

4. How to clean the thermostatic shower cartridge?

If, after cleaning the litter filters and the aerator, the cartridge filter is clogged or the faucet reacts poorly to temperature adjustments, the shower cartridge must be serviced.

Here’s how to check the cartridge:

Turn off the water supply to the faucet.
With a firm grip, open the faucet and remove the temperature adjustment handle. Remove the plastic limiter underneath the handle if it didn’t come out together with the handle.
Open the cartridge by using a 38mm spanner or a box wrench by turning its locking nut anticlockwise. You can use the HANSA 59914176 for this. Remove the cartridge from inside the faucet.
Clean the cartridge and the filters with e.g. a toothbrush under running water. If necessary, replace the cartridge with a newer model.
Lubricate the O-rings with O-ring grease and push the cartridge back into the faucet body and secure it with a locking nut by turning it clockwise.
Put the limiter in the correct position, so that its shoulder is aligned with the hole in the faucet’s cover.
Calibrate the water temperature (see question 5) and put the temperature adjustment handle back in place.
Check that the faucet operates normally.

You can also watch our instructional video below.

5. How to calibrate the temperature for thermostatic shower faucets?

For some installation locations, the water temperature needs to be calibrated.

This can be done in four easy steps:

Pull out the temperature control handle with a firm grip and open the faucet.
Adjust the water temperature to a suitable level by using the temperature adjustment handle while feeling the water temperature.
Push the temperature control handle back in place so that the mark on the handle is aligned with the 38 degrees marking on the faucet body.
Test that the faucet works properly.

Follow the steps by watching our instructional video below.

6. What to do if the faucet doesn’t provide enough hot water?

If the faucet doesn’t heat up the water to a sufficient level, check the heating installation for malfunction.

If the heating system works properly but the water temperature is still too low, then it might be time to replace the thermostatic cartridge.

For this, follow the steps in question 4, but instead of servicing the existing cartridge, replace it with the new one.

7 What to do if the shower faucet is leaking?

Replace the shut-off upper part.

First, pull off the shut-off handle and remove the plastic limiter under the handle if they have not been loosened together.
Unscrew the upper part with a 17 mm open-ended spanner and then replace it with the new upper part.
Mount the plastic limiter and the shut-off handle.

A malfunctioning faucet can have many reasons. Luckily, in most cases, all that’s needed to ensure proper functionality is a professional and efficient maintenance service.

If you did not find the answer to your question from this article, don’t hesitate to contact our customer service.

Find the right faucets for daycares and school projects

Hansa — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 06:00:00 GMT

Smart installations are increasingly becoming prevalent features of modern public spaces. And educational institutions are no exception. Here’s how to find the right faucets for schools and daycares.

Touchless faucets prevent efficiently the spread of bacteria.

Sanitary faucets are a must for schools and daycares

Providing a hygienic environment has moved up on the agenda of many schools and daycares in the past years.

Also, in years to come, public educational institutions across Europe will continue to be key actors for keeping children safe and healthy. So, how can the right type of faucets help build safety, hygiene and durability into daycares and school projects?

Reduce touch points with automated faucets

To manage contagion and keep students and staff safe, short-term, operational hygiene concepts are not enough.

We often forget that touching high concentration surfaces, such as faucets in public bathrooms, can be a major transmitter of germs as well.

As you’re diving deeper into the world of sanitary faucets, here’s how to find the right faucet for public daycares and schools.

Hygiene

Up to 80% of the most common diseases are transmitted through person-to-person contact or by touching the same surfaces.

A fully automated environment can help promote bathroom hygiene in schools and daycares and protect young children who are prone to spreading diseases from touching surfaces.

As a study by Canadian Journal for Microbiology shows, touchless faucets can significantly reduce the presence of bacteria and viruses sitting on the surface of the faucet.

In addition, incorporated Bluetooth technology in touchless faucets makes it easy to program regular, automated flushing to limit harmful microbes, such as legionellae, from forming in stagnated water.

This technology can be extremely beneficial in schools and daycares where faucets go unused for longer periods during weekends or holidays.

Touchless faucets can significantly reduce the presence of bacteria and viruses sitting on the surface of the faucet.

Usability

Carefully designed automatic faucets with a rounded edge design can increase usability and safety, especially for younger age groups in schools or daycares.

To prevent scalding accidents, consider models that allow premixed water temperature, such as the HANSAELECTRA. By determining the perfect premixed water temperature, you can minimise the risk of children accidentally burning themselves with hot water.

When you’re deciding on the faucet, you’ll be able to decide between models with a convenient temperature adjustment handle installed on the faucet body’s side or models with cold/premixed water temperature and without the handle .

As temperature handles of the faucet can be removed or retrofitted to most touchless faucets with Bluetooth connection, there’s always the option to flexibly install access to cold or hot water if needed at a later stage.

Durability

Finally, it’s important to consider durability as a key factor when choosing the right faucet. They must be able to withstand long periods of sitting idle during the holidays and then respond to intensive use during term-time.

The right design can make your fixture less vulnerable to vandalism or tampering and protect schools from having to replace it again in 1-3 years.

Many models are specifically designed for durability in public spaces. The HANSAELECTRA, for example, comes with a seamless design, hidings most of the wires and battery case inside the faucet.

At the same time, the maximum flow-time can be limited to e.g. to 60 or 120 seconds. This is particularly beneficial to avoid water damages caused by accidentally placing objects in front of the faucet’s sensor that may lead to continuous water flow.

Public educational institutions usually work on a restricted budget, but hygiene doesn’t have to come at the cost of a small budget. In fact, touchless faucets can be a wise investment over the long run, helping to cut water bills and increase energy efficiency.

With many touchless faucets available on the market, considering the hygiene, safety, usability and durability of faucets can help you select the right one for your installation project.

Battery vs. fixed power supply touchless faucets – How to choose the right model

Hansa — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 06:45:00 GMT

Battery driven or power plug driven touchless faucets: Here’s what you need to know to choose the correct power supply for your next installation.

There are different power supply options available for touchless faucets: plug transformer (on the left), hub transformer (in the middle) and battery (on the right)

Automatically operated faucets, also known as touchless faucets, come with several benefits for your customers as they improve hygiene, reduce water and energy consumption and are easy to operate.

But with multiple options for powering your touchless faucet, it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons of each power solution based on the needs of your installation project.

Fixed power supply Vs. battery-driven faucets?

From installation to maintenance, here’s how to make the right choice between battery-driven faucets and faucets that are plugged into your customers’ electrical system.

1. Plug transformer faucet

Used in private households and high-usage locations, such as airports, hospitals, or shopping centres.
Removes the need of replacing the faucets’ battery on a regular basis.

As the power socket is installed under the sink, make sure to check there’s an outlet nearby, or otherwise, consult an electrician to supply an outlet for your installation.

Fixed power supply via a power socket is a good option for households or locations with high usage volume, such as airports or shopping centres.

2. Fixed supply via hub transformer faucet

Recommended power supply for concealed electronic faucets
Used in rooms where multiple faucets are installed, such as in public and health care facilities with high traffic, but only one power supply/socket is available.
Can be installed without a power socket under the sink.
Conceals cables and installation equipment behind the wall and lowers the risk for vandalism or other related damages.

Fixed power supply via a hub transfer enables connecting multiple touchless faucets into one power socket outlet.

For larger family homes with high usage, a main supply or power transformer version can also be installed. If two to five faucets are installed, make sure you have enough power sources available or else, consult the manual to connect multiple faucets with one power socket.

Also, consider the reliability of your power supply. If the electrical service is unpredictable in the area where the touchless faucets are installed, you will not be able to use the faucets when the power is out.

3. Battery driven faucet

Battery-operated touchless faucet is a flexible option for different locations

Mostly found in private households, public premises, and renovation projects.
Powered by lithium batteries that fit in a small case under the sink and can last 3 to 5 years.
No upfront costs required for additional wiring or a professional electrician as they can be installed without a fixed power supply.

How do I know about the battery status?

When the battery is low, the red LED light built into the motion sensor will blink red to indicate that it’s time to order a new battery.

Depending on the frequency of use, the battery life can be up to five years.

Touchless faucets with Bluetooth connection can be connected to the HANSA Connect App. From the app, it’s quick and easy to check the real-time battery life status.

How do I change the battery?

In most modern models, the battery can be exchanged by homeowners within a few minutes as it’s located in a small capsule under the washbasin and attached to the cable of the sensor.

Changing the battery for a touchless faucet is quick and easy as in most faucets the battery is located in a battery case below the sink.

Some models require the removal of the faucet body as the battery case is inside the faucet. So pay attention to the placement of the battery of your faucet model to ensure an easy and convenient battery replacement for your customer.

For public spaces, consider going for a model where the battery case is hidden inside the faucet body to lower the risk of vandalism or unauthorized removal of batteries.

What if I need to change the power supply after installation?

Changing the power supply after installation is easy and does not require you to buy a new touchless faucet. So even if you decide to go for a battery-driven solution, you can easily switch to a power plug driven faucet afterwards and vice versa on new faucets with Bluetooth Sensor.

Are there any special requirements for installation?

The idea of installing a touchless faucet may sound challenging, but whether it’s a washbasin faucet or a kitchen faucet – an automatic faucet can be installed even faster than a traditional single-lever mixer faucet.

Both battery and fixed power supply faucets use the same infrastructure and fixing parts as traditional faucets. That means, there’s no need for extra holes or extra considerations for special fixtures.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to automatic faucets. Ultimately, the right power supply for your faucet depends on where you want to install it and how it will be used. Frequency of use, power supply options, and the surrounding dimensions are all important factors to consider before investing in a model.

How to select a bathroom and kitchen faucet for residential projects

Hansa — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 06:00:00 GMT

For your next residential building project, here are a few tips that help you find the right faucet for your needs.

Selecting a faucet for private building projects is not always as straightforward as it seems. There’s a variety of styles, materials and functions to choose from. From small private dwellings to large-scale residential buildings, here’s how to find the right faucet for your next project.

Matt black kitchen faucet fits an array of different kitchen designs

Bathrooms and kitchens in residential dwellings need to combine a variety of features and functions, from including the newest technologies to ensuring long-lasting functionality to providing a hygienic environment.

To find the right balance between durability, design, specific safety standards and demands on energy efficiency, professionals are left with the choice of the right faucet.

Faucet fixtures can differ in material and price. Whether your focus is on design or specific functionality, such as water flow rate and temperature control, here are 3 essential questions that help you specify your priorities and make the right choice:

1. Who will be using the faucet?

Start by finding out who will be using the faucet and what their most important requirements are. Will your building project house small children or elderly people with specific needs, such as accessibility, safety, hygiene or energy-efficiency ?

Accessibility and safety
The choice of the right colour, an ergonomic design or easy-to-grip material, can majorly improve accessibility and safety for elderly people and people with limited eyesight.

Product lines, such as HANSACARE or HANSAFIT faucets, for example, help manage water temperature and significantly reduce the risk of scalding accidents.

Hygiene and energy-efficiency
If you’re planning a building project with high sanitary and energy-efficiency standards, smart touchless faucets are the way going forward.

Faucet models with touchless features can reduce water consumption by up to 50%, while also helping to minimise the risk of transferring bacteria from hands to the fittings’ surfaces.

Going for touchless models can reduce the number of microbes by up to 98% compared to traditional manual faucets.

Once you’ve identified your priorities and special requirements, it will be easier to specify your search and lay out a good foundation for your conversation with manufacturers.

2. What are your dimensions and surrounding parameters?

Next, check the dimensions the faucet needs to fit in. Where will the faucet be located? Should fixtures be mounted to the wall or other surfaces?

Kitchen faucets
For a kitchen faucet, think about the overall kitchen setup. If there’s a need to wash pots and pans, going for a faucet with pull-out/pull-down spout can provide more space and flexibility to move larger equipment around.

If the faucet is located on a kitchen island, you could consider investing in a faucet with a higher spout and distinctive design to round off the looks.

If cabinets will be installed above the sink or if space is limited, a kitchen faucet with a lower body could be a more suitable choice.

Kitchen faucet with high, movable spout can be handy in washing large pots and pans.

Bathroom faucets

In case you are specifying a bathroom faucet, again, look at your dimensions and make sure that there’s enough space between your basin and the rest of the equipment of the room.

If you’re planning a utility or laundry room, what tasks will they be using it for? Ask yourself whether it makes sense to include a faucet with an integrated washing machine valve or an integrated Bidetta hand shower for extra functionality.

If you find yourself in a small bathroom, a space-saving, small-size faucet may be more suitable for your dimensions.

Touchless faucets are a good fit to different bathroom and sink types – they are compact in size and offer added hygiene and functionality.

In all cases, surrounding installations and furniture, such as cabinets, are important parameters that can help you specify the height of the faucet and type of faucet control, e.g., whether it should be top- or side-operated.

3. How about the looks and the sink type?

When it comes down to the looks of your faucet, think about the faucet type, the placement of handles and the type of sink that works best for your project. The right match of faucet and sink can round off your overall design and is essential to ensure the most optimal functionality.

Are you going for a sink that’s integrated into the countertop or a free-standing vessel sink?

Integrated sinks
Integrated sink models open up many options for the faucet type since short faucet bodies work equally well as longer ones.

However, make sure to match the aerator with the size of the sink to guarantee that the water flows seamlessly into the sink and there is enough space for washing the hands. Consider selecting a faucet model with adjustable aerator.

Adjustable aerator brings added flexibility to washbasin faucet selection. In picture HANSASTELA

Especially in larger sink installations, such as double-sinks, swivel spouts can ensure more flexibility and adjustable use.

Vessel sinks

For vessel sinks, pay attention to installation holes. If faucet installation holes are integrated into the sink, you can choose between a range of small-bodied faucets.

If there is no installation hole integrated to the sink, you can also go for a faucet with a higher body size or a wall-mounted fixture. High faucets with turning spouts are particularly popular in utility environments, offering more space for manoeuvring larger equipment. At the same time, they can bring an extra elegant look to the room in private buildings. This may require the right installation conditions behind the wall as well as a long enough spout.

With free-standing vessel sinks, a faucet model with a higher body is a good match.

Every project has different priorities. Whether it’s energy efficiency, hygiene or safety and durability, make sure to set your focus, know your surroundings and inform yourself of their options that you have before making a decision.

For either type of residential buildings, ask yourself whether to go for a stand-out design or a simple look that complements the surrounding interior.

Also, consider your budget: Are you ready to dedicate a share of your budget to high-end design or latest functionalities or are you rather looking for a cost-efficient, economical solution?

At the end of the day, the choice of faucets should match these priorities.

HANSABLUEBOX and concealed bath and shower fittings - frequently asked questions and answers

Hansa — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 06:00:00 GMT

HANSABLUEBOX and concealed bath and shower systems – everything installers need to know.

Does the HANSABLUEBOX fit into all installation systems? And what do you need to consider when installing a water control system inside the wall? We’ve gathered a list of answers to our most frequently asked questions.

Installing concealed bath and shower systems is easy with HANSABLUEBOX

Hiding pipes, valves and control units behind the wall, concealed bath and shower installations are the perfect choice for creating a neat and uncluttered look in the bathroom.

But compared to classic water control systems, concealed bath and shower systems seem hard to replace and renovate.

The HANSABLUEBOX is designed to optimise the process for installers, from the installation of the concealed box to maintenance services and upgrades – even years after installation.

HANSABLUEBOX installation system for concealded shower and bath systems.

Here’s all you need to know about the HANSABLUEBOX for concealed bath and shower fittings.

Does the HANSABLUEBOX fit all installation systems?

The HANSABLUEBOX is universally deployable and suited for all cover parts across HANSA’s series.

By using the four 1/2" standard connections, the HANSABLUEBOX can be connected to a wide range of pipe systems and easily adjusted to specific customer requests. The Bluefix-function further guarantees flexible installation, allowing you to mount the HANSABLUEBOX to any surface type.

Its trim kits are available as single-lever or thermostat shower faucets for installation in baths and showers. They also work for additional electronic solutions, such as electronic washbasins in public places.

Is there a default installation position?

The basic unit is rotation-symmetric and provides the following two connections:

- 1/2" connections > 90°
- 3/4" connections > 180°

How about installation in high traffic buildings?

For high-traffic buildings, such as hotels or hospitals, where constant water flow needs to be guaranteed, a variant with an integrated shut-off valve is available (HANSABLUEBOX 8001 0000 G3/4).

This ensures a fast and easy maintenance process as you don’t need to shut off the entire buildings’ pipe systems if work needs to be done on one particular shower faucet.

HANSABLUEBOX can be installed to any surface type.

Can I adjust trim kits after the wall is closed?

Design and trim kits can be adjusted flexibly at a later stage as only the basic unit is installed in the wall.

The HANSABLUEBOX has a flexible installation depth of 75mm to 105mm and a telescopic diverter connection. This allows installers to connect the diverter of the trim kit securely and easily to the function unit without the need to shorten it accordingly to the installation depth.

Alignment of the box: With the BLUETUNE set, included in all trim kits with diverter or stop valves, you can adapt the angle of the box, e.g. in case the cover plate of the BLUEBOX is not in line with the tile line.

Thanks to BLUETUNE, you can adjust the angle of the cover plate even after the installation.

Switching of hot/cold inlets: With the reversal adapter (HANSA 59914184) you can switch hot and cold water inlets as well as top and bottom outlets of the piping system to fit your selected fitting. Installed behind the function unit, it ensures that the water temperature is rechanneled to the correct places.

With reversal adapter it is possible to switch the hot and cold water inlets in the HANSABLUEBOX installations.

Extension set: In case of greater installation depth, an extension set (HANSA 59914182) can be used to move the function unit out of the faucet body and further to the wall.

Extension set for HANSABLUEBOX

Can I change the design of the cover part afterwards?

Once the HANSABLUEBOX base unit is installed, you can easily change the design of the cover parts at any time as the HANSABLUEBOX is compatible with all HANSA cover parts and design lines.

This way, buildings with high renovation frequency, such as hotels, can change the design without needing to change the entire concealed HANSABLUEBOX installation.

Does the HANSABLUEBOX come with different outlets?

The HANSABLUEBOX comes with two outlets which can be used flexibly for the spout, shower set, shower head and other applications.

Depending on your application, you can easily connect your shower set, spout or overhead shower to the relevant outlet at the top or the bottom of the HANSABLUEBOX.

Does water pressure affect the functionality of the HANSABLUEBOX diverter when using the faucet?

The Blueswitch diverter runs pressure-independent, leading to greater convenience and reliability for installers and end-users.

Precise planning and adequate instalment are key for concealed shower fittings. The mixer technology of the HANSABLUEBOX is designed to provide maximal assurance during the installation process and long-lasting functionality, which can be easily upgraded and renovated at any time.

Why are certain faucet components built out of plastic?

Hansa — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 06:00:00 GMT

If carefully selected, plastic is an essential material used for faucet components – to ensure water safety and to provide hard-wearing and long-lasting fixtures.

Plastic is an essential component for faucets to be safe, durable and long-lasting.

There are varying ways plastic is used in faucets and it is often perceived as less durable or less suitable for high-quality products. However, this is not always correct. Depending on the manufacturer and the specific type of plastic used, it comes in multiple forms, functions and qualities. Here’s all you need to know.

In HANSA faucet applications, composite and hard-wearing plastics can be the optimal solution and are indispensable to deliver high performance and durability. Depending on the type and properties of the plastic used, plastic covers a wide range of applications in faucets.

Plastic can be used for:

The outer body and handles
The cartridge and valves
Spout interior
The aerator
Pipes and connections
Etc.

So what’s the difference and which type of plastic is used for which part of the faucet? Here are the kinds of plastics that you should know about.

Composite material

Composite material combines two or more separate materials and can be used in covers, spouts, bodies, levers and battery cases.

These include reinforced plastics, such as glass fibre and polymer or ABS composite, such as ABS engineering plastic-chrome combinations.

Composite plastics can also be moulded on to various components, in the form of plastic-plastic, plastic-metal or plastic-rubber combinations.

Combined with PSU (Polysulfone) engineering plastic, for example, the composite structure is often used in medical technology as it’s physiological inert and extremely durable in high temperatures.

Composite is a strong and durable, yet also light material, which is why it widely used in industries such as medical, aerospace and automotive.

ABS engineering plastic

ABS engineering plastic components are widely used in products such as laptops and mobile phones. It is a strong and durable material, which offers good resistance to high and low temperatures and chemicals. As plastic does not heat up the same way as metal does when in contact with hot water, it is a perfect material to be used in faucet levers, outer bodies and covers, handles and shower heads. Additional benefit of ABS is that it can be chrome-plated, which makes it an easy-to-process material.

ABS engineering plastic is commonly used for faucet levers due to its excellent resistance to high and low temperatures.

PSU/PPSU engineering plastic

Because of its excellent chemical properties, PSU is also suitable for high-performance applications, such as bearings, precision gears and thermostatic cartridges as well as for lever interfaces due to its easy-grip material.

At HANSA, PSU engineering plastic is commonly used in thermostatic cartridges.

It is a safe material to be used with parts in contact with food, even in high temperatures.

At HANSA, PSU is for example in thermostatic cartridges and in the easy-grip levers of HANSAFIT kitchen and washbasin faucets.

POM engineering plastic

Known as acetal, or polyacetal, POM engineering plastic is used for components that require stiffness, low friction and high dimensional stability. This kind of plastic is solvent, fuel-resistant and a particularly durable choice for components with water contact, such as the spout’s interior.

Examples of faucet parts that use POM engineering plastic.

Why plastic?

Now that you have an idea of the different kinds of plastics used, let’s summarise why manufacturers choose plastic to build certain faucet components:

Plastic is a strong and durable material, ensuring that the components last for a long time
Plastic can resist different temperatures without getting damaged, meaning that cold and hot water can flow without affecting the plastic components. If used for outer bodies, and as the surface does not heat-up, the function can remarkably reduce the risk of scalding, particularly useful to avoid exposure to hot water pipes or shower faucets

Plastic doesn’t affect the quality of drinking water and doesn’t contaminate it with harmful chemicals and microbes, which is why it is often used for the spout’s interior

Plastic is 100 % corrosion-resistant (unlike certain types of metals, which naturally react to their environment and gradually wear out over time)

Plastic resists humidity, which is important when water is involved (to avoid mould, for instance)

And, finally, plastic is a lightweight material and doesn’t add unnecessary weight to the faucet, making it easier for installers to carry around and set up

Composite materials used in HANSAFIT single-lever faucet.

Not all plastic is necessarily a sign of low quality. The careful selection of the right plastic properties, can ensure that your faucet is hard-wearing, resists different temperatures, and stands up to corrosion. Make sure to pay attention to the material and the quality of the plastic that is used and consult your installers or manufacturers to learn more about its properties. This way, you can ensure durable and qualified components for your clients.

Your quick guide to changing settings in touchless faucets

Hansa — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 06:06:00 GMT

Wondering how to change the flow time or adjust the recognition range of your touchless faucet? Here’s a quick guide.

We put together a simple step-by-step guide to help you change the settings of your touchless faucet – both for newer Bluetooth®-equipped models and older generations.

Touchless faucets with Bluetooth

Changing settings to Bluetooth-enabled touchless faucets is quick and easy.

All you need here is a mobile device with Bluetooth technology and the HANSA Connect app. The app is available for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play, depending on your phone’s operating system.

Activate the Bluetooth connection on your mobile device. The app will automatically detect the installed Smart HANSA faucet within a range of up to ten meters.
Once the faucet is selected in the app, all the relevant information about its settings will be displayed. This includes the amount of water consumed, the remaining battery life or the time until the next automatic flush – among other things.
With authorized password access, you can program the water flow times, temperature controls, the intervals between and the duration of the automatic rinsing function, the sensor sensitivity and distance. What’s more, these settings can be easily saved and copied to other faucets – with just a tap.

For more information, visit HANSA Connect app.

Touchless faucets without Bluetooth

Changing settings to older touchless faucet models requires a magnetic key.

If your touchless faucet doesn’t include Bluetooth connectivity, here’s how to change settings:

There are several setting options available, depending on your faucet model. You can find more information about how to change your factory settings in the installation manual or by contacting HANSA technical support directly. For now, let’s walk you through an example on how to change flow time and cleaning mode settings for the HANSAELECTRA 00870010/ 00880010 wall-mounted spout faucet.

How to change the maximum flow time from 120 seconds to 60 seconds

The maximum flow time for touchless operations can be changed from 10 seconds to up to 300 seconds. See below the instructions for changing the settings from 120 seconds (the factory setting) to 60 seconds.

Place your hand in front of the sensor, then place the magnetic key (which is included with the faucet) between the sensor lenses. Once the key has been identified, the faucet will switch off and a red light will switch on.

If the key is lost, a new magnetic HANSA magnetic key can be purchased from your local dealer/wholesaler.
Hold the key in place until the red light starts flashing, then remove the key.

Put the key back and wait for the green light to flash twice.

Remove the key and place it back between the lenses, waiting for the red light to flash three times.

The lights will now flash for the set number of times and the flow time adjustment is now completed.

How to change touchless faucet’s maximum flow time from 120 seconds to 60 seconds.

How to change the cleaning mode from 30 seconds to 60 seconds

Place your hand in front of the sensor

Hold the key in place until the red light starts flashing, then remove the key.

Put the key back and wait for the green light to flash 5 (five) times.

Remove the key.

Once again, place the magnetic key in between the sensor lenses and wait for the red light to flash 3 (three) times.

Remove the key. The light will flash for the set number of times (consult the table on the manual below to see other options for cleaning mode time).

How to change cleaning mode time from 30 seconds to 60 seconds in a touchless faucet.

Find out more about the several setting options available to you in the table below.

Different setting options for the wall-mounted HANSAELECTRA

It’s always good to have all practicalities at hand. We hope this quick guide can help you change settings in a Bluetooth-enabled or older generation touchless faucet.

How to save water and electricity in residential buildings

Hansa — Wed, 19 May 2021 06:00:00 GMT

Showers use a considerable amount of water. For your next residential project, here’s how smart showers can significantly cut your building’s water and energy use.

Although 70% of the planet’s surface is covered in water, less than 1% is available for human use. And as the global population grows, so does the demand for clean, safe freshwater in residential dwellings across the world.

According to the EU, which over the past 30 years has helped to substantially improve water quantity and quality across its member states, improving efficiency in water usage is a top priority. While private dwellings account for just over 10% of water usage in Europe, ensuring water conservation in our homes is an important step to take to preserve our precious resources in the future.

The future of low-consumption residential buildings

More and more residential buildings will demand energy efficiency in every aspect of the house, both to ensure the sustainable usage of resources and to reduce overall consumption costs.

With a continuously growing population, urbanisation and challenging effects of climate change, buildings of the future need to be prepared to operate efficiently despite limited water supplies.

Make a difference with the right shower

In planning low-consumption residential buildings, the choice of the right shower set plays a vital role. They are the third-largest users of water indoors and are the place, we use 66% of all our hot water.

We use 66% of all our hot water in the shower.

This wastes valuable resources and leads to high electricity costs for the consumer and the building as a whole. By taking smart bathroom installations into account from the start, architects and project planners can build the foundation for a resource-efficient use of water and electricity in their building projects.

The promise of smart, low-flow shower faucets

With homes getting smarter, our showers do too. But what is a smart shower head and how can smart, low-flow fixtures help private homes reduce water and electricity use? Here’s what you need to know for your next building project.

What is a low-flow shower head?

Shower heads are measured by flow, which is the number of litres of water that is delivered per minute.

The water-saving technology of low-flow shower heads controls and restricts the volume of water flowing through the shower. This can help cut water consumption by half, while still providing the comfort of a full shower experience.

Architects and planners can choose between a range of advanced and elegant low-flow products, which are specifically designed to match different interior styles and reduce water consumption through simple low-flow options.

In case you’re looking for more guidance on finding the right water-saving hand shower for your project, you can find more info in our guide.

Save water with smart shower heads

The advanced technologies of smart showers allow users to track their shower habits and adjust their water consumption to their preferences as they shower.

The new HANSA digital hand shower comes with a handy screen that measures consumption and temperature in real-time.

Digital hand shower can help users save water by giving real-time feedback on their shower habits.

Reduce the building’s overall energy consumption

One minute under a hot shower consumes the same amount of electricity needed to power lights in a home for a day. This is a large share of our everyday energy consumption.

Choosing the right shower set can easily reduce energy consumption. By providing a low-flow shower head, users are enabled to shorten their shower time and can track their consumption.

At the same time, no additional electricity is needed. The HANSA digital hand shower is fully powered by water and requires no batteries for the system to run smoothly. This will help substantially reduce the building’s overall energy consumption and electricity costs.

As our climate changes and resources deplete, every drop of water we use counts. That’s why more and more water-saving and energy-efficient solutions are available to the project market. For future residential building projects, consider how smart, low-flow shower heads can play a role in saving resources and keeping costs down.

5 most common pitfalls of installing shower systems

Hansa — Wed, 12 May 2021 06:00:00 GMT

If your next job involves installing a shower system, we know that sometimes the unexpected happens.

Here are the 5 most common pitfalls of setting up shower systems – and simple solutions you can turn to if things don’t go as planned.

1. Problem: The shower faucet hits the ceiling

You’re replacing an existing shower with a new system. You realise that the existing installation and connection points are placed too high and the new shower head hits the ceiling.

Solution

We suggest installing a shower set that can be shortened. For example, HANSAFIT or HANSAMICRA provide great solutions. However, before you do, make sure to thoroughly clean the pipe after cutting it to avoid damaging the O-Rings. If you’re unsure how to cut pipes or whether the pipes of that one specific shower system can be cut, consult the HANSA technical support.

Alternatively, you can go for a separate faucet and overhead shower set – like the elegant HANSAPRISMA shower faucet combined with the HANSABASICJET overhead shower.

HANSAMICRA rain shower you can cut the shower pipe to adjust the height of the rain shower system to any space.

2. Problem: The shower set is too low

You’re replacing an older shower with a new one. But this time, the connection points are positioned too low, making the shower unsuitable for taller users.

Solution

We suggest using a shower set that can be extended at the time of installation to accommodate the person’s height. For example, the HANSAEMOTION shower can be easily extended by 10 cm with the available extension parts.

To find the shower set that best fits your bathroom, we recommend contacting the HANSA customer service or technical support.

3. Problem: Using or covering existing holes

You’d like to either cover or use the existing holes from an old shower bar when installing the new system.

Solution

Choose a shower set with a height-adjustable wall brackets. This will allow you to mount the fixture exactly where the existing holes are placed. We recommend the HANSAMICRA rain shower.

See a video of how the height-adjustable wall-brackets make installation easier:

4. Problem: The connection points are misplaced

You’re installing a new shower for a shower tub and realise the existing connection points are not located in the middle of the tub. This then causes misalignment of the shower.

Solution

We recommend installing a shower system equipped with a shower pipe, which is adjustable to the suitable angle. This will allow you to fix the shower head at the centre of the tub. The HANSATEMPRA is a great example.

5. Problem: Hot and cold water inlet piping is reversed

You’re installing the shower thermostat and notice that the piping inlets for hot and cold water are reversed.

Solution

You can install a shower thermostat with reversed cold-hot water connection. For example, you can make use of the HANSAMICRA shower faucet, where connections are inverted by default.

Alternatively, you can install the HANSATEMPRA shower set and replace the regular thermostatic cartridge with a reversed cartridge. For this specific component, the HANSA spare part number is 59912463.

Visiting your customers well-prepared is a great way to manage the unexpected and ensure your job goes as smoothly as possible. We hope this guide helped, but if you’re still unsure, you can always reach out to the HANSA technical support.

5 easy ways to cut water waste in public buildings

Hansa — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 06:00:00 GMT

Saving water in larger buildings isn’t always a hefty task: from detecting leaks to installing water-saving fixtures, here are 5 easy tips that will help you get things right.

Touchless faucets are a great way to save water in public buildings

Commercial buildings include multiple systems that rely on significant amounts of water. And we’re talking about millions of litres annually. It is estimated that a building around 20,000 square meters consumes over 20 million litres of water every single year. These could be anything, from hospitals to schools, offices and hotels.

It is estimated that a building around 20,000 square meters consumes over 20 million litres of water every single year.

And as planners, architects and engineers are paying increased attention to water conservation – they’ve discovered smart and easy ways to prevent unnecessary waste.

There are many great solutions out there waiting to be explored and exploited. We gathered a few smart tips from the experts to help you make the most of your next big project.

Touchless faucets can help save water and energy up to 50%

1. Install plumbing fixtures with low-flow rates

In recent years, thanks to great technological developments, many high-flow water systems have been replaced with low-flow systems designed to consume a lot less water. These include aerators and flow limiters for faucets, showerheads, hand showers and high-efficiency toilet flushing.

Especially, in public buildings that include swimming pools and locker rooms, touchless shower panels are ideal for water-saving – activating only when they’re needed.

Retrofitting a large, commercial building with a new set of water-conserving fixtures might seem expensive. However, the water saved will save you money and help the planet in the long run. What’s more – if you decide to install touchless faucets, the fixtures can both save water consumption by up to 50% and cut your energy bills too.

Touchless faucets by HANSA are equipped with Bluetooth technology which connects the faucet to an app. This can easily help keep track of the daily water consumption and usage volume throughout the building. Moreover, with the app one can easily adjust settings such as after-flow time or sensor sensitivity, both of which can have an impact on the total water consumption figures.

Touchless shower panels are a great fit for public swimming halls or locker rooms.

2. Regulate the building’s water pressure

Water pressure usually indicates the health of your building’s water system. The pressure should be somewhere between 65psi and 80psi. If the pressure is higher than that, it could damage the pipes and lead to bursts.

3. Install smart water metering systems

This will give you an overview of your building’s daily and hourly water consumption, providing you with all the data you need to regulate your water usage. The system usually also provides you with the amount of water usage the building is costing you.

4. Leak Repair

A regular, simple check of the piping system will allow you to save litres of water every year. And this should not only apply to pipes but also to faucets and showers.

A leaky faucet or showerhead can waste up to 7000 litres a year

To put things in perspective, a faucet or showerhead can waste up to 21 litres per day. That’s over 7,000 litres a year – and multiply that with the number of faucets and showers that are installed in the building. That’s a lot of water (and money) going to waste.

5. Install sensors on your irrigation system

If your building includes an irrigation system, there are easy ways to cut down on water consumption. Simply install detectors that will detect precipitation and the irrigation system won’t activate. Once the rain stops, the sensors will detect it and watering will resume.

Saving water in a public building doesn’t always require fancy machinery or meticulous planning. Some solutions are quite straightforward: avoid leaking faucets, make sure the water pressure isn’t too high, and prevent some of that rain from just going to waste.

The four most common touchless faucet maintenance issues and how to solve them

Hansa — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 06:00:00 GMT

Fixing a touchless faucet? It’s not always easy to identify the problem. Here’s how to navigate the four most common maintenance issues.

1. The water is not running from the faucet

Is there a clicking sound coming from the pilot valve?

If YES, the problem is most likely in the membrane of the solenoid valve. Cleaning or replacing the membrane should solve it.

If NO, consider these possibilities:

Measure the battery voltage. If it is very low (0-4V), a short circuit in the sensor or the cable is causing excessive power consumption.

Replace the sensor as a faulty sensor could exhaust the battery in a few weeks when it should last many years.
If the battery voltage is below 5.4 to 6.4V, the battery is flat.

Replace the battery with a new one. (Normally, it should last 2-5 years.)
If the battery voltage is below 5.9V and water is not running from the faucet, the pilot valve is clogged due to dirt or debris. A voltage below 5.9 is not enough to open or close the pilot valve, so the faucet cannot operate.

Replace the solenoid valve. (Note: It is not possible to replace the pilot valve alone, but the whole solenoid valve needs to be replaced.)
If the battery voltage is fine and close to the voltage of a new battery (~6.2V), the operation of the pilot valve should be tested with the test cable.
- If the pilot valve is making a clicking sound while testing it with the test cable, the sensor is faulty and needs to be replaced (as in case A.)
  - If the pilot valve is not making a clicking sound, the pilot valve is faulty, and the entire solenoid valve needs to be replaced.

Troubleshooting chart for HANSAELECTRA touchless battery operated faucet

2. The water flow does not stop

If dirt or impurities in the water enter the pilot valve or reach the pilot valve membrane, this can cause leaking. Cleaning the membrane or replacing the pilot valve will solve the problem. To avoid leaking faucets, it is important to install one-way valves and litter filters supplied with the faucet.

3. The sensor has a red blinking light

This means the battery is flat and needs to be replaced.

4. The batteries run out quickly

In this case, the sensor is most likely faulty, causing excessive power consumption and draining the battery. Replacing the sensor will fix the issue.

With a functional sensor, the batteries normally last several years. To change the sensor, you need to disassemble the faucet.

With a functional sensor, the batteries normally last several yes. With a faulty sensor, the batteries can run out in a matter of weeks.

If this guide didn’t help you solve your touchless faucet problem, please contact our technical service experts. They’re always there to help.

HANSA Connect app: Two new Bluetooth settings for 2021

Hansa — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 06:30:00 GMT

HANSA Connect app is continuously improving. Check out the latest features here.

HANSASTELA is one of the many SMART touchless faucets available with Bluetooth connection

Our SMART bathroom faucets are flying off the shelves and we’re working hard to ensure a state-of-the-art performance. That means continuously improving the HANSA Connect app, designed to make life a little easier for installers and users alike.

In 2021, we’re introducing two new flushing settings:

Off-set time – This setting is especially for buildings that need to flush different faucets at different times depending on use. It allows flushings to start at any minute of the hour, instead of only at the top of the hour. (From 8.00 to 8.15, for example.) This offers much more flexibility in planning automatic flushings throughout the building.

Fixed flush time – This setting is for buildings that need frequent daily flushing, regardless of usage. It allows to set flushes on the hour, every hour for up to 24 flushings a day. Fixed flush can be used in combination with Off-set for more flexibility, and each flushing will start at the same time.

See a complete list of the app’s settings here.

HANSA Connect app adjustment settings (with authorized password)

Maximum water flow time

Intelligent afterflow time

Sensor sensitivity

Cleaning mode time (also possible with magnetic key)

Schedule weekly automatic flush

Automatic flush time and flush mode

Waterflow (for the calculation of water consumption)

Product location

Password

The HANSA Connect app can make your work faster and easier, especially for customers running large buildings. New features are added continuously to help them manage automatic flushings in the way that suits their building best.

Health & Safety series: The touchless future of airports

Hansa — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 06:00:00 GMT

As safety and hygiene move to the top of airport planners’ priority list, what solutions are they deploying to keep passengers comfortable and secure?

Few sectors have been hit harder than the aviation industry in 2020, with revenues forecast to fall by over a billion and air traffic down to a minimum. And it isn’t just airlines that have been suffering the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic — airports worldwide have seen passenger numbers fall by almost 60% in the first half of 2020.

Yet here, as a potential silver lining, the pandemic has planners considering how safety and comfort will be shaping the design of future terminals. They’re looking at everything from smoother security checks to an enhanced shopping experience, all while ensuring passengers a safe and secure journey.

“We have to give passengers confidence that it is safe to fly. And that gives us a chance to really rethink the passenger experience,” Ty Osbaugh from Gensler’s Aviation practice tells Forbes.

The airport of the future will undoubtedly seek to make travel more enjoyable and less stressful. And while many renovation projects in 2020 have been paused due to the pandemic, we look at what’s in store for airport planners to ensure both a safe and enjoyable experience.

Touchless HANSA faucets at Berlin airport help improve hand hygiene significantly.

1. Are we heading towards touchless travel?

Airport planners expect to see a higher level of digitalisation in airports in the months to come, to make passengers feel safer when travelling.

This can come in many different forms: from devices that prevent spaces from overcrowding, to touchless check-in kiosks and automatic faucets that can mitigate the spread of germs and bacteria in frequently used airport bathrooms, while promoting hand-washing.

"Airports have been quicker to adopt touchless travel than aircraft cabins," says Matt Round, chief creative officer at London-based design consultancy Tangerine, to CNN. "We are already seeing touchless security, and more and more processes are moving out of airport infrastructure and into the digital world thereby reducing the number of contact points in the airport.”

2. Hands-free services and devices in bathrooms

Bathrooms in airports are used by tens of thousands of people a day. And an increasing number of airports around the world are making use of sensors that can detect the number of people using the facilities, allowing them to assess how often they should be cleaned.

And inside bathrooms, installing hands-free devices – including soap dispensers, towel dispensers, toilets and doors – is considered one of the most effective ways to ensure higher hygiene standards.

HANSA’s range of touchless bathroom faucets, for example, are a viable solution for airports around the world — providing planners with a range of touchless devices for bathrooms that can help reduce the spread of the virus and harmful microbes, and keep hands clean.

3. Bluetooth enabled touchless faucets can add an extra layer of hygiene security

Many HANSA touchless faucets come with Bluetooth functionality that makes it possible to manage and control each fixture through an app.

For airports that have seen a dramatic decrease in passengers, this is particularly useful for mitigating the risk of spreading legionella through stagnant water. These HANSA faucets can automatically flush installations that aren’t in use every 72 hours — and the frequency and duration of automatic flushes can be increased or decreased through the app for each faucet.

As an example, Frankfurt Airport, which in normal times would welcome up to 250,000 passengers per day, has taken advantage of lower passenger numbers to concentrate its operations in one terminal. And here, facility managers recognise how the HANSA automatic flush feature made their job much easier.

“The partial closure makes it necessary to flush the installations that aren’t in use every 72 hours,” says Hubert Ball, Facility Management, Betriebsingenieure Terminals, IFM-TTI. “And with HANSA SMART faucets we can do it automatically, while the single-lever mixer faucets still require manual flushing.”

As airport planners respond to the increased demand for hygiene and safety, they are taking a holistic approach to digitalisation that includes a wide range of touchless solutions. Bluetooth-enabled SMART touchless faucets not only help decrease the spread of harmful microbes, but they can also help mitigate the risk of legionella. Part of a wider health & safety strategy, SMART faucets can play an important role in a safer, more comfortable passenger experience.

Your step-by-step guide to installing a hybrid faucet

Hansa — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 07:00:00 GMT

If your next installation involves a hybrid kitchen faucet, panic not. We understand the faucet’s multiple features make the set-up sound overly complicated. But it’s not – so we put together a simple and easy guide for you to stick to.

HANSAFIT hybrid kitchen faucet with touchless function

We understand that the hybrid kitchen faucet’s multiple features can make it seem complicated to set up. That’s why we put together a simple and easy guide for you to follow on your next installation.

There are many variants of hybrid kitchen faucets – some need batteries, others include a dishwasher valve, for instance. However, the following guide can be applied to all current HANSA models.

Before you begin, please make sure that your working conditions are safe and suitable at any time. The temperature of hot water must not exceed 70°C (160°F) and the minimum working pressure is one bar and the maximum is ten.

Now – here is what you should be checking before the installation can take place:

The diameter of the mounting hole (34-37 millimetres.)
The thickness of the countertop (2-40 millimetres).
The thickness of the countertop with extension screws (up to 60 millimetres.)

Once you’ve checked all three, let’s have a look at the tools you will be needing:

A 19-millimetre spanner or wrench
A 9-millimetre box wrench

At this point, you can start by installing the faucet on the countertop.

1. Place the O-ring seal on the bottom of the faucet’s body and thread the faucet through the draining board mounting hole.

2. Fix the faucet by attaching the fixing plate underneath the draining board with two installation nuts.

Here you can use the 9-millimetre box wrench. If needed, use the supporting plate which is included in the package.

Fix the faucet with fixing plate and two installation nuts

3. Connect the couplings to the hot and cold water supplies, and remember to install the litter filters that are included in the package.

Remember to add the litter filters

4. If the hybrid faucet you are installing includes a smart dishwasher valve, connect the dishwasher valve between the hot or cold water supply couplings and the coupling pipe.

Use the 19-millimetre spanner or wrench. Fix the dishwasher valve to the wall according to the instructions, with the bracket included in the package.

Connection of HANSA SMART dishwasher valve

Always make sure to pay attention to the correct position of the valve: if the dishwasher has not been yet installed or has been removed for maintenance, the valve must be plugged. Here, tools are not necessary to attach the plug – tightening by hand is sufficient.

5. Finally, connect the leads

In the battery-operated version, connect the battery lead from the faucet with the battery casing lead. Here, then connect the battery casing with its own fastening either with the cold or hot water supply.
In the plug transformer operated version, connect the power lead from the faucet with the transformer lead
In the dishwasher valve version, connect the leads to one another.

Changing the spout turning angle

By default, the spout turns 120°. But if needed, the turning angle can be changed by pressing the limiter behind the spout with a suitable tool.

Lift the spout out of its position, take out the limiter which is on the faucet’s body and turn it to the desired position. Markings on the limiter indicate the correct turning angle.

The spout’s turning angle can be adjusted to three positions: 120°, 80 ° or 60°.

Now put the limiter back, so that the desired turning angle faces the user.

Assemble the kitchen faucet, make sure that the spout locks back into place.

We hope the guide has made the installation easy and smooth. And remember to always check the installer’s manual each faucet comes with.

When durability is your client’s priority: picking a faucet that lasts

Hansa — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 07:00:00 GMT

Diving into your next project and wondering which faucet to pick? Are you and your client both keen on investing in well-built, durable fixtures? Look no further. We compiled an easy checklist for you to know what to keep an eye on – from body to finish.

Choosing right faucet will have long-lasting effect on the cost and maintenance efforts of your project – whether it is an airport, a school or a residential building. We know that finding the right balance between durability, usability, design – while sticking to your budget – is important.

But what should you be looking out for? While being small and compact in size, faucets are built out of an array of different materials and components. All of which matter in delivering a long-lasting, functional fixture.

This means that getting to know what exactly each bathroom and kitchen faucet is built from can help you decide which fixture matches your project.

The inner components

Let’s start with what’s inside a faucet, the parts you cannot see yet are vital for a well-functioning fixture. These inner components have a big responsibility for hygiene, operability and longevity.

Here are three materials that can ensure durability:

Polymers – Polymers are hygienic materials suitable for high accuracy components such as cartridges, valves and aerators.
Ceramic – The best disc valves are made of ceramic, as they are durable and unaffected by temperature extremes, sand, rust and hard water conditions.
Composite – Select composite materials are extremely durable and chrome-plated composite parts have the same durability of the surface as chrome-plated brass and zinc parts.

The right base material: why brass?

Faucets are usually made of materials that do not corrode in time: most commonly brass and stainless steel. Less pricey models are often made of zinc alloys or plastic, which tend to wear out over a shorter period of time. However, carefully selected plastic and composite materials have advantages, especially when used in outer bodies of bath and shower faucets, such as preventing the faucet surface from heating up. This improves safety. Moreover, chrome plated composite parts actually have the same durability of the surface as chrome plated brass and zinc parts.

We know that all-brass bodies last the longest and are unlikely to leak or corrode, especially when special dezincification resistant (DZR) brass is used. This kind of special brass is not affected by tap water acidity or other chemicals. The material usually is at a higher price, yet it delivers durability.

So if you are looking for faucets that last, won’t leak and are easy to take care of – opt for brass.

Pick the finish

Finally, picking the faucet’s finish doesn’t only come down to design. While the look of the fixture might matter for your project, the material will indicate, for example, how easy the faucet will be to clean and maintain, or how well it will stand up to hard water, high temperatures and corrosion.

Because if you are installing faucets that last, its finish counts. Let’s look at the different options:

Chrome – The most popular finish is polished chrome, which is bonded to a layer of nickel on the fixture’s base. Chrome is tough and scratch-resistant to protect the surface of the faucet, and is the most economical.
Nickel – Brushed nickel is warmer and softer than chrome and hides water spots and fingerprints better, so it’s easier to clean. But it’s also significantly more expensive than chrome.
Bronze – Bronze-plated faucets are popular for custom bathrooms and are available in varied looks and textures. Again, bronze is significantly more expensive than chrome. If your client falls in love, look for bronze finishes with physical vapour deposition (PVD) or clear epoxy coatings to help resist corrosion and scratches.
Brass – Brass fixtures offer an exclusive look at a reasonable price. However, they are high maintenance and typically require regular polishing to prevent tarnish.
Matt black – matt black finishes with ceramic coating (make sure you check this!) are more scratch resistant and prevent fingerprint marks on the fixture – saving you time on your regular cleaning.

With many different faucet models and types on the market, it isn’t always easy to know which fixture will stand the test of time. And with clients increasingly looking to invest in durable, high quality products, we hope our checklist can provide an easy starting point for your next project. Whether it’s an apartment block or a hospital.

Want to know which materials are used in HANSA faucets?

Health & Safety series: Smaller upgrades that improve hospital safety today and tomorrow

Hansa — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 07:00:00 GMT

After experiencing the hardships of operating under a pandemic, how are planners working to ensure present and future hospitals are pandemic proof?

For decades, hospitals and healthcare facilities across the globe have been fighting the battle against hospital acquired infections (HAIs), which were putting both staff and patients at risk.

In the Covid-19 era, however, this battle has advanced in ways that has everyone in healthcare on the front lines. From hospital administrators and facility managers to planners and architects, these professionals are considering what renovations they can make today to improve safety for patients and staff, what behaviour to best promote and, all in all, what the future pandemic-proof hospital will look like.

“All we know is that there will be change,” says Suzanne MacCormick, global healthcare lead at American building consultancy WSP. “One of the many lessons of this crisis is that flexibility of space is paramount to enable optimum resilience and provide readiness for the unknown.”

We’ve gathered insights from a few design and planning experts around the world to help determine some common answers to these complex questions. Here’s a synopsis of what we found.

1. Flexible wards and waiting rooms

Architects believe that improved flexibility will keep hospitals ready for the unknown, where wards can adapt according to needs (such as a sudden rise in the number of patients requiring ICU treatment, for example).

In an article for Architectural Digest on how the pandemic will transform the built environment, engineer Craig Scully from India says, “You might see, from a design perspective, an ability to make a normal patient room more flexible to increase capacity or be easily converted into an ICU.”

Some are even discussing scrapping waiting rooms altogether to avoid the congregation of people to avoid possible infection, creating so-called ‘waiting nooks’ spread across the hospital.

“This lets patients be somewhere else in the building—the library or somewhere watching a lecture—instead of sitting around on the same floor with other ill people,” Lionel Ohayon from New York design studio ICRAVE tells Architectural Digest.

Up to 80% of the most common diseases are transmitted by touch, which is why touchless faucets are becoming a standard in hospitals.

2. The importance of hand hygiene explodes

Many of us are probably aware that WHO recommends ‘meticulous handwashing’ — which includes using the appropriate hand hygiene products and cleaning procedures, backed by adequate staff training. It is estimated that up to 80% of the most common diseases are transmitted by touch, directly from person-to-person or indirectly by touching the same surfaces.

Up to 80% of the most common diseases are transmitted by touch

For this reason, automatic hands-free devices, such as touchless washbasin faucets, are becoming a standard feature in patient rooms, public restrooms and ICUs alike.

Specifically, touchless faucets designed for healthcare facilities, built with corrosion-resistant brass and laminar water flow, make for ideal solutions to combat infectious diseases transmitted by touch. And built-in Bluetooth technology makes it easier to schedule regular automatic flushing, which can decrease the spread of microbes through stagnating water.

In 2013, a study published in the Canadian Journal of Microbiology shows that touchless faucets are more effective in promoting hand hygiene. Scientists found out that the presence of microbes on automatic faucets was substantially lower than on manual faucets.

3. Antimicrobial measures and materials take focus

Already in use in many hospital ICUs, copper surfaces can kill up to 100% of harmful microbes. It is well-known that copper and its alloys (brasses, bronzes, cupronickel) are able to keep a wide range of microorganisms at bay.

What’s more, many hospitals are also adapting laminar flow faucets, which are known to help reduce the spread of harmful microbes via aerosol spray.

Laminar flow means removing devices that break the water stream (including aerators) that can create breathable infectious droplets that spread in the air.

COVID-19 has profoundly impacted how hospitals are designed and operate. From how patients and loved ones are welcomed to how wards are built and arranged down to what type of faucets and materials are deployed.

Whether your project involves on-the-fly safety measures or you’re working on a new healthcare facility, pandemic proofing will be the name of the game well into the future.

Top 4 reasons to make flushing pipes a part of your installation workflow

Hansa — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 12:33:00 GMT

Even though you’re in a rush, don’t forget to flush. You probably know a story like this. The deadline is approaching for a commercial building that’s already behind schedule. You’re one installer short of a team, and you have 20 faucets to install by the end of the day. And you’re desperate for ways to slice precious minutes off of each installation.

Don’t be tempted to skip the flush

We all do it, and we know it can save time when we’re under pressure, but flushing the pipes is critical to the assembly of every faucet, especially automatic faucets.

“Although flushing pipes before installing a faucet is required by law in some countries, many installers forget to do it,” says Ville-Petteri Ismälä, Oras Group Technical Service Rep. “And it’s a shame because even the smallest amount of dust or sand in the pipes can damage the faucet. And if they don’t flush, they may need to come back and fix the faucet at some point.”

Yet while the law does not require flushing pipes in every country, here are the top 4 reasons why we believe flushing is necessary to make every installation a success:

Prevent operating issues – Flushing helps clear any dust, sand or other debris from interfering with the aerator, levers and - if you’re working with touchless faucets – the overall function of the faucet. If the pipes are not flushed, sooner or later, this debris can cause the faucet to malfunction. The touchless faucets are particularly vulnerable for impurities in the water since if dirt ends up inside the pilot valve, this can cause leaking.

Save time down the road – Although flushing requires 7 minutes per faucet today, it can save you an extra maintenance trip later when you could be just as busy.

Ensure customer satisfaction – By preventing operating issues, you can also save your clients the time and hassle of calling you back to fix the faucet.

Even the smallest amount of dust or sand in the pipes can damage the faucet and this can create malfunctions especiallu for touchless faucets.

Whether you’re on a tight deadline for a commercial building or you need to visit 5 private homes before lunch, take the time to flush the pipes before each faucet installation. An easy tip? Plan your visit – what you are going to do and in what order – a day in advance to allow yourself enough time to take all the needed steps for a successful installation, including the flushing. Not only is it good for the customer, but it also gives you the extra assurance you need to know the job is done right.

Health & Safety series: How to build hygiene into our schools

Hansa — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 07:24:00 GMT

As schools across Europe work to improve hygiene and manage contagion, many seek short-term upgrades with long-term potential to keep students and staff safer. Discover some of the most impactful solutions here.

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, as schools were feared potential hotbeds for the virus, immediate efforts to keep students and staff safe were often operational. Bathrooms were cleaned more often, surfaces sanitised regularly, and pupils and staff were recommended to wash their hands constantly.

While research conducted by the New York Times in both Britain and the United States in November 2020 discovered that school reopening has not fuelled surges in local transmission of the virus, many schools around the world are nevertheless looking for ways to keep viruses and bacteria at bay over the long run – whether it’s Covid-19, a future pandemic or the seasonal flu.

“I think there’s a pretty good base of evidence now that schools can open safely in the presence of strong safety plans,” Dr Michael Beach, a senior scientist at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention told the New York Times.

So what do safety plans involve? We all understand by now that WHO ranks hand washing as the number-one action for school administrators, teachers and staff to promote: keeping our hands clean is one of the many ways to prevent sickness.

And on top of quick operational changes – cleaning surfaces and washing hands – many schools are making short-term design changes that are already improving hygiene, reducing the risk of contagion for the long term.

Let’s have a look at what’s changing in our schools.

Touchless faucets significantly promote hand hygiene compared to manual faucets.

1. Fully automated environments

To further reduce the spread of harmful microbes, schools are going touchless. Why? Up to 80% of the most common diseases are transmitted through person-to-person contact or by touching the same surfaces.

School bathrooms, which potentially have the highest concentration of harmful microbes, have become a central focus area for touchless devices, including touchless toilets, soap and towel dispensers, and, of course, touchless faucets.

A scientific article in the Canadian Journal of Microbiology shows that touchless faucets significantly promote hand hygiene compared to manual faucets. It tested for the presence of bacteria and viruses on two types of smart touchless faucets compared to manual faucets – significantly less microbial growth was found on the smart faucets.

And switching to touchless lavatory faucets is a relatively easy investment schools can apply in the short-term: an investment that will not only help reduce the spread of harmful microbes but will also cut water consumption and energy bills in the long run. And the incorporated Bluetooth technology makes it easy to program regular, automated flushing that can prevent harmful microbes from forming in stagnated water (especially handy in the event of future lockdowns).

2. Use of anti-microbial materials

Communal surfaces are widespread in school buildings – from shared computers, desks, tables, doors, and bathroom facilities – all of which are potential sources of microbe spread.

Today, many schools are embracing easy-to-clean materials with anti-microbial properties (which inhibit the ability of microorganisms to grow) in the selection of interior fabrics and fixtures.

For door hardware – including handles and pull bars, for instance – copper and its alloys (which are metals and not finishes) are being increasingly used for their properties to destroy a wide range of microorganisms. They are hard-wearing and naturally kill bacteria 24/7.

3. HVAC systems and window replacements

Handwashing and surface cleaning aside, it is widely understood that fresh and clean air can hugely contribute to slowing the spread of the virus.

This means that schools are modernising their HVAC systems to circulate the air quickly and cleanse the air more frequently. Others, instead, are replacing poorly designed windows with casement windows that catch and deflect breeze from varying angles.

The more the world learns about COVID-19, the more it seems clear that the changes we make to our habits and to our built environment are here to stay. As the pandemic fades, which it will hopefully soon, well-ventilated, automated buildings will continue to provide a safer, healthier, more comfortable indoor environment — starting with our schools.

PSD sensors: The power behind touchless faucets.

Hansa — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 07:25:00 GMT

Learn about one of the latest sensor technologies for touchless faucets and why it reigns superior over standard infrared.

Touchless sensor faucets are slowly but surely taking over the world — yet not all sensors are created equal. Compared to infrared sensors, PSD (Position Sensitive Detector) is a superior sensor technology that ensures HANSA touchless faucets work as precisely as possible.

Here’s a quick comparison of PSD vs infrared sensors and how they work:

Infrared sensors

With infrared sensors, detection is based on reflected light intensity. When the target reflects enough light back to the receiver the faucet is activated.

The drawback with infrared is that variations in skin colour, clothing, light and reflections can cause an imprecise reaction to hand movements. For example, dark surfaces can affect reflection and cause late detection, and conversely bright surfaces (mirrors, for example) can cause early detection.

And where late detection can result in a negative user experience, early detection can lead to unnecessary water waste.

The drawback with infrared sensor is that variations in skin colour, clothing, light and reflections can cause an imprecise reaction to hand movements.

PSD sensors

The accuracy of PSD sensor detection is 10 times higher than infrared detection. PSD senses the precise distance of an object in relation to the infrared eye and reduces false actuation due to variations in clothing, skin colour, light and reflections.

The accuracy of PSD sensor detection is 10 times higher than infrared detection

In other words, hand movement is detected precisely when the infrared is reflected in the sensor area, and water flow will stop as soon as the user is not detected in the sensor area.

PSD senses the precise distance of an object in relation to the infrared eye and reduces false actuation.

Today, the majority of HANSA touchless faucets are equipped with both PSD and Bluetooth technology, which allows you to adjust and keep track of the faucet through an app. Whether your customers are private homeowners or running larger commercial projects, you can help them understand the difference between standard infrared and PSD and how to choose reliable touchless faucets that can keep their bathrooms running smoothly.

Top 4 reasons to check your HANSA installation and user guide

Hansa — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 07:24:00 GMT

Before you pull it out of the package and toss it over your shoulder, find out how HANSA installation and user guides can boost your efficiency and customer satisfaction.

HANSA manuals are a excellent source of information – not only for installations but also for maintenance and usage

As a professional installer, you may have installed hundreds or even thousands of faucets of varying brands, design and quality. Even though the process may be similar, each faucet is different and can have its own unique installation requirements. That’s why checking the installation guide, which might require an extra minute or two, can save you time over the long run and help ensure your customer gets the most out of their new faucet.

Here are the top 4 reasons to check your installation guide:

Catch unique design features – Even if you just briefly scan the guide, the clear illustrations will help you quickly determine whether the faucet has any unique design features that affect installation or use.
For example, some HANSA single-lever faucets come with the possibility to vary the spout position and add water flow limitations by adding a small nut to the cartridge. And, on touchless faucets, you can set the water temperature and remove the temperature control handle. The guide shows you how.

Get installation tips – All HANSA installation guides are designed to help installers avoid common pitfalls and optimise their work. This is particularly useful for installers who may be used to working with different faucet brands or different HANSA faucet categories or designs, but it can also help seasoned HANSA installers.

Tips include: How to save water and energy by limiting the water flow and water temperature, how to limit the spout’s turning angle, and much more.

Get important user information to your customer – Make sure to hand the guide to your customer after the job is done. It also functions as a user manual and contains helpful information on how the product works and how to operate it. This is particularly useful for our more technical products such as touchless faucets and electronic dishwasher valves.
The guide also includes an ‘important notes’ section that covers cleaning instructions and maintenance tips, such as what to do in case of frozen pipes, warranty information and local customer support contact details in case of questions.
(And don’t forget to hand over the cleaning cap that comes with the touchless faucets as well – it’s a useful component, allowing users to block the sensor when cleaning the faucet and washbasin.)

Improve customer satisfaction – By getting a quick design overview, avoiding pitfalls, and ensuring your customer has all the parts and information they need, you can help guarantee a better customer experience throughout the lifetime of the faucet.

Touchless Faucets: Myths vs Facts

Hansa — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 07:30:00 GMT

Debunking the five most common myths about touchless faucets facing installers.

Demand for touchless faucets is growing, both for private and project markets. But for installers everywhere, a flurry of myths around touchless faucets have added confusion around the real advantages.

So, to ease you into the future and get you ready for your next project, we’re busting the myths and sharing the facts on touchless faucets.

The myth: Touchless faucets are difficult to install

The facts:

Touchless faucets can be installed even faster and easier than a traditional single-lever mixer faucet.
An electrical connection is usually not required, and touchless faucets utilise the same infrastructure, washbasin configurations and fixing parts as traditional single-lever faucets – so there’s no need for added holes or special adaptors.
Plus, all touchless faucet models are equipped with flexible pipes, making it easier to install than copper pipes, especially when space under the sink is limited or tight.

The myth: Battery life is short requiring frequent battery changes

The facts:

SMART faucets require lithium batteries which last 3 to 5 years.
A blinking red light on HANSA touchless faucets lets your customer know when it’s time for a battery change, which they can easily do in minutes.
HANSA Connect App, which comes with our touchless faucets, also displays battery life status.

The myth: Touchless faucets are only for public places

The facts:

As more and more people experience SMART faucets in schools, day-cares and offices, they become inspired to install them in their homes. We see the demand in private homes growing exponentially.
HANSA offers a wide range of SMART faucets, in a variety of attractive designs, that are easy to install and perfect for home and public use.

The myth: Temperature cannot be adjusted on touchless faucets

The facts:

Some touchless models are available without temperature control – these are specifically for public places.
However, many HANSA SMART faucets have a small lever on the side that allows for easy temperature adjustments.

Many HANSA smart faucets have a small lever on the side that allows for easy temperature adjustments. More adjustments can be made via the HANSA Connect App.

The myth: Touchless faucets come with sensor malfunctions

The facts:

Our reliable PSD (Position Sensitive Detector) technology ensures that our sensors respond precisely to hand movements.
This offers smoother usability compared to IR (infrared sensor) technology.

Want to see what styles you can offer your customers?

Choosing the right faucet range for every project – big or small

Hansa — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 07:00:00 GMT

Whether you are designing a residential project or hospital, you need a range of faucets that can be made to fit every demand. Faucets that can be installed anywhere, for any purpose.

In today’s market, when it comes to planning a building project, there are several factors to consider when choosing the right faucets. Will they be expected to withstand high use? Do they need to meet strict health and safety requirements? Should they look a certain way – and can you find a range that offers flexibility in terms of design and purpose? More importantly, do they take into account global trends such as sustainability and connectivity?

At HANSA, we have incorporated all the above into a portfolio of state-of-the-art faucets that are equal parts smart, safe and stylish – and can be managed via a mobile device. Embedded with Bluetooth® technology, water and energy use can be fully optimised via our simple-to-use HANSA Connect app.

To help you with your selection, we’ve listed some of our products below that can bring style, comfort and usability to any project.

Give your hotel the luxury feel

When it comes to a hotel, the first thing to consider is the user. They want something that is simple to use and looks good. For the proprietor, focus veers more towards durability and sustainability – in essence, faucets that will save water and energy while looking good for years to come.

With the HANSADESIGNO Style range, we offer a selection of SMART touchless faucets that cover all these criteria. Simply connect each relevant faucet to your app to monitor water consumption and battery life, and to set automatic flushing controls – among many other features.

For homes that stand out

When designing or refitting someone’s home, consider faucets that are easy to install, simple to use, and, ultimately, are extremely safe: so that anyone of any age – or physical ability – can operate them.

With HANSAFIT, choose between our high-quality touchless or single-lever faucets for both the bathroom and the kitchen. Both have faucets that come with enhanced safety features, including eco-buttons for the bathroom that support people’s sustainability efforts and temperature displays with a hot water warning for the kitchen.

All faucets are made with nickel-free coatings, to keep drinking water pure, and our SMART Bluetooth-enabled models can help end-users save water by up to 50%. The HANSAFIT range also includes rain shower systems, so all water spaces of the home can be fitted with the same style.

For health and care environments that require the highest levels of hygiene

Hospitals need to uphold health and safety conditions around the clock, both for staff and patients. When it comes to faucets, that means making sure the water supply is uncontaminated, and it means providing solutions that optimise good hygiene and are easy to keep clean – limiting the risk of hospital-acquired infections and cross-contamination.

With HANSAMEDIPRO and HANSACLINICA, we’ve created a range of faucets and thermostats, specifically for health and care environments, designed to improve hygiene and safety and be easy to clean and operate – no matter people’s physical limitations.

Both design lines include touchless models, which reduce surface contact to a minimum and further improve hygiene. And some models include thermal disinfection technology, to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria such as legionella. That means that you can be confident every component in your hospital project is fit to meet the most stringent health and safety requirements.

Touchless faucets reduce surface contact to a minimum and further improve hygiene in healthcare environments

High-quality faucets for high-traffic environments

We readily assume that high traffic areas such as public and semi-public bathrooms in town centres, schools and airports are hotbeds for germs – but they don’t have to be. By adding Bluetooth-enabled touchless faucets designed to withstand high-volume usage, you can keep germs to a minimum while managing water usage more responsibly. This is where our HANSAELECTRA comes in.

These easily modifiable and touchless faucets can be set to provide premixed water or water that flows at a set temperature – without users having to touch a thing. In addition, thanks to PSD technology, water only flows when hand movement is detected. Such accuracy is also great at helping limit any potential vandalism as there is no possibility to leave the water running for more than two minutes, even if an object is placed in front of the faucet sensor.

How technology can customise faucets to customer’s needs

Hansa — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 07:30:00 GMT

From more efficient installation to smart monitoring and adjusting, app-controlled faucets can improve your daily work. Explore how in this article.

Bluetooth enabled touchless faucets can be controlled via a mobile app, allowing for greater flexibility and hygiene during maintenance.

Bluetooth enabled touchless faucets can be controlled via a mobile app, allowing for greater flexibility and hygiene during maintenance.

SMART touchless faucets are here to stay

Touchless faucets are growing in popularity and replacing single-lever faucets at an increasing rate, both in private homes and public buildings. A touchless faucet offers improved hygiene, safety and better water management – all while using the same fixtures as traditional taps.

That’s great news for installers because touchless faucets are also easy to install, monitor and maintain – making your work faster and more efficient. Their Bluetooth enabled sensors can be controlled via a mobile app, allowing for greater flexibility and hygiene during maintenance.

Remote access is an important advantage, especially when working in public or semi-public buildings and delicate environments such as healthcare facilities. Additionally, you and your customers can also track and measure faucet details such as water consumption, battery life and more.

How the HANSA Connect App can help installers

As an installer, you get access to essential product information, so you can make adjustments to settings and get reports of actions affecting the faucet. All you need is a mobile device. Additionally, you can:

Quickly identify HANSA faucets with Bluetooth sensors within approximately a 10-meter radius
Access insights such as remaining battery life, water consumption and current settings
Personalise settings for customers
Transfer saved settings to other faucets
Receive customer reports of malfunctioning faucets by email, allowing you to remotely analyse the potential issue and plan what you’ll need for repairs beforehand
Save time adjusting HANSA sensor faucets

How the HANSA Connect App can help your customers

The easy-to-use app makes it easy for your customers to monitor their faucets’ use, a feature that’s particularly useful for public and semi-public buildings. Building facilitators can control:

Automatic flushing to avoid stagnating water in the faucets and pipes, preventing bacteria like legionella from forming in the pipes when faucets are not in use
Adjust sensor sensitivity and the sensor area to control how close users need to be to the faucet before it turns on
Afterflow time to limit how long the water should continue once hands are removed from the sensor’s range
Battery level to see when it’s time to swap batteries
Total water consumption and how many times the faucet has been used

HANSA Connect app makes adjusting faucet settings easy and fast

HANSA Connect App adjustment settings (with authorized password)

Maximum water flow time

Intelligent afterflow time

Sensor sensitivity

Cleaning mode time (also possible with magnetic key)

Schedule weekly automatic flush

Automatic flush time and flush mode

Waterflow

Product location

Password

Save time and increase customer satisfaction

Bluetooth enabled sensor faucets with mobile app control can make your work faster and easier, while helping you deliver a new level of service to both your private and commercial customers. Additionally, your customers will benefit from convenient new features easy for them to control while being able to communicate detailed faucet issues directly to your inbox.

The top water-saving faucets of 2020

Hansa — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 07:30:00 GMT

Shorter showers are just one way to reduce water waste in our homes. And with technology helping us to cut consumption by up to half, here is how these top-selling faucets can help you cut water waste in 2021.

Did you know that just 2.5% of the water on earth is drinkable? Water is a resource that life depends on, and that can’t be taken for granted.

But how can we do our bit to cut water waste in our day-to-day routine? The EU drafted a blueprint for long-term, integrated water management, which includes the use of water-saving devices, alongside improved education on the subject and awareness campaigns.

The EU believes that efficient use of our resources could be improved by nearly 40% through technological improvements alone, with devices able to reduce wastage by up to 50%.

To make things easier, we compiled a list of our top-selling faucets of 2020, equipped with water-saving features — from touchless sensors to flow-control systems.

1. HANSASTELA bathroom washbasin faucet

For the modern bathroom, this touchless faucet is equipped with an autofocus infrared sensor (PSD) that can seamlessly detect moving hands and will only run water when it’s needed — cutting consumption by up to 50%. It also comes with a temperature control handle for adjustable temperature, and its replaceable batteries can comfortably last over 3 years.

With HANSASTELA touchless faucet you can save up to 50% of water.

And when you want to check your water consumption or if you want to keep track of your battery life, built-in Bluetooth will refer all useful information to the HANSA Connect app and allow you to customise the faucet’s functions according to your needs. You can even set the faucet's after flow time to a duration that minimises your water use.

2. HANSAFIT washbasin faucet

The HANSAFIT washbasin faucet is fitted with a single-operating lever and is complete with our smart eco-button, which limits temperature and flow rate, keeping water and energy waste at a minimum. It also doubles as a safety button, making it a top choice for families with children.

HANSAFIT washbasin faucet has a handy eco button that limits water flow and temperature. The limit can be bypassed by pushing the button.

3. HANSAFIT kitchen faucet

The elegant and hybrid HANSAFIT kitchen faucet comes with both easy-grip levers for hot and cold water and touchless functions, which prevent unnecessary water waste by activating only when hands are within the recognition range. What’s more, the faucet’s temperature display will help you keep an eye on your energy bill and prevent piping hot water from burning your hands. The fixture is available in two models: one with a high flexible spout and the other with a lower, chrome-plated spout.

HANSAFIT kitchen faucet has a touchless function, which makes hand washing in the kitchen easier and more hygienic than ever before.

4. HANSAMICRA shower set

As we consume hundreds of litres of water each time we shower, the HANSAMICRA shower set is designed to prevent water waste through a set of eco-friendly components and features. Among these, the HANSABASICJET hand shower with EcoFlow spray limits water flow to just 9 litres per minute, ensuring your showers are comfortable and eco-friendly at once.

HANSAMICRA shower set has many eco features that help you save water without compromising on comfort.

While saving water often comes down to habits and behaviour, our extensive range of technological solutions for kitchens and bathrooms can play its part in the fight against water wastage. Touchless faucets in the bathroom can prevent water from going to waste, and advanced functions in showers can reduce water flow without compromising comfort.

Debunking myths about touchless faucets

Hansa — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 07:00:00 GMT

Why touchless faucets are a good match for any project – no matter the size

Smart faucets are more efficient and cost-effective than you might think.

While touchless faucets are becoming widespread in public buildings, some misconceptions surround them. We’ve rounded up some of the most common myths below – followed by our take on why smart faucets are always the right choice when planning any project, big or small.

1. Touchless faucets are expensive

When you mention the word “touchless” to a customer or potential customer, there could be a fear that such faucets are too expensive or too cumbersome to add to existing buildings.

However, the market for touchless faucets is wide and varied – and keeps growing. That places them within most buildings’ budgets and makes it easier to plan projects according to the customers’ needs while taking into account their limitations.

And, touchless faucets are good for a building’s operational budget. They can help save water – up to 50% – and energy compared to traditional faucets, especially in buildings with high-volume faucet usage. That means touchless faucets can pay for themselves in the form of lower water and energy bills.

Touchless faucets help save water – up to 50% – and energy compared to traditional faucets, thus lowering the water and energy bills.

2. Touchless faucets are difficult to install

Whether your project is a hospital or a three-storey shopping mall, installing touchless faucets is easy and does not always require help from an electrician. Our smart faucets are designed to easily replace any manual faucet and in some cases are even quicker to install.

3. Touchless faucets require constant maintenance

Some building owners we’ve encountered believe that touchless faucets come with constant sensor malfunctions and require frequent battery changes.

Our reliable PSD (Position Sensitive Detector) technology ensures that our sensors respond precisely to hand movements, offering smoother usability compared to IR (infrared sensor) technology. The batteries last about 3 years and are easy to change, and battery life can be easily monitored in the HANSA Connect App. In addition to the battery-operated models, touchless faucets are also available as main supply or plug transformer versions – and the power supply can be change flexibly even after the faucet installation.

Thanks to the HANSA Connect App, building operators easily program every touchless faucet to their exact needs – which makes monitoring and maintenance faster and more efficient throughout the building. Again, adding to cost savings for building operators.

Touchless faucets are not only easy to use but also come in variety of design options. In the picture: HANSADESIGNO 51792221

4. Touchless faucets are ugly

Nothing could be further from the truth. Those who believe that touchless faucet designs are boring or unattractive have simply not had the chance to explore the wide range of touchless designs that are available.

From classic styles to angular forms and soothing silhouettes, HANSA has a wide range of touchless faucets to suit the look and feel of any building project.

Looking for inspiration for your building project?

Installing a touchless faucet is just as fast as installing a manual one

Hansa — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 06:30:00 GMT

Replacing a traditional single-lever faucet with a touchless version takes minutes, not hours, with no special tools required.

A touchless faucet can be installed just as fast as a traditional single-lever mixer faucet.

Installing a touchless faucet is plug ‘n’ play

With its multifunctionality, increased hygiene and water-saving features, the sensor faucet is quickly becoming the preferred option for many consumers as they renovate their homes and replace existing fixtures.

The idea of installing a smart faucet may sound challenging, but we promise – whether it’s a washbasin faucet or a kitchen faucet – an automatic faucet can be installed just as fast as a traditional single-lever mixer faucet.

An electrical connection is usually not required, and both faucets utilise the same infrastructure and washbasin configurations and the same fixing parts – there’s no need for added holes or special adaptors. Plus, all HANSA touchless faucet models are equipped with flexible pipes, making it easier to install than copper pipes, especially when space under the sink is limited or tight.

Convenient power supply

Many smart faucets for the home are powered by lithium batteries that fit in a small case under the sink and last 3 to 5 years. The homeowner can easily replace them without professional assistance.

For those large family homes with high usage, a main supply or alternative plug transformer version can also be installed. Generally used in public spaces, plug-in versions simply need an electrical outlet nearby, though assistance from an electrician may be required if no outlet is available.

With HANSA Connect App, you can do adjustments to the touchless faucet settings on-site.

Ready to use, right away

Once installed, an HANSA touchless faucet comes with pre-set factory settings, and no further adjustments are needed unless the customer has distinct needs. In this case, customisation can be done right on-site using the HANSA Connect App – and the faucet can be used immediately, just like with any other faucet.

Your customers can use the app to adjust the afterflow at any time. They can also check battery life, run automatic flushes, adjust the sensor sensitivity and more. This is particularly beneficial for your commercial customers. Building facilitators can save lots of time monitoring and controlling the faucets throughout the building.

“The HANSA app lets the hospital’s maintenance staff monitor and control all 168 faucets, down to the individual faucet. As some of the wards may not be in use during certain periods, they can easily flush the faucets automatically, controlling for bacteria in the pipes. This helps the hospital live up to its high hygiene standards.” – Michael Torp, Project Manager, IB Andersen

Want to know which HANSA faucets you can offer your customers?

Which faucets can help buildings become more sustainable and how?

Hansa — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 07:30:00 GMT

The current construction landscape shows a continuing rise in sustainable building projects. A 2019 Ramboll survey of architects, developers, real estate investors and contractors found that of their future-slated projects, more than half were expected to be sustainable. This shows that sustainable solutions are still a financial commodity worth investing in.

For sustainable buildings, water use is one area that has the potential for great impact in building performance. From the embodied water use in the construction phase to the operational water use once the building is completed, buildings use a considerable amount of water in their lifecycle.

Touchless faucets can help save significant amounts of water and energy in larger buildings

The share of residential building water use (Copenhagen Resource Institute)

showers and baths (35%)

toilet flushing (25%)

washing clothes (14%)

dishwashing (8%)

drinking and cooking (5%)

room cleaning, irrigation and car washing (5%)

other (8%)

Impact of operational water use

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), once in the operational phase, residential buildings account for 72% of total water use compared to non-residential buildings, and a staggering 25% of water use globally.

With European Commission concluding that the average European citizen uses approximately 160 litres of water per day, sustainable building certifications such as LEED and BREEAM are focused on operational water use where they can have a tremendous influence in global water consumption.

Sustainable can still mean profitable

Finding water efficiency solutions for operational water use – ensuring, for example, that water only flows when it’s needed – will produce savings in overall operating costs. For the market economy, Ramboll expects, as sustainable buildings show more positive outcomes for operational costs and residential satisfaction, the financial benefits will inspire more green and smart solutions.

Some faucet terminology

Flow rate: how much water (litres per minute) comes out of faucet or shower when turned on

Afterflow time: the period of time that water flows after hands are removed from the sensor (3 seconds on average)

Flow time: the time period a faucet runs when smart sensor is activated

Sensor sensitivity: the distance hands need to be from the faucet to activate it

The potential of intelligent water use

Investments in water-efficient sanitary fittings, such as faucets and showers with low flow and afterflow rates, is encouraged by the EU commission to promote water-use solutions through the installation of high-performance water-using products.

Touchless faucets with precise sensors and conservative afterflow settings can provide optimal water savings

While standard touchless faucets and showers have a water flow rate of around 6 litres per minute, faucets specifically designed for Green Buildings can lower water flow rates close to 1.7 litres-per-minute. Touchless faucets with precise sensors and conservative afterflow settings can provide optimal water savings, while touchless faucets with Bluetooth technology allow afterflow to be adjusted to as low as 1-second compared to the 3-second afterflow rate of standard faucets and showers.

All touchless washbasin faucets are available with Bluetooth, which enables them to be monitored and controlled remotely via an app – across the whole building or down to the individual faucet level. Building operators can get an overview of water flow and afterflow rates and can adjust sensor sensitivity and water flow times, which can heavily reduce the building’s water consumption.

Faucet choices are one step in the right direction

HANSA believes that the decisions made at the beginning of a building project have long-term implications. Choosing the right faucets can give sustainable buildings the tools for smart water-use management and overall, provide savings in operational water use and the operating costs of buildings.

Find the HANSA spare parts and product data you need – fast!

Hansa — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 04:32:00 GMT

As an installer, you don’t always have time to hunt down the product information you need. Find it quickly here.

As a rule, HANSA faucets are built to last. Still, when you need service information for maintenance or the replacement of parts for a faucet or shower, you need it fast.

Need spare parts?

You can find information about the spare parts you need on our website by searching with the product number or design line and clicking on ‘spare parts’. Or you can click through to our spare parts range below:

Need product data?

Looking for product descriptions, features, technical data, and dimensions? Use our data sheet tool. It will generate a PDF with all the information you need – just enter the product number. (If you need more than one datasheet, just separate the product numbers with a comma.)

Need product and maintenance guides?

Product specific installation guides can be found on the Product Page under ‘guides.’ If you need some visual guidance and/or if you don’t have access to the physical installation and maintenance manual, you can download them here:

Get in touch

If you can’t find what you’re looking for or you need some assistance, please get in touch with our customer service team.

Quality brings comfort to a new Children’s hospital in Finland

Hansa — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 06:15:00 GMT

Upon entering the New Children's Hospital in Helsinki, Finland, visitors are met with an overall design that feels warm and inviting with thoughtful touches such as a tap for cleaning wheelchairs in the entrance.

"This is really fantastic, said Marko Sundholm, Country Manager of Oras Finland. Impressed by the attention to detail and welcoming feel. "The selected materials are natural, which makes the building approachable.” An aspect, he says, is vital to children who may be intimidated by the sterile environment of a typical hospital.

Did you know?

In the Nordics, HANSA products are sold under the Oras name, but Oras and HANSA are sister brands sharing a combined vision to become the European leader of advanced sanitary fittings.

And when the hospital was seeking help to incorporate innovative solutions for its water fixtures, Sundholm knew it would be a fit for Oras. "This is a large collaborative project, and we wanted to be a part of it," Sundholm said. Oras went on to donate several hundred faucets for just about every room in the building, which includes 118 patient rooms and 220 reception or rehabilitation facilities.

Faucets bring the right functionality to every room

As with the hospital's other details, the faucets were carefully considered and selected based on the location and intended use, explained Oras Group's Category Manager, Juhani Lempinen. "For example, in premises where the doctors use the faucets, hygiene is number one, and in these cases, touchless faucets are the right choice, " he said. In patient's rooms, on the other hand, the nurses must wash their hands, and the patients should be able to have cool water to drink, so we chose hybrid faucets."

"The bacteria count on a touchless faucet is up to 98% lower than on a manual faucet."

Source: WANDER Nordic Water and Materials institute

In a hospital, good hygiene saves human lives. In fact, with research showing that 80% of microbes are spread between humans by either direct touch or indirect contact, touchless faucets become essential in hospital conditions – and a valuable instrument in reducing the risk of transmitting microbes near handwashing stations.

External microbes are not the only concern. Incidents of illness caused by legionella, which often grows in warm, stagnant water, have increased worldwide in buildings, old and new. In many cases, household faucets, which often have an aerator, mix air into the water flow, causing the water to spray out. The resulting spray then releases microbes that spread into the surrounding air. To mitigate this risk, HANSA faucets for Health & Care sector feature a laminar flow with no air and no water spray.

A collaborative approach to hospitals

Having developed an international network, HANSA has planned and developed products for hospitals throughout Europe. The end-users are included during the planning and provide the basis for product development. For instance, the children's hospital, model rooms were built in the parking garage so user needs could be immediately reviewed through a collaborative process.

Correspondingly, Lempinen sees the hospital projects as an integral part of HANSA’s product development. "In hospitals, we can develop the most advanced parts of our product portfolio, he says, by bringing electronics and multi-purpose features to faucets, which will then be introduced elsewhere gradually."

Hansa - Blog

What are EPDs and why is it important to look at the full lifecycle of a faucet?

EPDs are expected to become a market requirement

Manufacturing footprint vs. lifecycle footprint: what's the difference?

Taking sustainability assessments to new heights

Navigating sustainability standards today and tomorrow

Architecting a flagship faucet experience onboard one of the world’s most climate-smart passenger ships

The challenge: Designing an interior anchored in style and sustainability

The solution: A familiar faucet delivered by a reliable partner

The result: All hands on deck: A ship with a new design and a unique interior

How to consult your customers on sustainable faucets

1. Check for EPDs

2. Get to know crucial resource-saving features

3. Digital solutions that help save water in a smart and convenient manner

4. Sustainability that pays off in the long run

How to talk to customers about safe drinking water

How can stagnated waters affect water safety?

How can customers avoid stagnant waters?

How can customers bypass manual flushing?

How can the faucet’s material affect water quality?

Which materials are best for ensuring safe drinking water?

From mechanic switches to electronic shut-off valves – Here’s all you need to know about dishwasher valves

From separate units to integrated features

Mechanical dishwasher valves – Relocating the shut-off switch onto the faucet

Electronic shut-off valves via one simple “push”

Manual vs. automatic – How to choose the right shower panel?

2. Fixed power supply vs. battery-operated shower panels?

3. Basic vs. advanced features?

Bath and tile rim systems – How to make sure everything works the way it should

Troubleshooting: what to do if the roll box no longer works?

How to exchange the shower hose?

Find the right body parts

How to make the most of HANSA’s digital tools

Product finders, video guides, advanced search and comparison tools

QR codes for easy product identification

HANSA virtual showrooms for inspiration

Bathroom configurator for easier planning

3D visual representation with AR technology

The role of faucets in our future homes

The bathroom becomes a place for personalized health management

The kitchen becomes a hybrid space

3 must-have features for a fast and simple shower installation

Shower solutions that can be adjusted in height

Adjustable wall brackets

High-quality wall connections

How smart resource-saving faucets help project planners tackle rising electricity costs

How will rising energy prices impact the future of the building sector?

How does water use drive up a building’s energy costs?

How can water-saving faucets help keep electricity costs low?

In residential buildings

In public buildings

How can project planners meet energy certifications and standards?

Combination 1: Total Flow of 12,6 litres

Combination 2: Total Flow of 11,1 litres

Installing a touchless spout faucet only takes 3 easy steps

What you need to know before installation

Installing a touchless spout faucet in 3 easy steps

Good to know

After installation

How digital guidance and rewards help children wash their hands well

Long-lasting behavioural changes that lead to great results

From posters to interactive screens with real-time user feedback

Playful nudges and smart insights that have a true impact – Here’s how it works

The future of bathrooms – in private and public buildings

Manual flushing vs. automatic flushing

Flushing the pipes helps prevent bacteria growth

The main issue of manual flushing

Water hygiene done correctly with automatic flushing

How to schedule automatic flushing correctly

Integrated hand hygiene: How can healthcare institutions use faucet data for better hand hygiene?

Why is integrated hand hygiene important in the first place?

What are integrated sensors and how do they work?

Future digital services create new hygiene standards

Real-time feedback that improves handwashing habits

What can we expect in the future?

Dos and don’ts when installing a touchless faucet

Do:

Flush the piping before installation

Center the faucet

For battery-operated faucets: Place the battery box upside down

4. Sustainability that pays off in the long run 