What makes an eyewash station "emergency" grade

An emergency eyewash station is not simply a basin with two spray heads. It is a first-response device that has to deliver a controlled flush of water within seconds of a chemical splash, and keep delivering it long enough for the injured person to reach safety. That is why the specification is driven by flow rate, water temperature and access distance rather than by appearance.

Our combination and standalone units are built around the performance figures set out in ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014: a shower flow of at least 75.7 L/min (20 GPM), an eyewash flow of at least 11.4 L/min (3.0 GPM), and a 15-minute flushing capability.

Four checks before you order

1. Distance and obstructions

The unit must be reachable within ten seconds of the hazard, on the same level, with no step, door or stored material in the path. In practice this means most chemical handling areas need a station every 15 to 20 metres.

2. Tepid water

Water outside roughly 16–38 °C discourages the full 15-minute flush. In freezing or unheated buildings this usually means a heated or freeze-resistant model rather than an insulated jacket alone.

3. Valve type

Foot pedal, push plate and pull-rod activation all remain open without holding, which is essential — a victim whose hands are contaminated cannot keep a button pressed.

4. Drainage and spill containment

A 15-minute flush produces several hundred litres of contaminated water. Plan the floor drain or a containment basin before installation, not after.

Models we manufacture

Full specifications: eyewash and safety shower range.

Installation points that get missed

• Mount the spray heads 83–87 cm above the floor and at least 15 cm from the wall, so the eyes can be held open under the stream.

• Keep the area around the unit clear and marked with floor tape — a station hidden behind a pallet is not a station.

• Commission with a flow test, not a visual check, and record the reading.

• Activate weekly and flush the line for three minutes; have the water tested annually for bacteria.

Frequently asked questions

Can an eyewash station be mounted on a wall?

Yes. Wall-mounted units suit laboratories and small workshops where floor space is limited, provided the bowl and spray heads sit at the correct height and the supply pipe can carry the required flow.

How long must the flush last?

Fifteen minutes for both eyewash and shower. That figure drives the water supply, the drain capacity and the size of any containment basin.

Do I need a shower as well as an eyewash?

Where the hazard can affect the body as well as the eyes — drum handling, tank cleaning, acid transfer — a combination unit is normally specified. For eye-only risk, a standalone eyewash is sufficient.

Water supply and drainage checklist

Two failures account for most non-compliant installations: not enough flow, and nowhere for the water to go. Both are cheap to solve at design stage and expensive afterwards.

Supply side

Measure the static and flowing pressure at the point of connection. A combination unit needs a working pressure of roughly 0.2–0.4 MPa to deliver its rated shower and eyewash flows; below that the stream collapses into a trickle that will not flush a chemical splash. Check the pipe size too — a long run of small-bore pipe will strangle the flow even when the pressure gauge looks healthy.

Drain side

A fifteen-minute flush at 75.7 L/min puts over a thousand litres of contaminated water on the floor. Either the floor falls to a drain within reach of the unit, or the unit stands in a containment basin sized for the full flush. Confirm which before the concrete is poured, and make sure the drain material suits whatever chemical is being handled.

Commissioning record

Record the measured flow, the supply pressure and the date on a tag at the unit. Auditors ask for it, and it gives the maintenance team a baseline to compare against when performance drops.

Request a specification sheet

Send us your hazard, water supply pressure and installation environment, and we will confirm the model, flow rate and activation type. OEM and ODM configurations are available.