Safety showers

Available water supply where the safety shower equipment is to be placed? Flushing time? Water quality?

Water supply, recommended flushing time, availability of temperate water and water quality are important factors to consider when selecting safety shower equipment.

Water supply

Safety shower equipment with a fixed connection to the drinking water network is often the best choice. It allows for a long flushing time with a continuous flow. However, sometimes running water is not available on site. A very good and cost effective solution is to install a tank safety shower or a mobile safety shower instead.

Safety showers and eye wash units connected to a water pipe need a certain water pressure to work according to the manufacturer's specifications.

Good water quality

An emergency shower or eye wash unit should be connected to good quality water, i.e. normal drinking water. It is, for example, inadvisable to connect the emergency shower to so-called industrial water.

Flushing times & temperate water

For eye wash units the following applies:

  • Splashes of liquid containing corrosive substance - rinse immediately with a soft water jet or eyewash for at least 15 minutes.
  • Splashes of liquid containing an irritant - rinse immediately with a soft water jet or eyewash for at least 5 minutes.
  • The water temperature should be in the range of 20ºC to 30ºC.
  • A reliable temperature gauge is important in order to prevent overheating due to pressure drop or loss of cold water.
  • Specific flow rates and flushing times for eyewashes are listed in the various product datasheets.

For safety body showers the following applies:

  • The shower jet and water volume should be large enough to cover the whole body with a large amount of water within a few seconds.
  • A long flushing time is often required to prevent further injury and to relieve pain. To make it easier to endure prolonged showering, it is recommended that rinsing be done with temperate water in the range of 30ºC to 37ºC, when the injured person has been exposed to substances that are corrosive to the skin or which, after absorption, pose a risk of poisoning.
  • A reliable temperature gauge is important in order to prevent overheating due to pressure drop or loss of cold water.
  • Specific flow rates and flushing times for safety showers and tank safety showers are listed in the various product datasheets.

Fixed installations with tempered water should be flushed daily to prevent the risk of bacterial growth such as Legionella and Pseudomonas. If the safety shower equipment uses water from a tank, it is advisable to add antibacterial liquid or tablets to prevent the growth of bacteria. The growth of Legionella bacteria occurs mainly in the temperature range of 20-45°C.