sensazone saves water waste in the washroom
May 28th 2010

“Water is precious. It is society’s most basic need; it is essential for life. It’s also vital to the economy. It is used to generate power, run industries,grow food – and is used in our homes. But the future for water in England and Wales is uncertain. Increases in population and changes in lifestyle, together with climate change, mean that we need to plan for the next 40 years and beyond. If we don’t, our society faces the real possibility of not having enough water for people and the environment.” Water Resources Strategy for England and Wales, Environment Agency

Water saving is becoming ever more important for both economic and ecological reasons. As a result it is essential that in all sectors both new and old buildings are saving the maximum amount of water.

BREEAM [BRE Environmental Assessment Method] is now accepted by planners, specifiers, designers and developers as the premier organisation for establishing environmental sustainability for systems within buildings and this rating is a benchmark respected throughout the industry. One of the areas that BREEAM assess is the water usage within the building and extra credits are given when water saving equipment is installed.

Following a number of enquiries for a proximity detection shut off device for use in washrooms in order to meet the BREEAM Wat 4 requirements, Cistermiser, a leader in water management systems, immediately set into action and developed a product which would comply with BREEAM Wat 4, shutting off the water to the washroom when not in use.

If total water shut-off should seem like overkill in the average washroom, a swift look at the figures for the effects of leakage will dispel such thoughts. Taking a WC valve as an example, a small drip will result in nearly 900 litres water loss in a week, a dribble will waste over 1,500 litres a week and if, perish the thought, the valve remained fully open the loss will exceed 84,000 litres a week. Translating that into cash on a metered water system, the drip costs over £2 per week [£100 plus a year] and a full flush situation would amount to nearly £200 a week.

sensazone, the latest water management system from Cistermiser, is an innovative and practical method of controlling the supply of water to all the outlets within a washroom, allowing inflow only when an intelligent infrared sensor detects a person entering the room.When the person leaves the room sensazone allows a preset time [typically 15 minutes] and then cuts off the supply once more.This prevents all water loss due to defective equipment, negligence or vandalism. If the system is not used for 12 hours a ’hygiene flush’ for all WCs and urinals in the washroom is automatically set in place.

The sensazone system,though relying on sophisticated technology, is simple in concept. When the PIR sensor detects movement, it instantly opens solenoid valves fixed to the inlet water supply pipes [one each for hot water, cold water plus ‘grey’ or rainwater if used] allowing the inflow of water to all outlets in the washroom. The discreetly styled sensor unit is ceiling mounted as near as possible to the washroom doorway and the solenoids inserted as close as the pipe layout allows to the pipes’ entry into the washroom. An LED display in the sensor unit flashes green every three seconds as long as the water supply is connected. Installation is a simple matter for both the PIR sensor [which can be fitted equally easily to solid or false ceilings] and the solenoids.

Cistermiser’s development of the sensazone system offers an important water saving tool for any organisation with washroom facilities, from a company with a small staff up to a large school or hospital. The advantages of using a system that requires little or no maintenance and yet guarantees that faulty outlets or careless users do not waste water needlessly at considerable cost to the owner, are self evident.

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