The health crisis caused by the pandemic has triggered major changes at the societal level. Among them, we observe an increased awareness of the ability of viruses and bacteria to multiply through actions as common as contact between individuals or with objects in our daily lives.
Thus, many of the habits that included physical contact and that we have had normalized for a long time have been questioned and redefined.
One of the most recurrent actions in recent years has been the use of automatic hydroalcoholic gel dispensers to disinfect our hands before proceeding to the inevitable contact with surfaces or objects in different spaces.
Touchless” or “contactless” solutions have become increasingly important, particularly in areas such as restrooms and especially in public restrooms. Their purpose is to preserve maximum hygiene in spaces frequented by a large number of people on a daily basis, and whose use often requires contact with the objects or surfaces in question. For this reason, contactless technology has become one of the best solutions for preserving safety in washrooms.
Elements such as sensor taps or soap dispensers are increasingly in demand in the bathrooms of hotels, restaurants, stations or, of course, hospitals. However, their use is not limited to public spaces, but is becoming increasingly common in the private sphere.
Indeed, beyond being a matter of hygiene and safety, contactless installations are turning homes into much more modern and intelligent spaces.
In this article we will see how contactless technology works and what solutions are currently on the market with respect to contactless and smart technologies.
How does contactless technology work?
Contactless technology is possible due to advances in digital systems such as infrared sensors capable of capturing movement or biometrics (voice recognition, facial recognition, visual registration, etc.).
These are technologies that respond to a variety of needs and with diverse utilities. They are suitable both to allow better control of access to private physical spaces or electronic devices and to provide greater comfort in homes; allowing control of lights or temperature, among others. Finally, they help to provide better hygiene in bathrooms or highly frequented public spaces.
Smart and contactless solutions for bathrooms
Bathrooms are rooms highly exposed to all kinds of bacteria and germs. Moreover, in the case of public restrooms, these spaces are frequented by a large number of people on a daily basis. Thus, contactless technology becomes a great ally to prevent direct contact with objects and surfaces, allowing to stop the spread of contamination.
Some of the solutions currently available on the market are:
Automatic toilet paper dispensers.
This type of product supplies toilet paper without contact through an infrared sensor that detects movement. Thus, they avoid direct contact with both the object and the previous occupant of the toilet. In the same group of products we would find automatic towel or hand drying paper dispensers.
Automatic soap dispensers
This is one of the products that we have seen and used the most since the beginning of the pandemic. The dispensers in question are once again activated by infrared sensors and can store both soap and lotion or hydroalcoholic gel for one action or another (hand washing, disinfection, etc.).
Automatic faucets
Again, electronic faucets are sensor-operated. These are located next to the water outlet or in the body of the faucet. The water is activated when it detects presence, without the need to touch the faucet, and stops automatically when the sensor stops detecting it. This is a highly hygienic solution that keeps hands clean and does not re-contaminate them when they come into contact with the faucet after washing. In addition, it optimizes and reduces water consumption by activating its output only when necessary, i.e. when the hands are under the faucet. The power supply system can be battery or mains operated and allows to regulate the precise water temperature for each use or to supply water at a pre-set temperature.
Intelligent hand dryers
In the case of hand dryers, their effectiveness lies both in the fact that they can be activated without the need for contact and in the quality of the air they emit. When choosing a restroom hand dryer for installation in hotels, restroom complexes, restaurants, etc., the most important element to consider is the HEPA filter. The quality of the HEPA filter in hand dryers is essential. It is the most important element in the air filtering process, removing harmful particles from the air and then releasing clean air. On the other hand, intelligent dryers allow energy savings through faster drying times.
Automated garbage bins
Garbage garbage cans and containers tend to accumulate a large amount of germs, as a large amount of pathogenic waste congregates in them. It is true that the vast majority of waste garbage cans already have pedal-type mechanisms that allow them to be opened without the need to touch them with your hands. However, to ensure greater hygiene when interacting with this type of product, there are solutions on the market that allow the opening to be activated by means of a sensor in order to be able to throw the waste at a greater distance.
Automatic toilet flushing
The automation of this process aims to avoid the accumulation of residues on the surface of the push buttons. In fact, it is an accessory that every person using the toilet will touch after use and usually with dirty hands. Among the contactless solutions to perform this action are:
·electronic flushing mechanisms: these are battery-powered mechanisms that do not require an electrical connection. They transform conventional push-button cisterns into contactless cisterns. They do not require any building work and can be installed in just a few minutes.
·electronic actuation plates: these are plates that are activated automatically when you pass your hand in front of them. As with traditional cisterns, we can alternatively activate the type of flush (partial or complete). In addition, they can be activated by different methods: by bringing the hand closer, by an automatic option that will activate the toilet according to the proximity of the user, or after a certain time has elapsed after use.
·smart toilets: Smart toilets are modern appliances with a multitude of functionalities including an automatic flush actuator. However, these are much more extensive, ranging from temperature-controlled seats to urine and stool analysis to detect diseases. They work thanks to advanced technology that allows interaction with the user and represent an innovation in the healthcare sector.
Contactless mirrors
Mirrors with contactless technology can activate functions such as lights or the anti-fogging plate by means of movement detected by a sensor, which helps to reduce direct contact and, in this case, ensures that the glass is clean and free of fingerprints and smudges.
In short, advances in technology offer people increased safety and hygiene. At the same time, they provide greater convenience in many areas. In addition, in some cases, such as faucets or hand dryers, they are sustainable solutions due to the water savings they represent.
From Simex, we recommend:
-Hand dryers INOXFLOW: Made of stainless steel, this is a powerful and aesthetic dryer, available in 4 finishes and adaptable to any type of space. See HERE.
-INOXCLEAN soap dispenser: Made of stainless steel and satin finish. Easy to install, attached to the wall, it has a filling sight glass for easy refilling. See HERE.
-ELEGANCE soap dispenser: It is a light dispenser with a capacity of 1,1L that can expel its content in liquid, foam or spray form. See HERE.
