Plumbing Engineer October 2021/51
isfactory answer was that the faucets come preset from the factory and you shouldn't need to worry about it. After digging into how sensor fau- cets work, I wonder if it doesn't have more to do with the switching technol- ogy of the sensors. Maybe they only operate as a one-way switch to trigger a time sequence. Specifying Quality and Dependability What makes me skeptical is the branding of all the different smart features. I'd like to see the faucet work dependably before I dig into custom programming. Advice from one manufacturer requires a reset by unplugging the power source and data cable. It reminds me of the advice the cable company gives you after you sat on hold for a while and are just about to throw the cable box out the window. When it comes to a service we pay for, such as cable TV, we are willing to do what it takes to make sure the service works. Unfortunately, if a sensor fau- cet does not work, the public may just not wash their hands. As we specify sensor-type faucets, we should be familiar with the stan- dards ensuring quality and dependabil- ity, not just the extra features that look good on a sales sheet. As engineers, we should be careful not to specify products that cause "feature fatigue," discussed in a Harvard Business Review article as to why manufactur- ers add so many programming options (https://bit.ly/3mWCSV5): "One reason is to serve their own efficiency goals. To begin with, add- ing features costs next to nothing. As faster and faster chips offer ever- increasing memory capacity - at a lower cost - engineers can't resist the temptation to equip existing electronic components with more functions. Of course, they are not looking at the whole equation, which includes the intangible costs of reduced usability." Sensor-type, hands-free faucets offer many benefits to society. They have the potential to conserve water and allow people with physical condi- tions such as arthritis to wash their hands much easier. As you imagine users in a busy public restroom, sen- sor faucets probably allow many more people to wash their hands more effi- ciently than if everyone had to manu- ally turn on and off the handles or wrist blades. Specifications for the inclusion of sensor-type faucets may not include standards that define the quality and dependability of the electronics con- trolling the faucets. Arguably, this led to robust innovation by many of the leading faucet manufacturers. No third-party testing or results study is available that I am aware of to define the reliability of operation. Additional quality standards placed in Division 22 specifications by plumbing engineers could stifle inno- vation while at the same time increas- ing quality and dependability. At a minimum, plumbing engineers should understand the technology they are incorporating in their designs. The evolution of hands-free faucets is reminiscent of computers. Some of us may not recall a time when our computers at work would crash at a moment's notice. When the IT profes- sional would tell you to reboot, it was anyone's guess whether your work was saved or not. Computers have come a long way in their depend- ability because we all use them and, arguably, depend on them. The public also depends on fau- cets to wash their hands and prevent the spread of infection. As plumbing engineers, we should do our part to understand how they work, specify the right combination of features for the clients we work for, and help ensure that sensor faucets are dependable. O Ethan Grossman, P.E., CPD, is the lead plumbing and fire protec- tion engineer with SmithGroup's Boston office. He is a member of ASPE, previously serving on the ASPE Education committee, current vice president legislative-elect for the Boston Chapter. He has 20 years of experience designing plumbing systems for various building types.
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