Installation eyewash and safety shower

An eye wash or a safety shower is an efficient security device that in the quickest possible way interrupts a chemical reaction which may seriously damage the eyes or body.

The shower must fulfill certain demands on its function in order to perform in the best possible way.

1. Correct location of a safety shower

Every second counts! The eyewash and safety shower must be placed close to the hazard zone and be possible to reach in only a few seconds, with the follwoing recommendations in mind:

• Distance from chemical hazard to eyewash and safety shower should be less than 20m without stairs or ramps or any obstacles between, or time required should be less than 10s to get to the eyewash and safety shower.
• The eyewash and safety shower should be located in a clearly visible and easily identifiable place, and as far as possible on a regularly taken path, inside the area exposed to the risk, without en-route hindrance by potential obstacles (partitions, doors, steps, corridors, etc.).
• The eyewash and safety shower should be sheltered from contamination sources and well away from electricity sources.

2. Amount of water in a safety shower

The flow of water and the time for rinsing is decisive for how well you can remove the chemicals or cool down the burn damage. The Krusman eye washes and safety showers meet the demands for flow set by the trade but we can also adjust the flow. The rinsing should be carried on for 15-30 minutes generally, but there are more specific guidelines depending on the type of chemical or damage. There is more information about rinsing times in ANSI standard and EU standards ».

3. Tempered water

Tempered water is set by law for eyewashes and a recommendation for safety showers. The temperature for the eye- and facewash should be between 20-30 ºC (according to Swedish law). Cooling does however slow down chemical attacks and eases the effects of burns considerably. All Krusman showers have a flow reduction/compensation built inside.

4. Safety at pressure fall in the water supply

In an eye or safety shower there are big amounts of water and a pressure fall can result in serious complications. Showers with automatic pressure and flow compensation is therefore a necessity. The water supply must allow the body and the eye shower to be  activated at the same time.

5. Reduced pressure

In eye washes it is important that the water sprays are soft to that they do not injure the eyes further. A thick, soft spray is to prefer before a thin and sharp. To obtain the correct spray pattern read the summary of ANSI standard and EU standards here ».

6. Adapt material in the shower and eyewash to the right environment

An eyewash or safety shower must always work and therefore needs be tested once a month. The environments where the equipment is placed are often corrosive. Make sure that the material in the shower is suitable for the environment where it is to be installed. When an eye or safety shower shall be placed outdoors, it has to be insulated to withstand freezing temperature.

7. Valve

The valve is the heart in the shower and must be of good quality. Activation should be designed in such a way that both hands can be free to open the eye lids for rinsing.

Video – How to install a Krusman Combination Shower.