How to Choose a right Eyewash Station

In numerous industrial production and laboratory environments, workers face the risk of exposure to toxic and harmful chemicals. Once the eyes are harmed by such substances, the consequences can be unimaginable. As an important emergency rescue equipment, eyewash stations can rinse the eyes in emergency situations, effectively reducing injuries and gaining valuable time for subsequent medical treatment. However, there are various types of eyewash stations with different functions on the market, and how to select the right one has become a key link in ensuring workers' safety. China's national standard for eyewash stations was officially announced and implemented on July 1, 2020. Some large research institutes or design institutes in China still have a limited understanding of the standards and specifications for eyewash stations. 

Although there are many types of eyewash stations, the selection should first consider several main factors:

1. Environmental Temperature Conditions

   (1) Cold Regions (Winter temperature below 0℃)

   In regions where the temperature may drop below 0℃ in winter, the accumulated water in the eyewash station will freeze, seriously affecting its normal use and even damaging the equipment. Therefore, eyewash stations with anti-freezing functions are required in cold regions. When the temperature is below 0℃, it can be further divided into cold and extremely cold regions. For cold regions, anti-freezing or electric heat tracing eyewash stations can be selected. For extremely cold regions, electric heating eyewash stations should be chosen.

   • Anti-freezing eyewash stations:

   There are automatic draining and manual draining types, and generally, the automatic draining type is preferred. This type of eyewash station takes the draining issue into account during design and has an optimized structure. When not in use, there is very little water in the pipes of the eyewash station, basically meeting the anti-freezing requirements.such as our model WDJ88060-Z.

   • Electric heat tracing eyewash stations:

   They prevent the accumulated water in the eyewash station from freezing through electric heat tracing belts, and can also slightly increase the temperature of the eyewash water, but cannot significantly increase the temperature of the shower water. Therefore, they are only suitable for regions with temperatures above -10℃. Such as our model WDJ88075-E.

   • Electric heating eyewash stations:

   They adopt an electric heating system, which can effectively prevent accumulated water from freezing, and can increase the temperature of both the eyewash and shower water, making the outlet water temperature more comfortable for the human body. They are suitable for cold regions with higher requirements on water temperature. For extremely cold regions, more protections are needed.Such as our model WDJ88075-EH.

   
   

   (2)Warm Regions (Winter temperature above 0℃)

   In regions where the temperature is above 0℃, there are more options for eyewash stations, such as ordinary wall-mounted, floor-standing or tabletop eyewash stations. These eyewash stations have simple structures, low costs, and can meet the normal emergency eyewash needs. Such as our model: WDJ88060-J,WDJ88040,WDJ-PB6002-2.

   
   

2.  Characteristics of Chemical Substances in the Working Environment

   (1) Corrosive Chemical Substances

   If there are strong corrosive chemicals such as chlorides, fluorides, sulfuric acid, or oxalic acid with a concentration exceeding 50% in the workplace, ordinary 304 stainless steel eyewash stations cannot resist their corrosion and will be severely damaged in a short time. In this case, stainless steel eyewash stations with ABS dip coating or high-performance stainless steel eyewash stations with special treatment should be selected. ABS dip coating adopts a powder dip coating process, which has strong adhesion, with a thickness of 250-300 microns, and excellent corrosion resistance. For example, in electroplating workshops, due to the presence of a large number of strong corrosive chemicals, using stainless steel eyewash stations with ABS dip coating can ensure the long-term stable operation of the equipment in harsh environments and provide reliable emergency protection for workers.Such as our model ＷDJ88060-3

   (2) Non-corrosive Chemical Substances

   For working environments with non-strong corrosive chemicals such as general acids, alkalis, salts, and oils, 304 stainless steel eyewash stations can meet the needs. They have certain corrosion resistance, can be used normally in such environments, and have relatively low costs. For example, in some ordinary chemical production workshops, using 304 stainless steel eyewash stations can not only effectively deal with chemical splashes but also ensure the economy and practicality of the equipment. For customers with higher requirements, 316 stainless steel can be used.

3. Water Source Conditions

(1) Places with Fixed Water Sources

For workplaces with fixed water sources, fixed eyewash stations such as wall-mounted, floor-standing, or combination eyewash stations should be preferred. These eyewash stations can be directly connected to the on-site tap water, have a large water flow, and can meet the needs of long-term and large-volume flushing. For example, in the production workshops of large chemical enterprises, where the water supply is stable, installing combination eyewash stations can provide sufficient flushing water for workers in emergency situations, effectively reducing the harm of chemicals to the human body.

(2) Places without Fixed Water Sources and with Frequently Changing Work Locations

In cases where there is no fixed water source or the work location changes frequently, portable eyewash stations are the best choice. Portable eyewash stations can be flexibly moved to the required positions, but it should be noted that their water flow is relatively smaller than that of fixed eyewash stations, and some small portable eyewash stations only have the eyewash function without the shower function. For example, in construction sites, due to the continuous change of the operation area, using portable eyewash stations can conveniently provide emergency eyewash protection for construction workers in different positions.

(3) Without Fixed Water Sources

Generally, shower rooms with water storage tanks are used, which store more than 1400L of water to ensure that the shower and eyewash can last for 15 minutes. If only the eyewash function is considered, the capacity of the water tank can be 200L.

4. Special Functional Requirements

(1) Explosion-proof Function

In working environments with flammable and explosive substances, such as some workshops in petrochemical enterprises, eyewash stations must have explosion-proof functions. Explosion-proof certified eyewash stations should be selected, which have taken special explosion-proof measures during design and manufacturing, and can effectively avoid the risk of explosion caused by electrical sparks, etc. For example, in the production workshops of oil refineries, installing explosion-proof combination eyewash stations can ensure the safety of workers' eyes and bodies, while meeting the explosion-proof safety requirements and ensuring the safety and stability of the production environment.

(2) Temperature Regulation Function

For places with strict requirements on flushing water temperature, such as some special departments in medical institutions and chemical laboratories sensitive to temperature, eyewash stations with temperature regulation functions should be selected. Electric heat tracing and electric heating eyewash stations can adjust the water temperature according to actual needs, keeping the flushing water at an appropriate temperature and avoiding secondary damage to the eyes caused by too low or too high water temperature. Many shower rooms we exported to the Middle East are equipped with refrigerators and electric heating rods to meet the temperature control requirements. These customers have high requirements for usage.

(3) Automatic Induction Function 

High-end eyewash stations are equipped with induction control systems, which automatically start the water flow through proximity sensors to realize non-contact operation. This function can reduce the risk of cross-contamination and improve the emergency response speed, and is suitable for places with high hygiene requirements, such as laboratories related to infectious disease prevention and control, and medical institutions. For example, in the virus detection laboratories of centers for disease control and prevention, installing eyewash stations with automatic induction functions can effectively prevent operators' hands from contaminating the equipment and ensure the safety and hygiene of the experimental environment. 

(4) Water Quality 

Special attention should be paid to water quality. In some areas in the eastern United States, for example, the content of fluoride ions and chloride ions in the water is relatively high. If this issue is not considered at the beginning of the design, there will be major problems in material selection.

The correct selection of eyewash stations is crucial, involving many key factors such as the characteristics of chemical substances in the working environment, temperature conditions, water source conditions, usage frequency, number of personnel, and special functional requirements. At the same time, material selection and compliance with certification standards are also links that cannot be ignored. In the actual selection process, the above factors should be comprehensively considered, combined with the actual needs of specific working scenarios, and decisions should be made carefully. Only by choosing a suitable eyewash station can reliable protection be provided for workers' eye safety in emergency situations, and the harm caused by chemicals to the human body can be effectively reduced. It is hoped that this article can provide useful references for relevant personnel in the selection of eyewash stations and effectively improve the safety protection level of workplaces.