Frequently asked questions

Eye showers and safety showers are required first-aid facilities for workplaces where employees may come into contact with hazardous substances, acids, alkalis, heat, flames, and even extreme dirt. Eye showers are used to rinse the eyes and face in emergencies. Safety showers are used to rinse off and decontaminate people following accidents.

Eye showers must comply with EN 15154-2:2006 in Europe and ANSI Z358.1-2014 in the United States.

In Europe, safety showers must comply with EN 15154-1:2006 (Body Showers in Laboratories) and EN 15154-5:2019 (Full-body showers for locations other than laboratories / Replacement for DIN 12899-3:2009). In the United States, Safety showers must also comply with ANSI Z358.1-2014.

Other national standards may need to be observed. In addition, it is possible that company-specific standards must be taken into account when selecting an eye shower or safety shower.

In general, eye showers and safety showers must be installed as close as possible to the hazardous work area. Choose a location that can be reached quickly from the hazardous areas. Access to the shower must be kept clear at all times. The area around the shower must always be well-lit, even during a power outage. The shower itself must be marked with signs that are clearly visible from all sides.

When considering a potential location for an eye shower or Safety shower, the following factors should be taken into account:

• What is the ambient temperature at the planned location?
• Is it possible to collect potentially contaminated water?
• Is there a reliable water supply with sufficient water pressure?
• Is the shower to be installed in a potentially explosive atmosphere?
• Have you taken electrical requirements—such as ATEX—into account?
• Can the shower be turned off for maintenance work?

To prevent damage to furniture and flooring, an eye shower should be installed near a drain so that water flowing out of the shower can drain away in a controlled manner. When using the Safety shower, the escaping water should not cause any consequential damage. If necessary, the escaping shower water must be safely drained using enclosures and drip pans.

Specific requirements for eye showers and safety showers are determined by the risk assessment for your facility. The number of eye showers and safety showers required can also be determined from this assessment. It is possible that company-specific standards must be taken into account.

Safety data sheets for the hazardous substances used usually provide further guidance on identifying the chemical risk and associated hazards. They provide information on recommended decontamination procedures required for the chemicals in question in the event of an incident or skin contact. For example, if ammonia comes into contact with the skin, the affected area must be rinsed with warm water (25°C to 30°C) for at least 15 minutes.

Eye showers and Safety showers must be supplied with drinking water or water of comparable quality. In Germany, the Drinking Water Ordinance governs the installation of the water supply system.

To protect the drinking water system, B-SAFETY hand-held eye showers and eye showers are equipped with an integrated backflow preventer rated at Protection Class 2 in accordance with EN 1717 (Protection Class 3 for short periods). Backflow preventers are also available as an option for the other eye showers and Safety showers.

All B-SAFETY eye showers and safety showers are designed for a maximum operating pressure of 10 bar (PN10). To achieve the flow rates required by the standards, the following minimum flow pressures must be maintained:

• Eye showers with a spray head: minimum flow pressure of 1.5 bar
• Eye showers with two spray heads: minimum flow pressure of 2.5 bar
• Safety showers with a flow rate of 50 l/min: minimum flow pressure of 1.5 bar
• Safety showers with a flow rate of 75 l/min / 20 GPM: minimum flow pressure of 2.5 bar

EN 15154-2:2006 requires a minimum flow rate of 6 litres per minute for eye wash stations for all areas of application, regardless of the number of outlets. The spray height should be between 100 and 300 mm before the spray collapses. B-SAFETY eye wash stations are equipped with high-performance shower heads that deliver a particularly soft water spray, which is optimised for rinsing chemicals out of the eye.

ANSI Z358.1-2014 distinguishes between eye wash stations and eye/face wash stations. Eye wash stations require a minimum flow rate of 1.5 litres/minute or 0.4 GPM, while eye/face wash stations require a minimum flow rate of 11.4 litres/minute or 3 GPM.

B-SAFETY eye showers have different flow rates depending on the number of high-performance shower heads:

• Eye wash with shower head: 7 litres/minute (1.8 GPM)
• Eye wash stations with two shower heads: 14 litres/minute (3.6 GPM)

ANSI Z358.1-2014 requires a flow rate of at least 75 liters per minute or 20 GPM for all body safety showers. In comparison, EN 15154-5:2019 defines hazard classes I, II, and III and assigns them flow rates of 30–60, 60–100, and more than 100 liters per minute, respectively.

B-SAFETY body safety showers are available with different flow rates depending on the hazard class. In laboratory settings, for example, a flow rate of 50 liters per minute has become standard. In industrial settings, a flow rate of 75 liters per minute has proven effective, as the quantities of hazardous substances involved are sometimes much higher.

For eye showers and Safety showers, it is recommended to perform a functional test (lasting a few seconds) at least once a week to ensure that the standing water is replaced regularly. This also ensures that the shower is ready for immediate use.

All B-SAFETY safety showers are designed to be self-draining between the trigger valve and the shower head to prevent the growth of bacteria in standing water before it occurs.

Optionally, all B-SAFETY Safety showers can be equipped with CleanLine filter systems, which provide only 100% purified and sterile water for first-aid use.

When rinsing the eye in a first aid situation, the eye wash should not come into direct contact with the contaminated eye or the area around it. The black rubber guard on the B-SAFETY eye wash is only intended to protect against impact injuries. An optimal rinsing effect is achieved at a distance of approx. 150 mm. The diameter of the spray cone at this height is approx. 80 mm. It is recommended to hold the eye open with both hands during use. Seek medical attention!

The shower head or shower heads should be emptied after each use if possible by holding the shower upside down. This prevents water from standing in the shower head and minimises the possibility of germs developing.

Eye showers and safety showers must be checked for proper operation at least once a month. This not only verifies their functionality but also replaces the stagnant water in the shower with fresh water (to prevent bacterial growth). To minimize microbiological contamination, it is recommended to operate the shower at shorter intervals (e.g., weekly).

To ensure that eye showers and safety showers remain operational at all times, it is recommended that they undergo regular (at least annual) and thorough maintenance. As part of this maintenance, the shower should be visually inspected to check its closing mechanism, for any leaks, and for contamination such as dust or limescale deposits. Defective parts must be replaced immediately.

The installation, commissioning, and maintenance of an eye shower or Safety shower must be performed only by a qualified professional in accordance with the instructions provided and in compliance with applicable legal regulations and recognized technical standards. The technical requirements of the local water and utility companies must be observed.