Eye Wash & Safety Showers

About this category

An ordinary sink is not an eyewash station; the station must meet ANSI Z358.1, which calls for at least 0.4 gpm (1.5 L/min) for eyewash units and 3 gpm (11.4 L/min) for eye/face wash units for 15 minutes and tepid water (16-38°C) to avoid cold shock or scalding. Plumbed-in eyewash stations install at a water-supplied point with twin heads for simultaneous eye flushing, dust covers, and quick-activation handles. Portable self-contained tank units serve locations without running water and are gravity-fed or pressurized, with hands-free flow once activated, with an eyewash solution whose life depends on the model and fluid type (sealed cartridge or refillable tank), distinguishing shelf life before opening from the in-service change interval per the manufacturer's documentation. Full-body safety showers activate from an overhead pull handle or foot pedal and bathe the body in 20 gpm (76 L/min). Combination stations pair the shower and eyewash in a single footprint. Stations must be reachable within 10 seconds (no more than 16 m) and on the same floor with no obstacles. Weekly flow testing, annual full system inspection, and worker training on station locations and use are mandatory.