Hand Dryer Case Study (Hospital) - Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Hospital

The Project

The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust is a leading healthcare institution, in the heart of Devon. As a well-established healthcare provider, hygiene is of the utmost importance, especially when it comes to washrooms. So, when the requirement arose for updated hand drying facilities, the upgrades needed to not only be able to handle the hospital's high foot traffic, but also maintain strict hygiene standards.

The Challenges

Being a healthcare facility, there were a number of unique challenges that arose as a result. These hand dryer upgrades therefore needed to meet the following requirements:

• Hygiene - hand dryers must meet the highest standards for hygiene, to prevent the spread of germs and infection. This is especially key for a healthcare provider.

• High usage - with the building being populated with hundreds of staff, patients, and visitors every day, this meant the facilities needed to be able to handle a high level of foot traffic, while maintaining efficiency and performance.

• Energy efficiency - to coincide with the current eco-friendly initiatives, this public institution needed to prioritise energy efficiency, and reduced environmental impact. Therefore, hand dryers with low energy consumption were required.

• Durability - for a busy hospital, avoiding breakdown or frequent maintenance visits is key. The hand dryers therefore needed to be durable and robust, to prevent this.

The Solution

Subsequently, The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust selected 30 Biodrier Executive hand dryers for their high-performance. Key benefits of these hand dryers are as follows:

1. Exceptional hygiene - With built-in HEPA filtration, these hand dryers provide a hygienic hand drying solution. HEPA filters allow for 99.9% of bacteria and airborne particles to be filtered out, creating a more hygienic washroom.
2. Fast drying - Offering dry times of under 10 seconds, the Biodrier Executive prevents queues in the washrooms, and helps maintain patient flow.
3. Energy efficiency - these hand dryers are designed to consume less energy than conventional hand dryer models, therefore reducing the Trust's overall energy usage. This, in turn, allows for a reduced carbon footprint and lower operational costs.
4. Durability - built to endure high usage, the Biodrier Executive hand dryers are reliable and robust, requiring little to no maintenance.
5. Low noise - these dryers offer a quiet operation, aiding the hospital's calm atmosphere, and minimising disruption for patients.

The Results

The installation of 30 Biodrier Executive hand dryers was successful, with a smooth and efficient installation. Minimal disruption allowed for the hospital to carry out it's daily operations as usual.

Key Outcomes included:

• Improved hygiene standards - aligning with the Trust's infection control protocols.

• Reduced waiting times - reducing congestion and enhancing user experience.

• Energy savings - reduction in energy usage compared to previous hand dryers, contributing to the Trust's sustainability initiatives.

• Lower maintenance costs - the durability and reliability of the dryers means less maintenance requirements, reducing costs.