Slashing Water Consumption

The Omnia GreenGain uses only 3,5 litres per flush.

German manufacturer Villeroy & Boch, which has supplied its products to the Fairmont in Dubai, has launched ‘green’ products focused on reducing water consumption. MEP Middle East takes a closer look at the new range.

In 1998, Villeroy & Boch reduced the flushing volume of its water closets (WCs) from 6 to 4,5 litres with Aquareduct. A new extractor section for urinals, introduced in 2008, lowered the flushing volume from 2,5 to just 0,8 litres. In 2009, the company unveiled Omnia GreenGain, the first wall-mounted WC, using only 3,5 litres per flush.

This is a reduction of 2,5 litres per flush on the normal flushing volume, translating into a saving of 40%. If the lower flushing volume is selected when using the dual flush system, this WC will only use two litres of water per flush. Hence the new product is a particularly attractive solution for project planners, especially within the framework of new build or renovation projects

The WC  bowl has a hydro-mechanically optimised, timeless design that, together with the three water inlets, gives an excellent flushing result. The design of the water inlet allows a particularly strong flush stream towards the front, ensuring everything is flushed into the outlet.

Simple to install

In co-operation with Viega, an in-wall system was developed for Omnia GreenGain, comprising a complete fastening system with installation frames and a water distributor, as well as an optimised cistern with dual-flush function.

Installation is carried out with DN 90/80 pipes (System II) in accordance with EN 12056.

Villeroy & Boch has also revolutionised existing flushing systems through the integration of radar technology, which has never been used in conventional ceramic urinals until now. Its 24GHz high-frequency radar system ‘recognises’ when a urinal is being used or not.

However, flushing only commences three seconds after the user has distanced himself from the urinal. These time settings are used to ensure that flushing only takes place when the urinal has actually been used. People who pass the urinal or only stand in front of the urinal for a short time are not recognised as users, and flushing will not take place. The radar is so precise it can even detect the smallest movement, such as human breathing. In this way, the system can differentiate between a human user and a static object such as the trolley used by cleaning staff.

Advertisement

FEATURED COMMENT Please click here to comment on this article

Villeroy & Boch’s proDetect offers numerous benefits in public and semi-public areas, including being vandal-proof and reliable. All of the technology is concealed behind the ceramic unit, and therefore cannot not be manipulated or destroyed. Due to the fact that it does not have any sensors in the siphon, the system always operates reliably. Its performance is not compromised by debris, urine scale or lime scale. The frequent replacement or maintenance of the siphon is also unnecessary, thus leading to a welcome reduction in costs.

Different flushing volumes

Moreover, proDetect can be set to different flushing volumes. Depending on the requirements, 0,8, two, three or four litres of water can be used per flush. In addition, the system also offers a ‘stadium mode’ for periods of intensive utilisation. If the urinal is used frequently or constantly within a short period – for example, at half-time in a stadium – the system resets itself automatically and only flushes every 60 seconds, plus the time the last user needs to distance himself from the urinal. A self-flushing function, which automatically triggers a flushing process 24 hours after the last utilisation, cleans the siphon and prevents the build-up of deposits or odours due to a low water level.

A further advantage is that installation is very simple. The whole technology is fitted to standard water inlets, and is subsequently concealed behind the ceramic unit. Villeroy & Boch’s proDetect is approved worldwide, and functions with 110V and 240V power supplies or a 2D Li-ion battery. A self-diagnosis function ensures that operation is reliable and trouble-free.

SupraFix is an innovative, patent-pending system from Villeroy & Boch to set new standards in the area of wall-mounted WC installation. It greatly simplifies the installation of the WC, and the toilet seat is also attached quickly. Conventional fastening holes are no longer required. Unsightly plastic covers are a thing of the past. The result is an uninterrupted, modern design that also facilitates easy cleaning.

The idea behind SupraFix is as simple as it is clever: the holes in the ceramic surface used to install the WC are also used to fasten the seat, thus providing intelligent two-in-one functionality. In the first step, the two consoles on which the WC is placed are fixed to the wall with two screws. The consoles of the system are connected to facilitate precise positioning.

These important components of the fastening system are made of glass fibre-reinforced polyamide, which is a high-quality plastic offering a high level of tensile strength and safety. In addition, the installation process only requires a single fitter. SupraFix supports the entire WC as soon as the fastening screws are positioned in the holes of the WC seat. Now the WC can be aligned precisely and the fastening screws tightened with an Allen key.

Although the fitter fixes the WC from above and the screws tighten vertically, the WC is secured to the wall both vertically and horizontally thanks to the intelligent guides of the fastening system.

A special feature of this system is that the threads for the fastening screws of the WC seat hinges are integrated into the fastening screws for the WC. The fitter only needs to tighten the screws for the seat to secure the entire WC including the seat to the wall.

---