Electric hand dryer

Electric hand dryer with pulsed air

The electric hand dryer with pulsed air has become the new reference because it has been democratized by the manufacturer Dyson in terms of installation volume with a plethora of offers and features that must be detailed. It is characterized by hand drying based on an air speed much higher than conventional products. It is this air speed that blows the water present on the hands towards the bottom of the device and thus dries the hands. This air speed does not require having hot air but many devices offer it with the option of disconnecting it.
The water is therefore generally collected at the bottom of the device in a tank that must be emptied regularly. In fact, only some models combine this air speed with light heating. There is therefore no "evaporation" as in the case of the electric hot air hand dryer but rather "evacuation". This explains a very fast drying time of around 10 seconds.
The cost of use is low but the investment remains heavy with prices 5 to 8 times higher than an electric hot air hand dryer.
It will therefore be necessary to check several points:
-> Motor type : brushed or brushless motor
-> Presence of a removable Hepa filter and cost of the consumable
-> Presence of ultraviolet system to reduce contamination
-> PMR (People with reduced mobility) accessibility
-> Manufacturer's warranty announced
-> Type of hand access: vertical or horizontal which will determine the possibility for children or small people to have more or less easy access.

Pulsed air essential but...

This type of hand dryer has become essential, but we must not lose sight of the fundamentals.
Hand wiping with disposable solutions remains the benchmark from a bacteriological proliferation point of view. Indeed, even if the latest generations equipped with Hepa filtration significantly improve the results, it is an exaggeration to consider that they offer superior bacteriological safety to paper hand towels.
The other problem with this type of hand dryer is the air speed , which often generates more noise than conventional hot air devices. It is therefore necessary to pay particular attention to the location where the hand dryer will be installed.

Comparative hygiene between electric hand dryers and paper hand towels

Regarding the hygiene and bacteriological aspect, although the electric hand dryer with pulsed air represents a slight improvement compared to the electric hand dryer with hot air, the use of single-use paper towels remains the reference if your criterion is impeccable hygiene . The comparative study carried out by two scientists at the School of Biosciences at the University of Westminster in London, revealed that single-use hand towels were the most hygienic drying method, far ahead of hand dryers with blown or propelled air.

Installing your electric hand dryer

Installation height
The installation of electric hand dryers must be carried out in accordance with standard NFC 15-100.
Early childhood specificity:
Considering article R21 dealing with premises concerned with early childhood, hand dryers must meet the following conditions:
• The temperature at the blowing grille must not be higher than 60°C in normal operation (choose a device with a power lower than 1500W)
• If the appliance is IP2X rated then it must be installed so that its lowest part is at least 1.2m above the ground.
• If the appliance is rated IP3X (or higher) then it can be installed at a height of less than 1.2m from the ground.

Reminder on electrical appliance standards

IP index

The IP rating consists of two numbers: the first number represents the level of protection of the hand dryer against solid objects. The second number represents the level of protection against liquid elements.How to read the IP rating.
First digit: protection against solid objects
IP0X - no protection
IP1X - protected against solid bodies >50 mm (e.g. hand contact)
IP2X - protected against solid objects >12.5 mm (e.g. finger)
IP3X - protected against solid objects >2.5 mm (e.g. tools, screws)
IP4X - protected against solid objects >1 mm (e.g. small tools, wires)
IP5X - dust protected (no harmful deposits)
IP6X - fully protected against dust
Second digit: protection against liquid bodies
IPX0 - no protection
IPX1 - protected against vertical drops of water
IPX2 - protected against water drops up to 15° from the vertical
IPX3 - protected against water drops up to 60° from the vertical
IPX4 - protected against splashes from all directions
IPX5 - protected against water jets from all directions (water lance)
IPX6 - fully protected against splashes (similar to sea water)
IPX7 - protected against the effects of immersion
IPX8 - protected against the effects of prolonged immersion

Insulation class of electric hand dryer

The device is also classified by an insulation class which must be indicated by a pictogram.
Class I: Class I devices must be connected to earth.
Class II: Class II appliances have double electrical insulation and do not require an earth connection. Only these appliances may be installed in bathrooms.