The Future of Kitchens and Bathrooms

Sensor taps are automatic taps where the water flow is activated by the presence of hands in the handwashing area. Often associated with commercial, healthcare or food preparation settings, sensor taps have grown in popularity due to increased hygiene awareness within the design and functionality of these spaces. By removing the requirement for the user to physically touch the tap to manually turn it on or off, sensor taps reduce cross-contamination and offer some added benefits in terms of usability, and water and energy savings.

Yet, concerns about cross-contamination, health and hygiene are equally as legitimate in the home as they are in public or commercial spaces. Traditional tapware does not address cross-contamination concerns when preparing food nor do they significantly improve the general cleanliness of the kitchen. They also do not address concerns of germs brought in from the outside into domestic bathrooms or contamination of tapware from previous users.

Beyond better health and hygiene, sensor taps can also offer convenience, reduce domestic water and energy bills, and contribute to accessible living spaces that can be used by all. In the past, the lack of solutions designed specifically for domestic use that fit within modern home design aesthetics may have been a barrier to entry. Leading manufacturers have begun offering options for the home, enabling designers and specifiers to deliver enhanced functionality without compromising on style.

In this whitepaper, we discuss why sensor taps will become an essential design feature for residential kitchens and bathrooms of the future. The benefits of sensor taps in Australian homes will be explored under the following topics: hygiene and health, convenience and ease of use, sustainability, and accessibility.

Sensor taps have been used in commercial kitchens with dedicated handwashing stations for many years to help stop cross-contamination. However, cross-contamination is as much a risk at home as it is in commercial settings. Cross-contamination occurs when bacteria and viruses are transferred from contaminated food or surfaces to other food. Human can also transfer bacteria and viruses to food through hand contact. Seemingly innocuous actions, such as touching your phone or wiping your hands on a towel, can provide the opportunity for bacteria to transfer to food during the many steps of food preparation. 

Studies show that kitchen taps are among the most contaminated surfaces in the home.2 Hand contact with a kitchen tap is therefore one of the highest risk factors for cross-contamination. Sensor taps address this risk by limiting surface contact, allowing users to wash their hands or food without having to touch the levers of a regular tap. This is especially beneficial in residential kitchens where multiple family members including children often help with cooking and cleaning.

In bathrooms, sensor taps give peace of mind to users knowing they are not exposed to contaminated tapware. Bathroom taps can become contaminated with bacteria and viruses via multiple routes. For example, an infected person can inadvertently transfer fecal matter or urine on their hands to the bathroom tap. Infected aerosols can be produced during toilet flushing, and land on surfaces in the bathroom including tap handles. Reducing the risk of transmission is especially important for households with children or elderly family members, who are the most sensitive to the presence of microorganisms.

Both sensor taps and mixed-use sensor taps (sensor function plus mixer function) minimise the potential of bacteria or viruses to spread between household members via bathroom tap handles. Simply not requiring the user to touch levers to operate taps reduces the risk of pathogens being brought in from the outside by visitors or other occupants who may use the bathroom.

Sensor taps bring ultra-convenience to the home, encouraging better handwashing practices and bringing joy to all household members. With a simple gesture, the tap sensor can turn on the water for convenient handwashing or food preparation. Leading models incorporate safety features, such as temperature regulation and premixed water, that reduce the risk of scalding. Other features, such as presetting water flow, help reduce splashing. Turning on the tap will no longer be a cumbersome, difficult or dangerous task for children or the elderly.

Eliminating the manual operation of levers or handles also reduces wear and tear on the tap. A lever or handle that needs to be turned or swivelled is subject to constant friction. Water can also drip into crevices around the tap, leading to mould and germ build-up and corrosion. With traditional taps, regular maintenance is required to ensure long service life.

With no handles that need to be manoeuvred and a simpler design, sensor taps do not require the same level of maintenance as a traditional tap. They are also easier to keep clean as they are subject to infrequent contact with wet hands or water. Leading manufacturers will offer extensive guidance on how to keep a sensor tap in good working order, and also offer extended warranty and support. Leading models also incorporate warning lights to alert users when the battery needs to be changed.

“Seemingly innocuous actions, such as touching your phone or wiping your hands on a towel, can provide the opportunity for bacteria to transfer to food during the many steps of food preparation.”

Sensor taps allow households to reduce water consumption by up to 50–60% compared to traditional taps. These water savings are achieved due to several factors in the design and operation of sensor taps. Water flow is sensor-activated and only occurs when hands are within the handwashing area and immediately switches off when hands are removed. During tasks that do not require running water, such as soaping hands or face washing, a sensor tap keeps water wastage to a minimum.

Sensor taps also include features that ensure only the precise amount of water needed for a task is used. The ability to set the water flow to a fixed level avoids users spending a few seconds adjusting the water flow to the desired level or turning the tap too high for regular handwashing. Similarly, allowing water temperature to be preset avoids users from wasting water as they try to get the water flow to a safe and comfortable temperature. Leading models include timers that ensure the tap only dispenses the amount of water needed for a specific task. Some models also include aerators that reduce water usage while retaining spray coverage areas.

Sensor activation also ensures there is no chance for water flow to be accidentally left on after use. Users often leave traditional tap handles and levers partially on after use, causing water to drip from the tap. Sensor taps eliminate this wastage by closing the solenoid completely once the hands leave the sensing area.

Sensor activation also ensures there is no chance for water flow to be accidentally left on after use. Users often leave traditional tap handles and levers partially on after use, causing water to drip from the tap. Sensor taps eliminate this wastage by closing the solenoid completely once the hands leave the sensing area.

The water-conserving and energy-efficient benefits of sensor taps can help Australian homeowners save money. In Sydney, a typical household uses over 200 litres of drinking water per person per day. Reducing this amount by 30–50% means a significant reduction in residential water and energy bills.

Sensor taps are popular in health and aged care setting in part because they can be easily operated by users with dexterity and mobility limitations. In many household settings, the need to cater for a range of users is no less critical. As they are safe, intuitive and require minimal physical effort, sensor taps are simple to operate by all types of users, including children and the elderly.

The universal accessibility offered by sensor taps allows them to be utilised in ageing-in-place designs. According to studies by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, between 78 and 81% of older Australians aged over 55 (depending on age cohort) want to live in their own home as they age. The growing desire of more Australians to age in their own homes requires designers to accommodate the changing requirements of occupants as they get older.

The physical capability to perform regular actions such as washing hands can be overlooked by many but is essential to our quality of life as we age. When combined with other accessible design features, sensor taps enable older users to operate the kitchen or bathroom independently well into advanced age.

Tapware is often used to elevate or change the overall aesthetic of a home, so homeowners can be selective as to the shape, colour and finish they prefer. Sensor taps have come a long way in this regard, with new designs specifically created for the home to complement a range of contemporary styles. A range of profiles and shapes are available, from streamlined with delicate edges to geometric, finished with sharply-angled edges. Different premium finishes can be selected to complement any interior design. It is also possible to choose matching models for both the kitchen and the bathroom.

“Simply not requiring the user to touch levers to operate taps reduces the risk of pathogens being brought in from the outside by visitors or other occupants who may use the bathroom. ”

Autoflo is a manufacturer of electronic tapware for kitchens and bathrooms in the public and private commercial sectors, healthcare, hospitality, education, and residential sectors. Autoflo proudly designs and manufactures its products in Melbourne and is proud to carry the ‘Australian Made’ mark.

With its Memo Sia and Mizu Drift range, Autoflo offers touch-free handwashing for residential kitchens and bathrooms, in a sensible way that pairs well with modern home design. Autoflo has designed these taps specifically for domestic use.

The Memo Sia is a kitchen mixer befitting today's functional and thoughtfullydesigned “work” spaces in the home. It offers increased functionality, combining sensor technology with traditional hot and cold mixing. With a simple gesture, the intelligent sensor can turn on the water for convenient hand washing, particularly when preparing food, keeping the tap clean and decreasing the risk of cross-contamination.

Depending on requirements, sensor-activated water can be set to either cold or warm to hot with standard plumbing accessories. The sensor-activated water is pre-set to a convenient 10-second run time, assisting with conservative water usage.

Beyond the intelligent sensor function, Memo Sia has additional clever features, including both left and right-hand versions with the mixing lever always having cold water in the front, making it safer for children. An LED light provides feedback to the user that the power supply is uninterrupted, and a 360° swivel spout increases convenience.

Mizu Drift offers these same features expressed in a beautiful form that is ideal for modern bathrooms. Inspired by the essence of minimalist design, the Mizu Drift Basin Mixer brings a sense of calm to the bathroom space while offering all the benefits of touch-free handwashing. Its solid brass construction and refined pin lever design bring harmony and stability to the home.

Memo Sia and Mizu Drift are available in a range of standard finishes including chrome, brushed chrome, brushed brass and matte black, exclusively from Reece.