Important plumbing specifications to not overlook

Take time to revisit your specs for the kitchen basics to ensure you’re providing the best performance for every common use

Sometimes it seems that if you’ve designed one kitchen, you’ve designed every kitchen.

When it comes to core components of a kitchen, like the plumbing, it’s easy to quickly line up the tried-and-true specs that have served you and your clients for years. And while the old reliable is reliable for a reason, it may not capture some more modern options that might serve your clients better.

The best performance

Take time to revisit your specs for the kitchen basics to ensure you’re providing the best performance for every common use. T&S, the leader in foodservice plumbing, recommends these updates:

· Three-compartment sink: For these kitchen staples, focus on flexibility and durability to support all the washing, rinsing, sanitizing and thawing that goes on in them.

Specify a swivel for the pre-rinse unit to reduce stress on the hose. And add an accessory tee to correctly introduce water to the cleaning or sanitizing chemical system — and prevent the voided warranty that happens when someone cuts into the pre-rinse unit riser to add a connection.

Step things up a notch with T&S DuraPull, the pre-rinse unit with intuitive pull-down activation that improves ergonomics and boosts user experience. A 7-year warranty backs up the industry’s leading durability.

· Dish sink: These rinsing sinks are focused more on a single job and thus do not require as many accessories. But you can improve their performance by including a wall bracket to secure the heavily-used unit and a pre-rinse swivel to improve ergonomics and extend hose life. Select T&S Cerama cartridges with a lifetime warranty for uninterrupted performance.

· Hand sink: Observational research has shown that convenient and easy access to handwashing facilities tends to increase the incidences of handwashing. Ensure not only that every kitchen has adequate hand sinks that are positioned within easy reach of workers but also that they’re easy to use.

Consider switching your spec from a standard manual faucet to an electronic sensor faucet. Easier to use than traditional faucets, hands-free sensor faucets also improve hygiene by eliminating the possibility of cross-contamination from dirty faucet handles.

Available flow rates can vary widely. Select outlet options that support a balance of performance and water conservation.

· Kitchen washdown: Mops and buckets and garden hoses don’t really belong in a modern-day kitchen. They pose safety hazards and aren’t as effective at cleaning as more advanced options, like hose reels.

Mounted out of the way and yet easily accessible when needed, these powerful cleaners are ideal for washdown of walls, floors and equipment.

Select hose reel systems to be sure you’re getting everything that’s needed for code-compliant installation right from the start, including flexible hose connections, vacuum breakers, wall brackets and more.

· Appliance connection: Gas appliance connectors are sometimes a forgotten specification, but it’s important to ensure kitchens have the appropriate equipment to protect safety and support reliable operation.

Choose gas hoses that are durably constructed and designed to withstand the rigors of a commercial kitchen, like Safe-T-Link from T&S Brass.

Further details:

Learn more and get sample specs in this convenient guide to the top spec updates for foodservice consultants.

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