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Rinnai Provides Mobile Handwash Stations To Help Combat COVID-19

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Rinnai is providing mobile handwashing stations throughout the UK, aiding the prevention of COVID-19 transmission.

The units have been produced in a timescale of just over 25 days from concept to completion. Having arrived with customers last week, the initial units are already in action.

The Rinnai Hand Wash Station is a complete mobile unit geared to supply limitless amounts of continuous flow hot water for any and every site needing instant access to this facility.

Handwashing is still a cornerstone in the prevention of COVID-19 transmission and so this unit can be sited anywhere with a constant need for this. Any queue outside a supermarket, shopping areas, car parks, care home entrances, buildings’ entrances, transport hubs, building sites or even temporary accommodation blocks or toilet blocks for essential services can benefit.

The station consists of a Rinnai 17e hot water delivery unit, mounted on a robust stainless-steel mobile hand wash pod, complete with water connections and secured cage. The unit is easily connected to the water supply and gas is via LPG.

The major features of the Rinnai Handwash station are:

- Constant Temperature, tamper proof accurate hot water (pre-set 37 degrees Celsius or 98 Fahrenheit)
- High hot water flow rates – between 11 and 16 litres per minute (temperature dependent)
- Unit is designed to be sited outdoors, as a support to social distancing
- Prevents need to use poorly ventilated interior washrooms
- Minimizes individual contact with any surfaces possibly contaminated with Covid-19
- Knee operated controls
- Includes all electric components, connections and regulators
- Surfaces of the Rinnai Handwash station can carry healthcare and hygiene messages and be branded
- Includes robust housing for LPG (13kg) bottle
- Complete station with 13kg LPG bottle will supply more than 900 hand washes at the governments advised 20 second duration.

The virus has a fat-based envelope that makes it very susceptible to detergents and alcohol.

While it is likely that very high temperatures will also inactivate the virus, this is not an advised due to the risk of burns and lack of testing on what temperature is needed and for how long. Soapy water or an alcohol-based disinfectant are better and easier ways to clean hands and surfaces.

Scientific and public health information consensus states, therefore, to use water above 25 degrees Celsius for washing hands. Hand useable hot water helps makes more foam and it is the soapy lather which kills the virus.

Hands should be frequently washed - for a minimum of 20 seconds – after touching any surface or food, locks, knobs, switches, remote controllers, mobile phones, computers, keyboards, desks, TV, etc. And, of course, when using the toilet.

“WHO recommend Lukewarm water for fighting COVID. Official definitions of LUKEWARM are between 98-105 Fahrenheit/ 37-41 Celsius.”

– World Health Organisation.

Health workers exposure risk assessment and management in the context of COVID-19 virus. 4 March 2020.


“Avoiding people aggregations and crowded spaces, maintain distance, particularly if with respiratory symptoms, performing hand hygiene frequently, using soap and hot water if possible.”

– Santacroce L, Charitos IA, Del Prete R.

COVID-19 in Italy: An Overview from the First Case to Date. Electron J Gen Med. 2020;17(6):em235.

The proprietary Rinnai technology will deliver temperature accurate hot water without any fluctuations to ensure constant supplies of hot water.

Rinnai manufactures over 2million water heaters every year and as such is at the forefront of creating real advantages for users. Rinnai's multipoint ErP A-rated 17e needs no flue as the unit is placed outside and so waste gas gases safely escape.

A single unit is readily capable of flow rates of up to 510 litres per hour at a 50°C rise and has full frost protection.

Hot water delivery flow is an impressive 17ltr per minute max flow. Nominal operation pressure is 2-3 bar however it can operate at pressures lower than 1 bar and it uses a 230V AC 50Hz 1ph power supply with an electrical consumption of 80W.

Rinnai also continues to offer full services for Essential Works support to NHS facilities, care homes, schools, and supermarkets.

Rinnai offer out of hours and weekend technical support – installers, site manager and end-users simply call 01928 531870 select technical and if the call isn’t answered immediately leave a voicemail. Response will be within one hour between 0800 – 22:30 / 7 days a week.

If there is a constant supply of gas and water the units are guaranteed to supply temperature accurate hot water in unlimited quantities for all hygiene regimes in all types of healthcare sites or temporary accommodation.

Rinnai UK is continuing to be open for business throughout the current situation with staff able to take any enquiries or orders via telephone or online and the company has excellent stock levels of all units in the range plus spares and accessories.

Installers can contact the company direct in gaining access to the supply of units: 

Call 01928 531 870 or email sales@rinnaiuk.com – or engineer@rinnaiuk.com.
Alternatively use the smart online contact points “Help Me Choose” or “Ask Us a Question”, all held on the website homepage at www.rinnaiuk.com.


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