News

21st October 2026 Bariatric Toilets – Full Guide to Weight Capacity, Design & Specification: A comprehensive guide to bariatric toilets, covering weight capacities, structural load testing, stability, construction materials and installation requirements. Learn the difference between working loads and static load tests, why full-width bases and suitable toilet seats matter, and how EN 997 testing helps assess performance. Includes guidance for healthcare facilities, occupational therapists, local authorities and domestic adaptations, with an example of a stainless steel bariatric toilet rated to a 1,000kg working load and static load tested to 2,447kg.

19th August 2026 Sluice Sink Guide | DU, DUH & DUHS Explained: A practical guide to choosing the right sluice sink for healthcare environments. Understand DU, DUH and DUHS configurations, top or back entry, left- and right-hand options, cisterns, waste connections and P or S traps.

24th July 2026 Department for Education (DfE) School Wash Trough Requirements Explained: This guide explains the Department for Education (DfE) requirements for school wash troughs, including BS EN 14296:2015+A1:2018, installation considerations and practical specification advice. It covers product requirements, installation requirements and the key design features to consider when selecting communal wash troughs for educational environments.

5th March 2026 Understanding Water Board Approval for Water Fittings: Water fittings installed in the UK must comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. While WRAS approval has traditionally been the most recognised route to compliance, KIWA Regulation 4 and NSF Regulation 4 certifications are now equally accepted. In this guide, we explain what water board approval means — and why KIWA Regulation 4 approval is gaining increasing attention across the industry.

1st March 2026 The Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Commercial Bottle Filler in the UK: Choosing the right commercial bottle filler in the UK requires careful consideration of hygiene, WRAS approval, installation type and usage volume. This guide explains how to select wall mounted, recessed and touchless bottle filling stations for schools, offices and public buildings.

15th February 2026 What Is A Trough Urinal: Explanation of what a trough urinal is and where they are used.

12th January 2026 Spotlight On Our UWHC Stainless Steel Urinal: What makes Washware Essentials model UWHC stainless steel urinal stand out in the marketplace. Not all urinals are made equal and how to tell the difference.

2nd November 2025 Understanding Water Bottle Filling Fountains: Understanding the bottle filling fountains and bottle filler stations available from Washware Essentials Ltd. Why to choose bottle fillers from Washware Essentials and the design characteristics that make them a market leading product range with unequalled quality and components.

20th October 2025 Wudu Foot Washing - Understanding The Ritual: Understanding Wudu: Islamic Ritual Washing. What is Wudu? Wudu, often termed “ablution,” is the Islamic ritual of cleansing before prayer (Salat). It involves washing specific body parts—hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, head, ears, and feet—in a prescribed sequence, using clean (mutlaq) water. This ritual satisfies both physical cleanliness and spiritual preparation, symbolizing inner purity before approaching God.

27th July 2025 What Is A Wash Trough?: What is a wash trough and where are they used? We explain what wash troughs are, what materials they are available in and how they are used in commercial washrooms.

5th May 2025 Choosing the Right Wash Trough for Your Workplace: A Complete Guide: Choosing the right wash trough is essential for maintaining hygiene and efficiency in your workplace. From schools, factories, offices, commercial kitchens to healthcare settings, explore the key factors like size, material, and compliance to make an informed decision. Browse high-quality wash troughs at Washware Essentials today.

23rd March 2025 Maintaining Commercial Taps: Commercial taps, including push button taps and lever taps require regular maintenance to ensure they work properly, don't waste water and are always working for the comfort and use of your staff, visitors and customers.

23rd March 2025 Installers Guide For Commercial Sinks: Best Practices And Essential Tips: Installing a commercial sink requires precision, knowledge and the correct tools to ensure the job is carried out correctly and to the required standards and complies with regulations. Whether you're fitting a sink in a restaurant, hospital or office space, proper installation is essential for correct functionality and user experience. This guide will help you understand the process for installing various sinks in commercial environments.

21st February 2025 General Tap Installation Guide: A general guide to installing bathroom taps with an overview of tools required and the general methods required for safe and efficient installation.

19th January 2025 Showers Buyers Guide: A buyers guide to help you choose the best shower from our range of showrs, shower trays and emergency eye wash and safety showers.

19th January 2025 Handwash Intallation Guide: Handwash Basin / Sink / Trough Installation Guide Introduction Our handwash installation guide outlines the steps involved to install a...

9th January 2025 Should We Pay To Use Public Toilets: Looking at whether we should have to pay to use public toilets.

8th January 2025 Stainless Steel Urinals: What are the types of stainless steel urinals and what are the benefits of using stainless steel urinals

21st October 2024 Buyer’s Guide to Taps - Cross-Head, Lever, Sensor & More: Discover the perfect taps for your clients. Explore cross-head, foot-operated, lever, sensor, medical, catering, and child-friendly taps.

30th September 2024 A Buyers Guide to Handwash Equipment: Looking to purchase handwash equipment? Take a look at our buyer’s guide, with all the information you need to make the right choice for your washroom.

20th September 2024 A Buyers Guide to Hospital Plumbing Equipment: When looking to outfit a hospital washroom or clinic with plumbing equipment, there are unique factors to consider. Our guide reveals all you need to know.

9th August 2024 Enhance Your Washroom with Accessories: When designing a public bathroom, selecting the right washroom accessories is vital for functionality and aesthetics. This blog explores essential washroom accessories like baby changing units, grab rails, towel dispensers, soap dispensers, toilet roll holders, and waste bins.

28th July 2024 Exploring Toilet Types | What Toilet is Best for You: Deciding what type of toilet is right for you can be overwhelming. In our guide, we dive into the difference between the various types of toilets we offer.

27th April 2024 The Pros and Cons of Different Flush Systems: While toilets come in various designs and styles, one often overlooked element is the flush system. However, this mechanism is crucial for ensuring cleanliness and effective waste removal. Explore the advantages and disadvantages of various flush systems and why they warrant consideration when designing your bathroom.

12th April 2024 Understanding IPS Panels and Their Uses: IPS panels are an integral part of your bathroom, particularly for maintaining hygiene standards, but what exactly are they?

20th March 2024 How To Choose The Right Urinal For Your Venue Or Workplace: Picking the right urinal can be more difficult than you might think. If you've found yourself in a pickle, then read our handy buyer's guide to discover more about urinal materials, urinal types, and things to bear in mind at the purchasing stage. This series also includes an installer's guide.

18th March 2024 Planning A Unisex Bathroom: Update 2024: Unisex bathrooms that accommodate users of both genders have been controversial in the past, but with new Government guidelines will they now become a thing of the past.

8th March 2024 Matching Soap Types with Your Dispenser: It is crucial that the type of soap you choose to use matches the intended use of your dispenser. Our guide has all the information you need for prolonging the life of your soap dispenser and the importance of matching soap type.

22nd January 2024 TMV: An In-depth Guide to Thermostatic Mixing Valves: In modern plumbing facilities, a thermostatic mixing valve is essential to ensure the safety and comfort of users. Our guide has all you need to know when it comes to understanding, and choosing, a TMV for your washroom.

12th January 2024 Designing Disabled Toilets: Your Guide to Accessible Toilet Specifications: The law states that wheelchair users should be able to comfortably approach, enter, and use the designated toilet facilities, but ensuring accessible disabled facilities goes further than complying with the law. Our guide has all the information you need to ensure your disabled washrooms are accessible for users, ensuring comfort, safety, and dignity.

2nd January 2024 Why install a squat toilet in the UK?: Why install a squat toilet in your washroom? Read on to know the benefits of installing squat toilets in public and commercial washrooms including the health benefits of squatting over sitting.

2nd January 2024 Creating a Covid-safe washroom: How to creat a Covid-safe washroom and make your on-site facilities, including your washrooms, safe for both staff and customers.

2nd January 2024 How to create a multi-faith washroom: How to create a multi-faith washroom; updating washrooms can be easy and Washware Essentials is here to make the transition to a modern, multi-faith washroom as simple as possible.

1st December 2023 Top 5 Benefits of Corian Wash Troughs: Why are Corian wash troughs used in schools, nurseries, factories and public washrooms? Read the top 5 benefits of using solid surface wash troughs for your washroom.

24th July 2021 Buyers Guide: Choosing The Right Hand Dryer For Your Venue: Choosing the right hand dryer is more complicated than you might think. Should you go for eco, or high speed? Button operated, or hands-free? Hands under, or hands in? Check out our blow-by-blow buyer's guide - we'll help you cut through the hot air and find a hand dryer that works for you.

24th May 2020 WRAS Approval: What Is It, And Why Is It Important?: If you work in the plumbing trade, or even if you're just an avid DIYer, you may have come across products boasting WRAS Approval. In this article, we’ll look into the legislation behind the scheme and show you how to find out whether or not a product or material is WRAS Approved.

18th September 2019 A Guide To Utility Sinks, Catering Sinks & Medical Sinks: In the following article, we'll go beyond ordinary domestic sinks and take a look at the kinds of specialist industrial sinks that are used in industries such as commercial cleaning, hospitality and dentistry. These sinks are used for a variety of purposes, but all are made to the highest standards.

23rd May 2019 Public baby changing facilities: Are yours good enough?: Are your baby changing amenities as comfortable and welcoming as they could be? Read our guide to creating a family-friendly space that will keep your customers coming back.

23rd May 2019 Sustainable Solutions: Bottle-Filling Stations Fighting Waste: The fight against plastic waste is all over the news, and there is growing support for organisations to embrace environmentally-friendly solutions. Read our guide to the advantages of bottle-filling units here.

25th February 2019 Sluice sinks: what are they and why do I need one?: Sluice sinks (otherwise known as 'disposal units' or 'slop hoppers') are used to safely dispose clinical waste. In this article you'll find out more about what they are, how they work, and why you can't just pour clinical waste down the toilet.

1st February 2019 What are waste water traps: What are traps? Why are they fitted? And why do I need one? These are the questions we are asked regarding waste water traps, and hopefully we will answer these questions in the following article.

23rd January 2019 Washroom Guidelines: How to comply with best practices: There are various rules for toilets, and it’s necessary for employers and business owners to provide adequate facilities. Find out our best practice advice here.

21st December 2018 Baby Changing Tables: Everything You Need to Know: As experts in all things baby changing tables for business premises and public buildings, we share our advice on ensuring you comply with baby changing unit best practices.

11th October 2018 Toilet Guide: Buying the Best Toilets for Your Building: If you're asking yourself whether stainless steel or vitreous china toilets are most appropriate for you, or if you'd like insight into disabled amenities and unisex facilities, read our comprehensive toilet buying guide today.

2nd October 2018 Installation Guide: How To Install A Close-Coupled Toilet: Need to install a toilet but don't fancy shelling out for a plumber? Why not try installing it yourself? With a few simple tools and the right knowledge, anyone can install a toilet, whether you're a DIY fanatic or a total novice. In this step-by-step guide, we'll show you how to install a close-coupled toilet the simple way.

18th September 2018 The History of An Iconic British Design: The Belfast Sink: In the 1700s, butlers would be tasked with cleaning large items, and a big sink was required to do the job. In Belfast, a new form of butler's sink was created with the innovation of an overflow weir, and an icon of design was born.

30th August 2018 Your Guide To Hand Dryer Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Has your hand dryer given up the ghost? Maybe it's stopped generating heat - or stopped blowing altogether. Our troubleshooting guide will help you work out what';s gone wrong and how to fix it. We'll also give you some tips on maintenance and aftercare, so you can prevent your hand dryer from breaking down in the first place.

16th August 2018 The Installers Guide To Drinking Fountains & Bottle Fillers: Installing a drinking fountain or bottle filling station is no mean feat - but with the right tools and know-how, anyone can do it. In this handy how-to guide, we'll give you step-by-step fitting instructions for wall mounted units and floor mounted units, as well as pointers on location, installation height and more.

14th August 2018 Installers Guide: How To Place And Install Any Hand Dryer: If you've recently bought a hand dryer but aren't quite sure where (or how) to install it, then look no further. In this guide, you'll find out about the best mounting heights, and how to place a hand dryer in a way that minimises noise and keeps your washroom traffic flowing, as well as step-by-step fitting instructions for qualified electricians.

10th August 2018 The Ultimate Guide To Installing A Trough Or Bowl Urinal: So you've read our buyer's guide to urinals and picked out a urinal that's right for your venue. Now comes the tricky part: installation. In this comprehensive guide, we'll show you how to install trough urinals, bowl urinals, cisterns, and even accessories such as privacy dividers and automatic flush controllers.

8th August 2018 The Ultimate Buyers Guide To Sinks, Basins & Wash Troughs: This handy buyer's guide will tell you everything you need to about basins, sinks and wash troughs. We'll go into detail about the main varieties, as well as explain the benefits and drawbacks of different materials. We've also included a section on accessories - after all, a sink isn't much good without a set of taps to go with it.

11th July 2018 Buyers Guide: How To Choose The Perfect Water Fountain: Installing a drinking fountain or bottle filling station can help you cut down on litter, boost your green credentials, and, above all, keep your users happy and hydrated - but how do you know what sort of water fountain is the best choice for your venue? Here's what to consider before you splash out.

13th May 2018 School Toilets: Planning A* facilities for your building.: It's important to follow best practice advice when planning for the provision of school toilets and washroom facilities. This guide covers everything you need to know to tick all the boxes.

27th March 2018 The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Hands-Free Infrared Taps: Infrared faucets are all the rage these days. As well as being stylish, they are also cleaner, greener and even more cost-effective than normal taps - but as with any product, they also have their drawbacks. In this article we'll look at their advantages and disadvantages, and explain the technology behind them.

22nd February 2018 How to install a fold-down baby change unit: Installation Guide: Baby change units are straightforward to install, but there are a few important things to bear in mind when doing do. Read our practical installation guide for more.

20th February 2018 Stainless steel urinals: installation, maintenance and more: A stainless steel urinal makes a perfect addition to any washroom, and if looked after properly, it will last you for years to come. In this article we'll tell you everything you need to know about cleaning, installation, maintenance and more.

10th February 2018 Wash troughs: what they are and when to use them.: Wash troughs are an inexpensive and practical alternative to individual handwashing basins. In this useful guide, you’ll learn all about what they are, how to install them, and much more.

1st January 2018 Drinking Fountain Maintenance: Drinking fountains are relatively simple products and with a little bit of thought, inspection and preventative maintenance can offer many years of trouble free use. In our maintenancce article we explain how to keep your water fountains in perfect working order. Make sure your water dispensers are a credit to your building.

15th December 2017 Cleaning & Maintenance Of Stainless Steel Products: How to clean your stainless steel products to maintain the original appearance. In the following article we try to address this often asked question.

30th March 2017 School Water Fountains: A Case Study For Rugby School: When one of Britain's most prestigious public schools needed a way of supplying their students with fresh drinking water, they got in touch with Washware Essentials. In this case study you'll find out how we guided them through the installation process and helped them find the perfect water fountain for their pupils.

Categories

News

Bariatric Toilets – Full Guide to Weight Capacity, Design & Specification

Sluice Sink Guide | DU, DUH & DUHS Explained

Department for Education (DfE) School Wash Trough Requirements Explained

Understanding Water Board Approval for Water Fittings

The Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Commercial Bottle Filler in the UK

What Is A Trough Urinal

Spotlight On Our UWHC Stainless Steel Urinal

Understanding Water Bottle Filling Fountains

Wudu Foot Washing - Understanding The Ritual

What Is A Wash Trough?

Choosing the Right Wash Trough for Your Workplace: A Complete Guide

Maintaining Commercial Taps

Installers Guide For Commercial Sinks: Best Practices And Essential Tips

General Tap Installation Guide

Showers Buyers Guide

Handwash Intallation Guide

Should We Pay To Use Public Toilets

Stainless Steel Urinals

Buyer’s Guide to Taps - Cross-Head, Lever, Sensor & More

A Buyers Guide to Handwash Equipment

A Buyers Guide to Hospital Plumbing Equipment

Enhance Your Washroom with Accessories

Exploring Toilet Types | What Toilet is Best for You

The Pros and Cons of Different Flush Systems

Understanding IPS Panels and Their Uses

How To Choose The Right Urinal For Your Venue Or Workplace

Planning A Unisex Bathroom: Update 2024

Matching Soap Types with Your Dispenser

TMV: An In-depth Guide to Thermostatic Mixing Valves

Designing Disabled Toilets: Your Guide to Accessible Toilet Specifications

Why install a squat toilet in the UK?

Creating a Covid-safe washroom

How to create a multi-faith washroom

Top 5 Benefits of Corian Wash Troughs

Buyers Guide: Choosing The Right Hand Dryer For Your Venue

WRAS Approval: What Is It, And Why Is It Important?

A Guide To Utility Sinks, Catering Sinks & Medical Sinks

Public baby changing facilities: Are yours good enough?

Sustainable Solutions: Bottle-Filling Stations Fighting Waste

Sluice sinks: what are they and why do I need one?

What are waste water traps

Washroom Guidelines: How to comply with best practices

Baby Changing Tables: Everything You Need to Know

Toilet Guide: Buying the Best Toilets for Your Building

Installation Guide: How To Install A Close-Coupled Toilet

The History of An Iconic British Design: The Belfast Sink

Your Guide To Hand Dryer Maintenance & Troubleshooting

The Installers Guide To Drinking Fountains & Bottle Fillers

Installers Guide: How To Place And Install Any Hand Dryer

The Ultimate Guide To Installing A Trough Or Bowl Urinal

The Ultimate Buyers Guide To Sinks, Basins & Wash Troughs

Buyers Guide: How To Choose The Perfect Water Fountain

School Toilets: Planning A* facilities for your building.

The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Hands-Free Infrared Taps

How to install a fold-down baby change unit: Installation Guide

Stainless steel urinals: installation, maintenance and more

Wash troughs: what they are and when to use them.

Drinking Fountain Maintenance

Cleaning & Maintenance Of Stainless Steel Products

School Water Fountains: A Case Study For Rugby School