Emergency Shower & Eyewash

Choosing emergency shower and eyewash equipment

Emergency showers and eyewash units are the last-line response for workers contaminated by chemicals, corrosives, or biological hazards. The medical consensus across acid, alkali, and solvent exposures is the same: immediate, sustained irrigation for at least 15 minutes. Anything less than 15 minutes of flushing leaves residual chemical on skin or cornea, and the damage continues after irrigation stops. Selection comes down to the hazard profile, the water supply available, and how close the nearest unit is to the point of exposure.

The 15-minute rule

Under the Australian Standard AS 4775 (and the near-identical ANSI Z358.1 used internationally), emergency showers must deliver a minimum of 75.7 L/min (20 US gpm) and eyewash units a minimum of 1.5 L/min, each sustained for 15 minutes without the user having to hold a valve open. At those flow rates, a compliant shower alone uses over 1100 litres during a single incident. Any system that can't sustain this flow is not compliant, regardless of how impressive it looks.

Accessibility — the 10-second rule

The user must be able to reach a shower/eyewash within 10 seconds of the exposure. For a typical walk-run pace, that's approximately 16 metres of unobstructed path. Install units where the hazard is created — not in the next room, not down a stairwell. Chemical stores, decant areas, laboratories, and process-line workstations all need their own proximate units. One central shower for a large site does not meet the standard.

Fixed vs portable units

• Fixed plumbed units — the default for permanent installations. Tapped into the mains (or tempered-water supply) with documented weekly activation testing. Unlimited water supply for the full 15 minutes.
• Portable gravity-fed or self-contained units — for sites without plumbed water supply, remote worksites, or for immediate use where a fixed unit is too far away. Typically 15–50 litre capacity with preservative-treated water; re-filled periodically. Suitable for eyewash but rarely for full-body flushing (insufficient capacity).

Tempered water

AS 4775 requires water delivered between 16 °C and 38 °C (60–100 °F). Cold water below 16 °C causes hypothermia during a 15-minute flushing and encourages the user to step out early — the most common reason for under-irrigation. Hot water above 38 °C can accelerate chemical skin reactions. Sites with direct-mains supply that is too cold (winter installations) or too hot (summer rooftop piping) require thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) to temper the water to the specified range.

Product range

Fixed emergency showers & eye wash units

Plumbed-in combination shower/eyewash stations, standalone showers, and face-and-eye wash units. For lab, chemical-store, and processing-line installations. Browse fixed units →

Portable eye wash units

Self-contained, gravity-fed, or sealed-pressure portable units for remote workplaces, vehicle-mount, and supplementary coverage near hazards where a fixed unit is impractical. Browse portable units →

Shower spare parts

Shower heads, eyewash heads, stay-open ball valves, pull rods, ANSI-compliant activation handles, replacement bowls, and dust caps. For routine maintenance and compliance recertification. Browse spare parts →

Weekly activation testing

AS 4775 requires weekly activation of plumbed units — a minimum 3-second flush to clear stagnant water from the supply line and confirm the valve functions correctly. Stagnant water in rarely-used supply lines grows biofilm; a shower that flushes contaminated water into open wounds or eyes is worse than no shower. Annual full-performance testing (flow rate, temperature, nozzle pattern, duration) is also mandatory. Keep signed-off records against each unit — this is one of the most commonly-audited compliance items on chemical-handling workplaces.

Signage and training

Under AS 1319, emergency shower and eyewash locations must be marked with green "safety" signs, visible from all work positions in the room. Workers handling the relevant chemicals must be trained on unit location, activation method, and the 15-minute irrigation rule — a surprisingly high proportion of chemical-exposure incidents end prematurely because the victim or a coworker stops the irrigation too early.

Frequently asked questions

How long should I flush after a chemical splash?

15 minutes minimum for most chemicals; 20+ minutes for strong alkalis (they saponify skin/cornea over extended contact and need longer irrigation). Time the flushing — don't rely on "feels OK". After flushing, seek medical review regardless of symptoms.

Is an eyewash unit enough if my only hazard is splashes to the face?

For low-volume, face-only risk (e.g. decanting small containers), a face-and-eye wash may be adequate. For most chemical handling (decanting drums, pumping, pipe breaks), the risk includes splashes to clothing and skin, and a full-body shower is required. AS 4775 guidance favours combination stations where any splash risk exists.

Can a portable eyewash substitute for a fixed unit?

Only where plumbed supply isn't practical (remote sites, mobile work) or as a supplementary close-access unit. For permanent sites with water supply, fixed plumbed units are required — portable units have limited capacity (rarely enough for full 15 minutes at compliant flow for a shower) and their preservative-treated water is not ideal for direct cornea contact if not regularly refreshed.

Do you offer trade or bulk pricing?

Yes — trade accounts receive 5% off RRP, and site fit-outs (multiple showers across a facility) qualify for volume pricing. Compliance-check and annual inspection services available through trade accounts. Apply for a trade account →