Upgrading Your Facility with Anti-Microbial
Published on
March 24, 2020 at 2:31:00 PM PDT March 24, 2020 at 2:31:00 PM PDTth, March 24, 2020 at 2:31:00 PM PDT
Upgrading your facility with anti-microbial solutions can take anywhere from a few months -- when property managers and engineers are in agreement on which solutions to apply -- to a few years.
“When we help customers budget their project, we usually give 2-3 options that we’ve seen work well in the long-term for other facilities,” says Chris. “There are a thousand different products out there, so we help folks sort through the options for the right part. We can also help you with estimates for future capital projects or the coming year’s budget.”
Uncompromised Quality
Quality refers to ensuring that the plumbing supplies and repair parts you purchase are in line with the specifications your facility was built to and will last longer to reduce maintenance needs.
“Just because you can get a more expensive or newer part doesn’t always mean it’s the correct part for your system,” says Larry. “Original manufacturer specifications are important to keep in mind. Getting a mismatched plumbing part is like putting a part from a Mustang into a Corvette. The part might fit on the valve, but it’s not going to run correctly.”
When we help facilities adapt to improve the safety of their space, we work directly with vendors to ensure that the part you order will work with your system.
17-Gauge Brass
Whenever possible, look for 17-guage brass parts to provide longevity and to minimize maintenance needs. While 17-guage brass cost more upfront, it saves you time in the long term.
“The biggest expense in managing your facility is time,” says Larry. “You can get lower quality 22-guage brass, but you can feel it giving, you can feel the weight difference. Using a heavier duty brass means that you don’t have to come back in 30 or 90 days to do the job again. To go back and repair something over again isn’t actually saving you money.”
Apartment complexes are notorious for using lower quality brass. That’s often because the annual repair plan for units accounts for the expense of replacing parts.
“They have to do a P&M regardless, so they’ll often use lesser goods,” says Larry. “Whereas in a hospital or school district they know they’ll have a certain number of people coming through their facility on a daily basis. They go for quality because they’re hoping not to have to install a new one for four or five years.”
If you have any questions, or want help identifying the right solutions for your exact needs, call 1-800-336-8900 or email sales@thepartworks.com to talk remotely with one of our technical sales consultants.
Check out the rest of this award winning series: Best Practices for Anti-Microbial Plumbing
