A stainless steel hand washing station offers many benefits over that of a standard sink.  One of the main reasons that contractors will opt for a fountain over a sink is multi-user accommodation.  Even the smallest of models can service three persons at once.  The larger units can service eight people at a time, making them ideal for heavy traffic restrooms in large public facilities and factory restrooms.  The diversity of bowl shapes also allows the basic fountain design to be adapted to any central, wall, or corner location.  This makes it possible to find a fixture that will easily install into any floor plan or existing commercial restroom design under remodel.  

Wash fountains are designed in accordance with their intended location within commercial restroom and to the number of users they service.  Circular bowl models, for example, are built to occupy central positions within restrooms.  A circular stainless steel hand washing station can easily accommodate 5-8 users at a time.  In restrooms where floor space accommodates a central handwash fountain, this can often be the most expedient means of accommodating heavy user traffic.  When space is a bit more limited, however, there are semi-circular designs and corner designs available.  Corner units are designed for only three users at a time and work quite well in smaller restrooms with light to medium traffic.  Not only do they conserve space, but they also are built with maximum water conservation in mind.  Semi-circular wash fountains are designed to mount against the wall itself.  They represent a mid-range option for commercial restrooms and industrial restrooms where traffic flow can be managed with fixtures that can handle 3-4 users at once. 

Bowl size ranges from shallow for basic hand washing to deep for washing hands, forearms, and elbows in heavy factory and industrial environments.  Mounting options vary per specific stainless steel hand washing station type.

Regardless of the particular design, every stainless steel hand washing station is manufactured with efficiency in mind.  Controls are user-friendly, and water flow is tightly regulated to eliminate the waste that older generations of standard sinks were notorious for.  Washing fountains can be ordered with push-button controls, foot controls, or infrared triggered solenoid valve.  All models are built with a flow control regulator that keeps the water flow rate constant at half a gallon per minute in circular and corner designs.  Heavy duty industrial hand washing stations are built for a water flow of 3 gallons per minute in environments where thorough washing of hands and upper arms is mandatory for health and safety.

Stainless steel hand washing station height is also variable to accommodate both the size of the restroom and the accessibility needs of specific users.  Standard heights range between 36 inches and 54 inches, with smaller heights being more child friendly and maximum height being preferred by most industrial facilities.  Most models are also ADA compliant.  Unlike sinks, which have plumbing fixtures under the bowls, fountains have internal plumbing and feature bowl designs that can be accessed much more easily by persons in wheelchairs.