Question: Are there any particular installation details we should consider when installing a GFTS15 Remote Tank and an S370?

The ATS/S&E GFTS15RT is a unique and very flexible safety shower solution which solves many here-to-fore faced by engineers in providing a tepid water safety shower and eyewash solution where no potable water source is available, but where a standard gravity-fed, self-contained safety shower will not fit due to space constraints. It is also useful for areas where the potable water source does not have enough pressure to provide a compliant shower and eyewash flow.

ANSI Z358.1 (2014) defines a compliant safety shower flow as 20 US gallons (76 liters) per minute and a compliant eyewash flow as 0.4 US gallons (1.5 liters) per minute. These established flow rate standards were set with substantial input from the medical community and provide reasonable and effective rinsing capability in the treatment of exposure to corrosive chemicals. Related to the flow rate is the requirement that the flow from both the safety shower and eyewash be “non-injurious”. This requirement is important. In the case of many corrosive accidents, the outer layer(s) of skin can be dissolved, exposing inner layers and more to the damaging effects of the corrosive chemical. If the skin is thus damaged, it may be susceptible to being torn away by the physical force of water under pressure. Thus the low-flow drench of a safety shower and the gentle flow of an eyewash are important to not causing additional, unnecessary damage to the affected area(s).

Since most self-contained safety showers are gravity-fed, such units tend to be quite tall. For example, in the case of laboratories, eight-foot ceilings are common. No standard, compliant, gravity-fed, self-contained safety shower will fit under such a low ceiling. However, with the GFTS15RT Remote Safety Shower Tank, the water supply can be placed on the floor next to the shower, on the roof above the shower, or on the other side of a wall from the shower and still provide the compliant, tepid water flow needed to operate both the safety shower and eyewash simultaneously.

The GFTS15RT Remote Safety Shower Tank can be connected to a GES1P Wide-format Cubicle Safety Shower/Eyewash, or simply to an S370 Stainless Steel Combination Safety Shower and Eyewash. The GES1P Cubicle Safety Shower is useful in containing shower spray and spend safety shower and eyewash water. If no containment is needed, the S370 provides a compliant solution.

The GFTS15RT should be positioned at least 8.5 feet above the standing level of the safety shower that is employed in the set-up. This allows for proper minimum flow from the tank to the safety shower. Positioning the tank higher than this will not harm the flow rate, however, positioning the tank at less than 8.5 feet from the standing level of the shower will not provide sufficient gravity pull to produce adequate flow.

The GFTS15RT must be positioned in a spot where it can be level to the ground. The pipework from the tank outlet to the safety shower inlet must be as vertical as possible and must be free of kinks and sharp bends, which can restrict the needed flow to the shower.