For BSC, which provides bulk soap dispensers for customers, Dr. Gerba recommends switching from an open system to a sealed box soap system. According to the manufacturer, the sealing system is not only more hygienic but also easier to maintain.

“Sealed soap systems eliminate the risk of exposure or environmental contamination, making users safer and healthier,” Renner said. “Every sealed soap box is fresh, clean and sterile. When it’s put in the dispenser, there’s no way to open it up and contaminate it, or let air or water in.”

In slightly more than 40 percent of cases, BSC requires customers to buy what type of soap dispensers, according to Contracting Profits’ “2017 Building Services Contractors Market Report.” The rest of the time, they must repair any type of dispenser on the wall.

Faivre recommends an extra charge for serving bulk dispensers because of the time it takes to maintain them. Next, to get customers to switch to sealed systems, she recommends focusing on the potential labor and time savings compared to refillable systems.

“One benefit of a containment system is maintenance,” Faivre said. “When we measured the time it took to replace the cartridge, we found that it took six seconds to replace the cartridge and 30 seconds to fill the bulk dispenser.”

Bulk dispensers may also have difficulty refilling, resulting in spills and drips that require additional time to clean up.

But most importantly, the manufacturer encouraged the BSC to publicize the health benefits of the sealed soap system and its impact on hand-washing compliance.

“The benefits of a sealed soap system are healthier employees with less illness and absenteeism,” Renner said. “Contaminated bulk soap can be transferred to hands, which in turn can be transferred throughout the facility, spreading the bacteria to other people.”

The BSC should also promote a clean appearance of the sealing system.

“The BSC doesn’t want to explain an obnoxious looking dispenser or answer complaints about sick or unhappy employees or visitors,” Renner said. “Dirty, unsightly water fountains quickly impede hand washing, which is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of colds, flu and other illnesses.”

Appearance is important

A clean, nice soap dispenser can not only encourage hand washing, it can also enhance the image of the restroom and, by extension, the company.

“We work extensively with building service contractors and you will soon learn that restrooms are the area of facility services and the source of most complaints,” Wojtkun said. “On the face of it, a sanitary, sealed system may seem like a trivial improvement, but we believe this is a substantial, easy-to-implement restroom upgrade.”

For customers who are still on the fence about switching to a sealed system, Wojtkun advised BSC to emphasize the importance of a positive hand-washing experience.

“In an office building, for example, the average person goes to the bathroom four times a day,” says Wojtkun. “Let’s hope everyone washes their hands after going to the bathroom. There are few other things in the facility that guarantee that everyone will interact with it at that frequency every day.”

For this reason, both BSC and its customers will benefit if the soap dispensers in the washrooms run as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

“Well-stocked, cleaner and tidier restrooms, both in schools and office buildings, make students and tenants happier,” Wojtkun said. “I want it to be something customers crave.”

Innovation of the future

The 2017 survey asked respondents to reveal what innovations they would like to see in distribution systems. Some common themes include:

• Dispenser, including a notification system when product is running out.
• BSC wants to find more transparent dispensers with highly visible soap/disinfectant concentrations. Currently, some water dispensers have built-in visible indicators that can notify facility managers when fluids and batteries need to be replaced to simplify maintenance.
• Features that help prevent over-distribution of products and reduce leaks or spills onto the floor.
• The survey found that the Balanced Scorecard seeks to reduce product waste and spillovers in the dispenser. For bulk beverage machines, leaks and spills are more common. To limit these problems, look for “closed” sealed distribution systems and use sealed soap boxes with the exact amount of product required. This helps control usage and costs, and reduces product waste. In addition, some sprayers now have anti-drip mechanisms to ensure no smudging.
• Fashionable and beautiful design.
• Soaps and disinfectants do not have to be dry and white. Today, some dispensers feature chrome designs and are offered in a variety of colors to help conform to the company’s brand and image.

While the survey results indicate that many BSC are currently satisfied with their soap, sanitizer and distribution needs, there is always room for improvement. With the right products and dispensers, BSC can add the finishing touches to a clean, comfortable and well-maintained facility.

Although they are not always responsible for designating or installing paper, soap, and other bathroom dispensers, building service contractors still need to be aware of the expectations of client facilities. After all, BSC is the one who fills and maintains the dispensers, and they are often responsible for buying paper and soap.
Overall, manufacturers say, facilities are installing universal dispensers with modern designs and a heavy bias toward automated models.
“Although there are still plenty of proprietary distribution systems in the market, we recognize that more and more clients prefer to purchase generic or generic dispensers and retain their ability to negotiate better deals for larger expenditures (paper products used in dispensers),” said Palmer Fixture Co., of Green Bay, Wis. Greg Kampschroer, vice president of marketing.
Whether they use proprietary or generic products, buyers are paying more attention to design than in the past.