Plan reliable hygiene capacity for crews, visitors, and subcontractors during shifts daily. Model peak events, wash time, and flow rates to get totals fast.
This tool sizes faucets for a peak window, then converts to stations.
Utilization is entered as a percent, such as 85%.
| Peak people | Window (min) | Events/person | Wash time (sec) | Utilization | Contingency | Faucets/station | Recommended faucets | Recommended stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 10 | 1 | 20 | 85% | 10% | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 80 | 15 | 1 | 25 | 80% | 15% | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| 150 | 20 | 1.2 | 30 | 75% | 20% | 3 | 12 | 4 |
Examples are illustrative; adjust for your site’s peak behavior.
Handwashing demand on construction sites is rarely uniform. Break starts, toolbox talks, shift changes, and visitor check‑in can create short surges where many users need service at once. Sizing to the peak window reduces queues, limits cross‑traffic, and supports consistent hygiene behavior for supervisors, visitors, and safety audits.
The calculator converts peak occupancy into total wash events using an events‑per‑person factor. Use 1.0 when everyone is expected to wash once during the window. Use higher values for food handling zones, hot work areas with frequent glove changes, or higher oversight locations with stricter hygiene routines.
Capacity per faucet equals peak‑window seconds divided by average wash time. A 15‑minute window provides 900 seconds; at 25 seconds per wash, one faucet can process about 36 washes under perfect flow. Longer wash times, crowding, or slow drainage reduce throughput and increase required faucets.
Real systems should not run at 100% occupancy. Target utilization (often 75–90%) provides slack for uneven arrivals, small interruptions, and user variability. Lower utilization increases recommended faucets, but typically produces a noticeably better user experience and fewer missed hygiene opportunities.
Contingency adds a percentage buffer to cover maintenance, freezing weather impacts, supply interruptions, or a station being temporarily blocked by work activities. Many projects apply 10–25% depending on site complexity. If enforcement is strict or public access is common, choose a higher buffer.
Water per event is estimated from flow rate and wash duration. For example, 6 L/min for 25 seconds uses about 2.5 L per wash. Multiply by peak events to plan refill frequency, storage volume, and wastewater handling. This supports realistic servicing routes and avoids mid‑shift outages.
After faucets are sized, the tool groups them into stations using faucets per station. Use this to compare single‑faucet units versus multi‑faucet troughs. Place stations where congestion is least disruptive: near break areas, entrances, and sanitation clusters, while maintaining safe travel paths and accessibility.
Exported CSV and PDF outputs help document assumptions for safety plans, subcontractor briefings, and daily logistics. Review actual peak behavior during the first weeks and adjust inputs if queues persist. Reassess sizing after major workforce changes, schedule shifts, or new site access controls.
Pick the shortest period where many users arrive together, such as a 10–20 minute break start or shift change. If you have multiple peaks, size for the largest one.
Use 75–85% for strong queue protection on busy sites. Use 85–90% when space is tight and arrivals are smoother. Lower utilization increases faucets but reduces waiting.
No. Wash time should represent time occupying the faucet, including lathering and rinsing. If approach delays are common, compensate by lowering utilization or adding contingency.
It is a buffer for downtime, temporary closures, weather impacts, and demand spikes beyond your assumptions. Projects often use 10–25%, and higher values when public access or inspections are frequent.
It is a planning estimate based on flow rate and wash duration. Actual use varies by faucet type, user behavior, and pressure regulation, but it is useful for refill and servicing schedules.
Enter the number of simultaneous users supported by one unit. Many portable units have 1–2 faucets, while trough systems may have 3–6. Use the value that matches your selected equipment.
Stagger breaks, add directional signage, locate stations closer to work zones, and ensure supplies are always stocked. Reducing wash time through better layout and drainage also improves throughput.
Accurate inputs produce clearer, safer site hygiene decisions today.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.