Faucets are fixtures for drawing or regulating the flow of liquid especially from a pipe. Faucets can be used in laboratory or food service applications. Often these faucets are constructed of special materials to handle high temperature or ultra pure water.
Faucets can be used for general-purpose commercial applications. Products are typically installed in schools, hospitals, offices or other non-residential buildings. Other configurations are also available including general industrial, food service and laboratory. General industrial water faucets can be used for any industrial application for drawing or regulating the flow of liquid. Food service faucets can be used in food service applications. Products are typically installed in institutional or restaurant kitchen areas. Laboratory water faucets are constructed for use in laboratory applications including school and research laboratories. Products are typically installed in K-12 schools, universities or professional science laboratories.
Important parameters in specifying faucets include the maximum temperature and maximum flow. The maximum temperature refers to the media passing through the faucet, in this case water. The maximum flow rate is the maximum flow of water through the faucet. Also important is the pressure of water allowable through the faucet.
Faucets can be constructed out of one of many types of materials. These include brass, bronze, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), ethylene propylene (EDP), Neoprene, rubber or elastomer, Nylon or polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), carbon and alloy steel, or stainless steel. Other proprietary or specialized materials may be available.
Mounting for faucets is one of three major types, benchtop, pendant and wall mount. Benchtop mounted faucets may also be referred to as deck mounted. Pendant faucets are mounted overhead. Wall faucets are mounted directly to the wall or a backsplash. There may be other proprietary or specialized mounting types available for commercial faucets.
Faucets tend to be either single or double service. A single service faucet can regulate only one flow of water, either hot or cold. A double service faucet regulates both a flow of hot and cold water.
Features common to faucets include, aerators to soften the flow of water, electronic controls, infrared sensors for on and off control, preset temperatures, removable nozzles, ultra pure water service specifications, vacuum breakers to prevent backflow, and vandal resistant construction.
