New Generation Standalone Safety Shower & Eyewash

The climate in Australian remote area operations can be unforgiving with temperatures ranging from -2°C to 50°C in 24 hours. In these demanding environments, safety is paramount.

These regions can also be exposed to cyclones with winds up to 300kph. One of the big safety questions is how to provide a safety shower and eyewash system that can deliver tepid flushing solution compliant with AS4775, the Australian Standard for safety shower and eyewash equipment.

The Tank Shower with Zero Power Cooler® is the ultimate solution.

Designed and developed in collaboration with Hughes Safety Showers, this innovative solution is certified for wind region D and cools water stored inside emergency tank showers in hot ambient climates without the need for power!

Compliant Flow Rates

AS4775 requires the safety shower to be able to provide a 76 litre per minute flow rate of tepid water for a period of not less that 15 minutes. The same standard requires eyewash units to be able to 1.5 litres per minute for a period of 15 minutes. To ensure compliance with the Australian Standard, the Hughes Tank Shower/Eyewash has a reservoir of 1500 litres.

This safety shower is gravity fed so there is no need for powered pumps to ensure compliant water delivery.

Compliant Water Temperature

The Australian Standard also requires water to be delivered at a tepid temperature considered between 16°C and 38°C. AS4775 states, “Providing flushing fluid at temperatures conducive to use for the recommended irrigation period is considered an integral part of providing suitable facilities. Medical recommendations suggest a flushing fluid at tepid temperatures be delivered to affected chemically-injured tissue.

Temperatures in excess of 38°C have proven to be harmful to the eyes and can enhance chemical interaction with the eyes and skin.”

The Zero Power Cooler® cycles the water through the sealed system during the night when temperatures are at their lowest. The coolwater returns to the tank and the hot water rises. This cycle continues durin cooler temperatures. In the hottest part of the day the warmer water stays at the top of the unit and does not affect the water in the tank.

Maintenance Free

In remote areas the problem becomes how to maintain safe water temperature to ensure compliance with the Australian, British and ANSI standard. Traditionally this has been done with a powered chiller which is a suitable solution in non-hazardous areas with a continuous electricity supply. Traditional chiller require ongoing maintenance to ensure it cools effectlively.

The maintenance free solution to the traditional chiller is the Zero Power Cooler®. This passive cooling system has no moving parts making expensive service requirements a thing of the past. This award winning sealed system allows you to fit and forget.

Hazardous Zone I & II Safe

We were asked, “What is the ATEX or ICEX rating for the Zero Power Cooler®?” This question is completely redundant when it comes to the Tank Shower with Zero Power Cooler® as it requires no electricity to run.

 

Award Winning

In October 2019, the Energies Industry Council awarded the Zero Power Cooler® with the Innovation of the year award. This product was also a finalist in the Technology and Collaboration categories

 

FAQ

Because this is the world’s first Zero Power Cooler® for safety showers, you may have a few questions.

 

Why would I choose the Zero Power Cooling System rather than one of the existing chillers?

Passive cooling of your emergency tank shower requires no electricity to work; if you have a remote location or area that does not have suitable power then our Zero Power Cooling System is ideal. A table comparing our Flameproof Chiller, Non-Flameproof Chiller and the Zero Power Cooling System can be viewed on our website.

How does it work?

During the cooler night-time ambient temperatures, the convection process of the passive cooling system draws heat out of the stored water in the tank and reduces the water temperature to safe working limits. During the daytime, the external exchanger is heated by solar radiation and the coolant no longer circulates. This causes the coolant in the system to stratify, hot water stays to the top and cooler water remains lower down preventing the water in the tank heating up.

In what locations has it been tested?

The cooling system has been tested in the UAE during the summer months where temperatures reached up to 55°C during the day and 35°C at night. There are also units currently in use in Western Australia, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

What temperature range will the system maintain?

Testing has proven that the unit will maintain a water temperature of 2°C higher than the average night-time temperature. For example, if your average night-time temperature is 32°C in the summer the water in the tank shower will be maintained at or below 34°C. (ANSI Z358.1-2014 stipulates water should be maintained between 16-38°C)

What type of locations is this suitable for?

The system is designed for use outdoors and in both hazardous and non-hazardous areas.

Can it be retrofitted to an existing Hughes emergency tank shower? If so, which models?

Any of our 1500 litre and 1200 litre emergency tank showers can be retrofitted to accept the cooling system. (EXP-J-14K/1500K; EXP-J-14K/1500KS; EXP-J-14K/1200K; EXP-J-14K/1200KS)

When retrofitting, is it easy for me to install or do you offer an installation service?

A retrofit kit and instructions are provided allowing your engineers to fit the Zero Power Cooling System to our emergency tank showers on site. Hughes can offer further support where needed - please contact our sales team for more information.

What are the maintenance requirements?

No maintenance is necessary, it is completely sealed and requires no spare parts.

Will it work for my site if the ambient night-time temperature does not drop below 38°C? Will the water available in the day still be tepid?

If your location has temperatures consistently above the 38°C average at night, please contact our sales team for the best solution for your requirements.

What are the effects of black bulb temperatures or solar radiation on the cooling system?

 Where there is direct sunlight and solar radiation in the daytime, the cooling system is designed to benefit from this. There is a positive effect in the daytime in creating hot water at the top of the cooling system (on the external exchanger) as the hot water stratifies leaving the cooler water in the lower (internal) cooling exchanger.The cooling cycle is not affected since it takes place during the evening/night-time when solar radiation is limited or zero. During the night phase, the temperature differential helps create the flow inside the cooling system to start the cooling process. An example of this can be seen on our website in the ‘How it works’ animation.

Can the cooling system be used where there are higher PPM chlorine levels?

Yes, in this instance, the internal stainless steel exchanger can be coated with a chlorinated rubber coating that is suitable for use with safety showers with no risk of contamination of the water in the tank.

What happens when the shower is tested and potentially hotter water is introduced into the system?

Please see the example below. The impact has been calculated based on 150 litres of water (10% of the volume) which equates to 2 minutes of shower use - this is more than what would be used for normal weekly testing.

Using an extreme example where the water temperature is 36°C; in this condition, if 150 litres of the 1500 litre total is replaced with the same quantity of water at 50°C the result will be 36°C + 50 x 0.1 = 36.5°C (remaining within the tepid water requirements). Please also note that this example is during the hottest months, the remainder of the year would allow for lower water temperatures in our tank showers. As such, there are no issues when the testing is performed once a week or if the shower is tested for a longer duration.

What is the lifespan of the cooling system?

The cooling system is constructed to specifications where a design life of 20-25 years is required. A 2 year warranty is offered on the system as standard.

 

Problem: No mains water

Solution: Hughes Tanks Shower/Eyewash

 

Problem: No mains water, high daytime temperatures and no electricity

Solution: Hughes Tanks Shower/Eyewash with Zero Power Cooling Unit

 

Problem: No mains water, no electricity, high daytime temperatures, wind region D (316kph)

Solution: Cyclone Rated Hughes Tanks Shower/Eyewash with Zero Power Cooling Unit