Hand dryer

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A hand dryer is an electric device found in a public washroom that is used to dry hands. They may either operate with a button, or more recently, automatically using an infrared sensor.

Contents

[edit] Advantages

Hand dryers have been popular with industries for the efficiency they provide. Energy use is cut by as much as 80% in comparison with hand towels,[1] the only main competitor; consequently, together with reduction in other areas, hand dryers can cut costs by as much as 90%.[2] Neither do they require maintenance after being installed,[3] whereas paper towel stocks need to be replaced, and used paper towels removed.

Due to the reduction in litter and waste in comparison with paper towels (which cannot be recycled), hand dryers are also liked for their kindness to the environment. One source claims that an average fast-food restaurant using paper towels, annually, results in 9 fully-grown trees being cut down, and 1,000 pounds of landfill waste created (paper towels alone amount to 35% of landfill space currently used), though many are often unaware of these consequences.[4] Even before the paper towels are used, each ton has claimed 20,000 gallons of water in chemical cleansing.[5]

Hand dryers, apparently, also improve hygiene. Doctors at the University of Ottawa claim that "the blowing of warm air may lead to an accelerated dehydration of the skin surface, thereby affecting the viability" of the microorganisms, and that the warm air may "penetrate all the crevices in the skin, whereas absorbent towels may not reach such areas, even though the skin appears dryer".[6]

[edit] Disadvantages

The general public find hand dryers slow to use. In addition, if a facility completely replaces its towel dispensers with hand dryers, then people often no longer have access to the towels for things like cleaning up spills, wiping up messes on their body or clothing, etc. Some also may find hand dryers to be too noisy.

Handwashing for Life, an association of food service suppliers that includes paper makers[7], argues that hand dryers have "no place" in food areas "mainly because they are neither effective or fast."[8]

[edit] Manufacturers

List of manufacturers of hand dryers:

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://homepages.cs.ncl.ac.uk/phillip.lord/journal/journal-200602.html
  2. ^ American Dryer.com, 10th October 2006
  3. ^ American Dryer.com: Maintenance
  4. ^ Grist.com: On paper towels vs. hand dryers. "…it doesn't matter very much whether you use the blow dryer or the paper towel. The impact of how you dry your hands is so small that you'd be far better off spending your time and energy on more important issues…".
  5. ^ American Dryer.com: Environment
  6. ^ Ansari, Shamin A., et al. "Comparison of cloth, paper, and warm air drying in eliminating viruses and bacteria from washed hands." American Journal of Infection Control 19 (1991): 243–249. This was itself cited by American Dryer.com: Hygiene and American Dryer.com: Bibliography
  7. ^ Buzzle Editorial 7/31/2006
  8. ^ Handwashing for Life, "Paper Towels Win in Effectiveness & Speed"
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