How to choose dispensers and bathroom accessories: capacity and lock

For an office washroom, a permanent building site or a company changing room, the choice starts from the consumable you have to dispense: paper on a roll, folded towels, soap or toilet seat covers. Each dispenser is made for a single paper or product format, so you choose the format first and then the model. Where many people pass through, choose a unit with a high capacity (up to 600 folded towels) and a key lock, in stainless steel or ABS that is easy to clean.

The types

• Roll dispensers: they hold a paper roll with a maximum diameter that in the collection ranges from about 135 to 300 mm. There are versions for large-format rolls.
• Folded towel dispensers: they hold the towels stacked, with stated capacities of up to 600 pieces. They are for washrooms with a lot of traffic.
• Soap dispensers: for liquid soap, also in a touchless version with a sensor, which you do not touch with dirty hands.
• Toilet seat cover dispensers: they keep the seat covers within reach, with stated capacities such as 200 pieces.
• Wall-mounted electric hand dryers and wall-mounted hair dryers: an alternative to paper where you do not want to deal with restocking.
• Toilet roll holders and toilet brush holders: the basic accessories for the toilet.
• Seats, toilet brushes, towel stands and WC fixings: spares and accessories for private and communal washrooms.

How to choose by job

The features to look at

Capacity. For roll dispensers, what matters is the maximum diameter of the roll and its length: in the collection you will find values such as max Ø 135 mm for 225 mm width, up to max Ø 300 mm for 100 mm. Check that the roll you buy really fits. For folded towels the figure is the number of pieces (200 or 600 in the data) and the maximum width of the towel.

Material. Stainless steel for heavy-use environments and for those who want a professional look; ABS or polypropylene for ordinary washrooms, lighter and easy to wash. Some ABS models come in an HDS antibacterial version.

Lock. The data shows a key lock, in plastic or metal. It is there to stop just anyone opening the unit and emptying or tampering with it; where the washroom is truly public it is a requirement, in a small office you can do without it.

Dimensions and weight. In the data the dispensers weigh from 0.15 to 12 kg; the heavier ones need wall plugs suited to the substrate (solid wall, hollow wall, plasterboard). Finish: chrome, satin or painted change the look, not the function. Chrome and stainless steel surfaces are cleaned with non-abrasive detergents to avoid limescale marks.

For roll paper, models such as the Capri Combi Roll IPC Worldwide or the Capri show how the data sheet changes from one format to another: what always matters is the maximum diameter of the roll accepted. For drying hands without paper there is the Capriccio wall-mounted electric hand dryer.

Common mistakes

• Buying the dispenser without checking the paper format. A roll that is too wide will not fit, one that is too small falls out or unrolls badly.
• Underestimating the traffic. A small unit in a changing room with many staff is empty by the middle of the day.
• Forgetting the wall plugs. A full dispenser is heavy; fix it with plugs suited to the substrate, after checking that no pipes or cables run through the drilling point.
• Buying the electric hand dryer without planning the power supply. You need a power point nearby.
• Choosing on colour alone. White, black or grey are an aesthetic matter; what counts is format, capacity and material.
• Using abrasive detergents on stainless steel or chrome. They scratch the surface and ruin it.

Frequently asked questions

Is a roll dispenser or a folded towel dispenser better?

The roll suits few users and simple washrooms; folded towels have a high capacity (up to 600 pieces) and are taken one at a time, which is useful where many people pass through. For a folded towel model, see for example the Amalfi IPC Worldwide dispenser.

Is touchless soap really worth it?

It is useful where you want to avoid contact with the dispenser, for example in shared washrooms. One example is the Levita Touchless IPC Worldwide, with a sensor.

How do I fit a wall-mounted dispenser?

Check the substrate, choose the suitable plug, fix it at a height that is comfortable for everyone and load the product compatible with that model.

Can dispensers be cleaned with strong products?

Non-abrasive detergents are better, then dry: stainless steel and chrome get stained with limescale if they stay wet.

You will find the whole range in the Bathroom and Shower Accessories collection: if you are not sure about the format or capacity, ask the AMES technicians for a quote or for advice.