Emergency safety showers | body | face | eye wash systems | stationary | mobile | combined solutions

Emergency Safety Showers and Eyewash Stations

When chemicals get into the eyes, the first 10 seconds decide the outcome.

Fixed and combination safety showers, countertop (deck-mounted) eye/face washes, self-contained stations with a water tank and mobile solutions – for laboratories, production halls, battery rooms, warehouses and construction sites. Below the product list you will find a selection guide.

Combination showers Body showers Countertop eyewashes Self-contained stations Mobile showers Shower cabins EN 15154 / ANSI Z358.1

No mains water, but you handle acid or electrolyte? A self-contained station with a tank or a mobile shower – see what to choose or ask us.

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Guide: emergency showers and eyewash stations that work when they are needed

Here you will find a quick selection by situation, what the 10-second and 15-minute rule means, which parameters to check in the specification, the most common mistakes and answers to the key questions.

Colour key: ■ information · ■ benefit, solution · ■ ⚠ check · ■ ⚡ safety, mistakes

Contents: What do you need? · 10 s and 15 min rule · How much water · EN 15154 / ANSI · What to check · Mistakes · Diagrams · FAQ

What do you need? Quick selection

Situation	Solution	Products
Chemical plant, unloading area, high spill risk	Fixed combination shower – body shower + eye/face wash in one place	75.7 + 11.4 l/min, stainless steel 75.7 + 11.4 l/min, 2530×660 mm 76 + 11.4 l/min, ABS, yellow Dual ball valve Hands-free operation Vertical industrial unit
Laboratory, chemistry classroom, medical room – the main hazard is splashes to the eyes	Eye/face wash on a pedestal, wall-mounted or countertop (with a pull-out hose – also for rinsing other parts of the body)	11.4 l/min, 1040×260 mm 1050×270 mm Countertop, 550×260×195 mm Countertop, with hose Countertop, dual spray heads
Battery room, transformer substation, warehouse without mains water	Self-contained eyewash station with a 30–60 L tank (wall-mounted or free-standing)	30 L, yellow / green 53 L, gravity-fed, with waste tank 60 L, with waste tank
Changing workplaces inside the plant, maintenance work	Station on a trolley with a waste tank – wheeled to the work area	30 L + 100 L, with trolley
Outdoor work, construction site – a body shower is needed too, but there is no water supply	Mobile combination shower with a tank; for longer-term work – a cabin with a water reservoir	45 L, stainless steel 53 L, ABS Cabin with 1200 L reservoir
Outdoor site, terminal – wind protection and privacy are required	Enclosed combination shower cabin	Enclosed, 2200×1200×900 mm
An eyewash point is already in place, but full-body drenching is missing	Fixed body safety shower	Safety shower 76 l/min
Rinsing must start instantly – at machines, in vehicles, in a service kit	Personal kit or compact pressurised station – as a supplementary measure until the main station is reached	Kit 2×500 ml 5 L pressurised station

The best solution is a combination, not a single unit

The main station provides 15 minutes of flushing, while a personal kit right at the workplace lets rinsing start within the first seconds. This shortens the time to first aid and reduces the severity of the injury.

Laboratory: countertop eyewash + combination shower near the exit.
Battery room without water: 30–60 L wall-mounted station + 2×500 ml kit at the entrance.
Chemical plant: stainless steel combination shower in every risk zone.
Outdoor work: mobile combination shower or a cabin with a water reservoir.

The 10-second and 15-minute rule

Acids and alkalis damage eye tissue within seconds, so the station must be reachable quickly and flushing must last long enough to remove the substance completely.

Chemical gets into the eyes or onto the skin

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Station reached within 10 s

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Valve opens in 1 s, hands remain free

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≥ 15 min of tepid water

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✓ Medical assistance

✗ What often happens

Station behind a door, on another floor or blocked by pallets
Ice-cold water – the person rinses for 2–3 minutes and stops
Instead of a station – a bottle in the first aid kit
Stale water in the tank, nobody has checked it for a year
Staff do not know where the station is or how to activate it

✓ How it should be

On the same level, with no stairs or locked doors in the way
Tepid water 16–38 °C – flushing for the full 15 min
Bottle only as a supplement, with the main station nearby
Activated weekly, tank water replaced on schedule
Marked with an ISO 7010 sign, illuminated, staff trained

How much water does 15 minutes of flushing take

Unit	Minimum flow	Water in 15 min
Eyewash (ANSI)	1.5 l/min	~23 L
Plumbed eyewash (EN)	6 l/min	~90 L
Eye/face wash (ANSI)	11.4 l/min	~171 L
Body shower (EN)	60 l/min	~900 L
Body shower (ANSI)	75.7 l/min	~1135 L

What this means in practice: a 30 L eyewash station delivering 1.5 l/min has enough water for ~20 min – a fully fledged main station. A 5 L station at the same flow runs for only ~3 min, and a 2×500 ml kit even less, so they are meant to start rinsing until the main station is reached. A body shower needs ~1 m³ of water, so the body spray of a mobile shower with a 45–53 L tank lasts only a limited time – treat it as a temporary solution where there is no mains water.

Requirements: EN 15154 and ANSI/ISEA Z358.1

Parameter	EN 15154 (Europe)	ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 (USA, widely applied)
Body shower flow	≥ 60 l/min, unless national requirements specify otherwise	≥ 75.7 l/min
Eyewash flow	≥ 6 l/min (plumbed eyewashes)	Eyes ≥ 1.5 l/min; eyes and face ≥ 11.4 l/min
Duration	≥ 15 min	≥ 15 min
Water temperature	Recommended not below ~15 °C	Tepid, 16–38 °C
Accessibility	Based on the risk assessment	Within 10 s (~17 m), on the same level, unobstructed
Maintenance	According to the manufacturer's instructions	Activate weekly, full inspection annually

The table is for information only. Requirements for a specific site are determined by the occupational health and safety risk assessment and applicable legislation.

⚠ What to check before buying

KibirkštisBefore ordering, I always check the water pressure and connections on site – otherwise the shower arrives and there is nothing to connect it to.

What to check	Why it matters
Water pressure and pipe diameter	Most fixed models operate at 0.2–0.6 MPa. A body shower needs a supply line of sufficient diameter – a narrow pipe will not deliver 60–76 l/min.
Water temperature	If only cold water is available, provide a thermostatic mixing valve – otherwise flushing will be cut short.
Drainage	Where will 900–1100 L of water go? A floor drain, a floor slope or a station with a waste tank.
Material	In aggressive environments – stainless steel; ABS plastic is lighter and resists most chemicals, but check compatibility with your substances.
Activation	A push handle, pull rod or foot pedal must open the valve in one motion and keep it open – so the casualty's hands are free to hold the eyes open.
Tank volume (self-contained units)	Tank volume ÷ flow ≥ 15 min. Also check the water replacement interval and whether a preservative is needed.
Installation location	Outdoors and in unheated rooms – freeze protection; near electrical equipment – a safe distance and the right drainage direction.

✗ Most common mistakes

Mistake	Consequence
A bottle instead of a station	The water lasts a few dozen seconds – the eye is not flushed thoroughly.
Station too far away or obstructed	Every extra second increases eye damage.
Cold water only	Flushing stops after a few minutes; hypothermia is possible.
Nowhere for the water to drain	The room floods, floors become slippery, contaminated water spreads.
No freeze protection outdoors	In winter the pipework or valve freezes – the shower fails exactly when it is needed.
No testing, tank water not replaced	Stale water with bacteria is flushed straight into an injured eye.
Shower or drainage next to a switchboard or battery rack	⚡ Water on live parts – risk of electric shock and short circuit.

What the key mistakes look like in practice – see the diagrams.

⚡ Safe installation – advice from Fazė

In battery rooms and electrical rooms the eyewash station must be close by, but the shower spray and drainage must be directed away from switchboards, racks and cable trays.
Heat-trace cables, thermostats and lighting near the shower – with a suitable IP class and 30 mA residual current protection (RCD).
Plumbing, drainage and electrical work must be carried out by qualified professionals according to the manufacturer's instructions.
UAB „Elektrotechnikos sprendimai“ provides this information for guidance only and accepts no liability for improper connection or installation errors.

☝ Elsprendimai.eu recommends: complete workplace safety with personal protective equipment, dielectric protective equipment for work in battery rooms, emergency lighting to mark the station location, and laboratory taps and sinks.

Diagrams: what often happens and how it should be

In each diagram, the most common mistake is on the left and the correct solution on the right. The numbers in the diagram correspond to the explanations below it.

Diagram 1. Station location and accessibility. Distance is measured along the walking route: pallets, doors or stairs can make the route several times longer, even if the station looks close in a straight line.

KibirkštisThe station is just behind the wall – surely that's not far?

FazėIn a straight line – no, but around the pallets and through a locked door it takes 35–40 seconds. The station must be on the same level, on a clear route and reachable within 10 s.

Station location and accessibility – diagram: wrong and right | elsprendimai.eu

☝ Click the diagram to open an enlarged version.

⚠ This diagram is for guidance only and may contain inaccuracies. Before installation, check it against the manufacturer's instructions and the risk assessment.
Installation is the responsibility of the qualified professionals who carry it out. UAB „Elektrotechnikos sprendimai“ accepts no liability for connection or possible errors.

Diagram 2. Battery room and electrical room. Electrolyte in the eyes requires rapid flushing, but the water must not reach switchboards and live parts.

KibirkštisCan you install a shower in a battery room – isn't there electricity everywhere?

FazėYou can and you should – just do it right: a self-contained station next to the rack, the switchboard in a dry zone, drainage sloped away from electrical equipment.

Battery room and electrical room – diagram: wrong and right | elsprendimai.eu

☝ Click the diagram to open an enlarged version.

Diagram 3. Water supply: temperature and freezing. An outdoor shower needs freeze protection, and flushing needs tepid water – otherwise nobody will last 15 minutes.

KibirkštisWhy is ice-cold water bad – it still rinses, doesn't it?

FazėBecause after 2–3 minutes the person steps away, while flushing must last 15. A thermostatic mixing valve maintains 16–38 °C, and a heat-trace cable keeps the pipework from freezing.

Water supply and freezing – diagram: wrong and right | elsprendimai.eu

☝ Click the diagram to open an enlarged version.

Frequently asked questions

Asking is Kibirkštis – a young, curious electrician who dares to ask what others won't. Answering is Fazė – an experienced engineer.

KibirkštisWhat is the difference between an eyewash station and a combination shower?

FazėAn eyewash station rinses the eyes and face with a gentle stream. A combination unit also has a high-flow body shower – needed when a substance spills onto clothing or a larger area of the body.

KibirkštisWe have an eyewash bottle in the first aid kit. Isn't that enough?

FazėNo. A bottle helps start rinsing within the first seconds, but it won't last 15 minutes. It always goes together with a main station, never instead of it (how much water is needed).

KibirkštisWe service battery rooms in transformer substations – there's no water there. What should we install?

FazėA self-contained 30–60 L wall-mounted station next to the racks and a personal kit in the service bag. Electrolyte in the eyes is exactly the situation these stations are designed for.

KibirkštisCan an emergency shower be installed outdoors in a cold Baltic climate?

FazėYes, but only with freeze protection: a heat-trace cable with a thermostat, insulation and a frost-resistant valve. Another option is an enclosed cabin. A shower that is frozen in winter is worse than none at all, because everyone assumes it works.

KibirkštisHow often do they need to be checked?

FazėPlumbed units – activate briefly every week: you check the flow and flush out stagnant water. A full flow and function inspection – once a year. Replace the water in self-contained tanks according to the manufacturer's schedule.

KibirkštisDo you help select equipment for a site?

FazėYes. Send us the purpose of the premises, the substances used and the water supply conditions – we will select a solution and send you a quotation. Contact us.

Sources (checked 2026-10-07): EN 15154-1 summary; EN 15154 parts overview; ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 eyewash; ANSI Z358.1 showers and eyewashes.

A safe workplace starts with 10 seconds

Fixed and combination showers, eyewashes, self-contained stations and mobile solutions – all in one place. Send us a description of your site: we will select equipment based on the risk and water supply conditions. Can't find the model you need in the catalogue? Some equipment is supplied to order.

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