by Brianna Crandall — October 7, 2016 — Excel Dryer creator of the high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryer category said to have revolutionized the industry, recently announced the publication of the industry’s first dry time and energy use results in compliance with the first global Product Category Rule (PCR) published by UL Environment (a business division of Underwriters’ Laboratories) [see FMLink article “First global Product Category Rule for hand dryers published by UL Environment“].
The XLERATOReco Hand Dryer recorded 10 seconds dry time and 1.7 Wh energy use during testing.
Testing and certification company SGS was selected by Excel Dryer to test the XLERATOR Hand Dryer models. The original patented, high-speed, energy-efficient XLERATOR Hand Dryer recorded an 8 second dry time and 3.7 Wh of energy per use, while the XLERATOReco Hand Dryer recorded 10 seconds dry time and 1.7 Wh energy use, making them the first published in the industry, says the company.
PCRs are the first step toward the development of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), type III, independently verified ecolabels that govern one or more product categories, explains Excel Dryer. A PCR is a set of rules, requirements and guidelines following internationally established standards that make it easier to consistently evaluate products’ environmental impacts.
The publication of the global hand dryer PCR is the culmination of more than a year long, data-driven and science-backed process and is the first testing method for hand dryers established through industry consensus. Standardized evaluation guidelines and reporting allow for the specifying community and buyers to conduct a more “apples-to-apples” comparison of hand dryers, and ultimately make a more informed decision, based on credible third-party testing and not false claims.
According to Excel Dryer’s Vice President of Marketing William Gagnon, who also served as chairman of the PCR Project:
Excel Dryer recognized the need to standardize the way products are evaluated by the hand dryer industry on a global scale. This PCR includes testing guidelines established through industry consensus that specify how a hand dryer’s performance is tested for energy use and dry times, both key components to properly reporting their environmental impact. Third-party testing to these guidelines levels the playing field and ushers the hand dryer industry into a new “age of transparency.”
The hand dryer market, like so many others, is inundated with knockoff products and manufacturers making unsubstantiated claims, points out Excel Dryer. Architects and specifiers may approve “or equal” products that are not true equivalents. The same is true for buyers looking to compare and purchase the best product for their facilities. All products need to be evaluated by the same set of rules and reporting guidelines — for hand dryers, that rule is the new, global PCR from UL Environment.
For more information about Excel Dryer or its product line, visit the company’s Web site, and see FM-specific information on the company’s FMLink ad. To learn more about the new global PCR, visit the Excel Dryer Web page.
