by Brianna Crandall — March 28, 2014—Global electrical and electronic products manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric says its Jet Towel hand dryer has now been recognized for its energy efficiency, quiet performance and hygienic operation by leading standards’ bodies around the world, highlighting the product’s suitability for a variety of applications.
The Noise Abatement Society’s Quiet Mark confirms that the Mitsubishi Electric Jet Towel operates at 58-61dB compared to typically 80-90dB for other dryers. NSF/ANSI 169 certification by NSF International (NSF) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) credits its hygienic operation and suitability for use in healthcare, catering and other situations where sanitation is a primary concern. Mitsubishi Electric Jet Towel’s energy conservation and waste-free operation has earned it GreenSpec approval in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
“Approvals are essential for many hand dryer installers,” explains Fawn Litchfield, Jet Towel Business Development Manager for Mitsubishi. “Others like to see them, even if they are not actually required. For instance hotel, gallery and conference center managers tend to have a highly tuned ear for extraneous noise, while hygiene is important for places like schools, where ‘a bug going around’ can leave half the kids sick and missing lessons.”
The Mitsubishi Electric Jet Towel was born out of a complete rethink of conventional hand dryers, says the company. Instead of evaporating water from hands with heat, the Mitsubishi Electric Jet Towel blows it off by creating a high-speed laminar airstream. The advantages of this technique are many, such as the reduced drying time required—about 9-12 seconds compared to 30-40 for a hot air dryer.
This reduces energy consumption and the time that sound is emitted, while encouraging people to dry their hands completely for better hygiene, notes Mitsubishi Electric. Additionally, the drive motor is high efficiency, and the janitorial costs associated with filling paper towel dispensers and disposing of used towels are removed.
“Energy savings can be up to 90 percent,” says Litchfield, “which quickly mounts up in a busy environment and makes a measurable saving in running costs. For instance, a primary school may have 250 pupils and 20 staff on-site, all of whom will wash their hands 3-5 times a day. In a conference center, there tends to be a rush to the loos at break times, so the Jet Towel’s fast drying time helps stop queues from building up.”
Another major benefit is that moisture removed from hands is directed straight to an integral drain, minimizing microbial risks. Most other hand dryers either let water drip to the floor or evaporate it so that it recondenses on cold surfaces such as door handles and taps, from which bacteria can transfer to other people.
