WESTLAKE, OHIO -- The American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE) has made a generous donation to the American Society of Plumbing Engineers Research Foundation, Inc. (ASPE RF) to help fund the research and study of the growth, accumulation and detachment of biofilm and planktonic bacteria in both electronic and automatic faucets.
The question, "Are electronic faucets more or less sanitary than manual faucets when all other variable are controlled?" has arisen from a field study conducted by John Hopkins Hospital. The ASPE RF, in conjunction with Montana State University Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE), plans to assess biofilm and opportunistic pathogen growth in both manual and automatic faucets under identical flow conditions, based on realistic use patterns, in a controlled laboratory environment over a four-month period. The data from these tests will help to develop a timeline of bacterial growth within these faucets and provide empirical data relative to whether the faucet valve plays a significant role in bacterial loading.
"The ASPE RF is pleased to accept the gracious donation from ASSE in support of this research, as well as the support ASSE has provided through active participation on the research task group," said Jim Kendzel, ASPE Executive Director/CEO. "Both ASPE and ASSE are committed to developing and disseminating valid research that leads to an even higher quality of water and protection of public health throughout the world. ASPE and the ASPE RF are honored to work side by side with ASSE in achieving this goal."
Data generated from these tests will be essential for the future research of system variables that play a role in biofilm growth and could ultimately lead to empirical-based recommendations for improvements in faucet design and maintenance. If you would like to support or contribute to this research in any way, please visit www.aspe.org.About the American Society of Sanitary Engineering
ASSE is an ANSI Accredited standards developer and product certification body that is comprised of individual and sustaining members who represent all disciplines of the plumbing industry. Its mission is to continually improve the performance, reliability and safety of plumbing systems. ASSE's product performance standards, professional qualifications standards, professional certification and product listing programs are developed in the interest of public health and the society's motto, "Prevention Rather Than Cure." For more information, visit http://www.asse-plumbing.org.About ASPE and the ASPE RF
ASPE is the only professional organization devoted to the training and certification of plumbing engineers and designers. ASPE and its 6,200 worldwide members are dedicated to protecting the health, welfare, and safety of the public through the dissemination of technical data and information to expand the base of knowledge among plumbing engineers, designers, contractors, code officials, inspectors, and manufacturers. In 1976, facing a need for meaningful technical research on emerging technology, ASPE established the ASPE Research Foundation, which is the only independent, impartial organization involved in plumbing engineering and design research. By sponsoring unbiased and impartial technical research, the Foundation upholds the best interests of the public and plumbing industry. Visit www.aspe.org/ResearchFoundation for more information.
ASSE is an ANSI Accredited standards developer and product certification body that is comprised of individual and sustaining members who represent all disciplines of the plumbing industry. Its mission is to continually improve the performance, reliability and safety of plumbing systems. ASSE's product performance standards, professional qualifications standards, professional certification and product listing programs are developed in the interest of public health and the society's motto, "Prevention Rather Than Cure." For more information, visit http://www.asse-plumbing.org.About ASPE and the ASPE RF
ASPE is the only professional organization devoted to the training and certification of plumbing engineers and designers. ASPE and its 6,200 worldwide members are dedicated to protecting the health, welfare, and safety of the public through the dissemination of technical data and information to expand the base of knowledge among plumbing engineers, designers, contractors, code officials, inspectors, and manufacturers. In 1976, facing a need for meaningful technical research on emerging technology, ASPE established the ASPE Research Foundation, which is the only independent, impartial organization involved in plumbing engineering and design research. By sponsoring unbiased and impartial technical research, the Foundation upholds the best interests of the public and plumbing industry. Visit www.aspe.org/ResearchFoundation for more information.