There are four common ways to turn on a commercial hand sink: a standard faucet with wrist blade handles, a knee valve, a foot pedal, or an electronic sensor. All four can pass inspection. The FDA Food Code does not require hands-free operation, but the last three keep hands off the handles after washing, and some local health departments ask for them.
Shop the equipment in this article: hand sinks, commercial sink faucets and the dual control knee pedal valve. Freight is included on every order.
The rules every hand sink faucet has to meet
- Water at 100 F or warmer, through a mixing valve or a combination faucet (Food Code 5-202.12).
- If the faucet is self-closing, slow-closing or metering, it must run for at least 15 seconds without being turned on again (5-202.13).
- Soap and a hand drying method at the sink (6-301.11 and 6-301.12).
- Check with your health department before you buy. Some cities and some kinds of operations, such as hospitals and senior living kitchens, require hands-free hand sinks.
Wrist blade handles
A standard deck or wall mount faucet with long blade handles that you push with your wrist or forearm. It is the cheapest option, easy to repair, and fits most hand sinks with 4 inch centers.
- Best for: tight budgets, replacing a worn faucet on an existing sink.
- Watch out for: staff turning it off with clean hands anyway. Train people to use the wrist.
- Example: our replacement hand sink faucet fits any 4 inch center hand sink.
Knee valve
A valve mounted under the sink that you press with your knee. Water runs while the knee holds the paddle, then shuts off. Dual control versions mix hot and cold, so you set the temperature once at the valve.
- Best for: wall mount and underbar hand sinks where there is no floor space for a pedal.
- Watch out for: the sink has to be mounted at a height where the paddle meets a knee comfortably. See how high a hand sink should be mounted.
- Example: our dual control knee pedal valve adds knee operation to a compatible faucet.
Foot pedal
Pedals at floor level turn the water on while pressed. Floor standing pedestal sinks usually have the pedals built in, which makes them the simplest true hands-free setup.
- Best for: busy kitchens and prep areas where people walk up with dirty hands, and any space where an inspector has asked for hands-free.
- Watch out for: pedals need floor space in front of the sink and can be kicked or blocked by mats. If a pedal stops working, see foot pedal hand sink not working.
- Example: our hands-free pedestal hand sink with foot pedal faucet.
Sensor faucet
An electronic eye turns the water on when hands are under the spout. It is the most hygienic option and common in healthcare, but it costs the most, needs batteries or a power supply, and the timed shutoff has to be set to meet the 15 second rule if it is a metering type.
- Best for: front of house, healthcare and senior living, high traffic restrooms.
- Watch out for: dead batteries and sensors that misread in bright or reflective spaces.
Quick comparison
- Lowest cost: wrist blade faucet.
- Best for small spaces: knee valve.
- Simplest hands-free: foot pedal pedestal sink.
- Most hygienic: sensor, at a higher price and with power to maintain.
Common mistakes
- Buying a faucet with the wrong spacing. Most hand sinks use 4 inch centers. See 4 inch vs 8 inch center faucets.
- Running cold water only. A hand sink needs water warm enough to reach 100 F.
- Skipping a backflow preventer where your code calls for one. See does a commercial faucet need a backflow preventer.
What to buy
If you are fitting out a new kitchen and want hands-free without extra plumbing work, a pedestal hand sink with foot pedal is the simplest choice. For a bar, an underbar hand sink with a wrist blade faucet or knee valve fits under the counter. For a small wall space, the WHS-1209 wall mount hand sink is our most compact option. Freight is included to the 48 contiguous states and DC.