Dryflow® Slimforce Hand Dryer (Brushed Satin) - DFLIF02

At Intelligent Hand Dryers UK, our ethos is to bring you as much open, honest and reliable information as possible so you can make the most suitable and informed purchase.

We endeavour to include independently obtained results and in house testing, as well as manufacturer's specifications. This gives a true reflection of dry time performance, noise and energy efficiency of each hand dryer.

Noise level testing was conducted at the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and a leading independent testing facility.

We also provide in house video testing to demonstrate dry performance. This gives a visual demonstration in “real use” as opposed to using methodical scientific protocols.  The approximate dry time using this method was set when no spots of water could be seen on a paper towel after drying the hands.  This is over and above what is required to be classed as a “hygienic dry” which requires 95% of the hands to be dry after using the dryer.

Need more information or advice? Please contact us by clicking here where one of our dedicated experts will be able to assist you in whichever way you need.

Renting hand dryers is an option that allows your business to avoid capital expenditure and reduce upfront costs on purchase and fitting. It also gives service backup and breakdown cover. Hand dryer rental agreements are a minimum of 3 years on hand dryers due to installation cost involved. Alternatively you may wish to buy hand dryers outright and reduce overall payments.

We always suggest you speak with us about your facility before deciding whether to buy or rent hand dryers. In many locations, rental will mean you are paying far more in the long run than is necessary, particularly as good quality hand dryers should last for many years without problems and if there is a rare breakdown, it will be a lot cheaper to have a service call, as a free unit will be provided within the guarantee. However you may just prefer lower monthly payments, particularly if you are used to rental or buying paper towels.

For public sector organisation's there is funding available for interest free loans for our energy efficient models which means it makes more sense to buy the product outright in most instances.

Most organisations can write off the value of a hand dryer in the first year of purchase so there is no depreciation necessary for accountants to worry about. If the hand dryer is on the ECA list then all organisations can write off the value in year 1.

We ask, is it possible to get a balance between speed and noise in a hand dryer that satisfies the user. Of course faster airflow and particularly fast, condensed airflow is going to create more noise, so it’s a real challenge to hand dryer designers and engineers to create a dryer that people are happy with the performance, the noise levels and the energy efficiency,

Blade hand dryers

The Mitsubishi Jet towel is an example of a product that nearly meets this objective. Our independent results* measured the Mitsubishi Jet Towel at 75 dB(A) in a anechoic chamber (sound proof room) with hands placed into the airflow for a realistic noise measurement. 75 dB(A) is considerably higher than the 58 to 64 dB(A) advertised for the Mitsubishi Jet Towel however the generation 8 model dries relatively quickly (around 16 seconds in stringent test conditions, less in normal circumstances) and it uses as little as 0.55kw rated power. 75 dB(A) on a scale using deafening, very loud, loud, moderate, faint and very faint to describe would be on the lower end of loud, very few people would be expected to be irritated by this level.

It must be noted though that this measurement did not take into account noise amplification in a normal room, a previous study at Intertek revealed the Mitsubishi Jet Towel hand dryer measured at 79 dB(A) in a representative room. Upper 70’s in dB(A) are considered to irritate a small minority of people but with a hand dryer it is a very short lived experience, certainly in terms of safety, 80 dB(A) is considered safe for up to 8 hours exposure per day so there is no issue from this perspective. A little more detail about pitch is needed to complete the overview of the perceived sound on hand dryers but from this basic information the Mitsubishi Jet Towel achieves a good balance.

From a hygiene perspective, it has NSF approvals, although these kinds of approvals are done based on testing on brand new hand dryers. What is important is how hygienic the hand dryer will be 2 years after installing. The nature of this hand dryer with its water collection means that it must have a thorough and regular cleaning routine to maintain optimum hygiene standards.

The information we have on the new ‘quieter’ Dyson Airblade DB is incomplete, we only have a measurement in the sound proof chamber at 80 dB(A). You would expect a 4-5 dB(A) amplification in a normal room, if it followed the same pattern as the Mitsubishi Jet Towel and other dryers. Again, there is no safety issue at these levels considering the short term exposure but some users will certainly find these noise levels irritating. The Dyson Airblade DB is certainly fast drying (13-14 seconds in our stringent test and less than this under normal conditions) and uses an acceptable if not low rate power of 1.6kw. We have to say, based on the evidence, if you are looking for a good balance between energy efficiency, speed and noise the Mitsubishi is the overall winner here. With regards to hygiene, the same applies as with the Mitsubishi Jet Towel, all testing is based on a brand new unit, although the Airblade does not collect water if the HEPA filter is not properly maintained and cleaned there will surely be a difference between the hygiene levels provided by a new unit and one two years into its life.

‘Hands under’ type hand dryers.

The Dryflow Classic PLUS and Dryflow Elite are two dryers that are designed specifically to meet the objective of achieving an acceptable performance, at a quiet sound level with reasonable levels of energy efficiency. Another positive is that they are both very affordable hand dryers with outstanding motor lifespans. The Dryflow Classic PLUS is not a super-fast dryer but it is solid, it combines 45 m/s air speeds (traditional dryers 20-30 m/s, high speed 70 m/s upwards) with heat to achieve an approximate 20 second dry. The independent test measured the dB(A) at 72 in a sound proof chamber with hands under and because the Dryflow Classic PLUS is not relying purely on rapid airspeed we would expect amplification in a normal room to be minimal. We would describe this hand dryer as an excellent compromise, reasonable fast if not spectacular, with a very tolerable noise level with a rated power of just 1.35kw giving an energy efficient, if not hyper low energy performance. The Dryflow Classic PLUS is vandal resistant, very long lasting and at a price point where it is affordable for all. I guess the only question mark is that mild heat, in theory will increase bacteria levels if the dryer is not internally sanitized, we don’t have any clear evidence of this put this is the argument that has been pu forward by the paper towel companies for many years.

The eXtremeAir CPC hand dryer

The eXtremeAir CPC is a new innovation in the hand dryer market, this product contains a Cold Plasma generator that effectively creates a reaction from the moisture on the hands and in the air to form hydroxyl radicals that break down the molecular structure of bacteria and small viruses present on the hands, in the immediate surrounding air and surfaces. The eXtremeAir CPC has a completely adjustable motor and heat settings hence why it is included in this discussion.

On maximum speed the dryer tested at a relatively high 86 dB(A) with hands in the airflow, however it reduced to just 73 dB(A) on the lower setting. It is worth noting that at the lower dB (A) level it still had a motor speed of 14,000 rpm and airflow comparable, if not a little faster with the Dryflow Classic PLUS, so with this hand dryer you can find the balance to suit. The eXtremeAir CPC uses as little as 0.3kw on minimum motor speed and only 0.5kw on high motor speed. When you need it to be quieter, you can reduce the motor speed down and add heat. The issue of heat creating bacteria is negated by the cold plasma. Cold plasma is also self-sanitising in the sense that it continuously sanitises the surface of the hands, surrounding surfaces and inside the dryer, so we can say with assurance that the product remains as hygienic 5 years into its life as when it was first tested.

The eXtremeAir CPC is a genuine breakthrough in the market and we believe can be evidenced as the best current solution that can be described as potentially quiet, very hygienic (more so than any other method of drying in fact), very fast and energy efficient. It is also guaranteed for 6 years and highly vandal resistant so we think ticks all the boxes.

For more information on any of the hand dryers discussed please view the website or call +44 (0)114 3540047

Intelligent Hand Dryers UK has written on this subject many times; however we now categorically have the answer.

The eXtremeAir CPC, is available at discounted price to the public sector to make it a comparable price with the other high quality fast and energy efficient hand dryers we offer, but it is not just a hand dryer, it is a passive and hugely effective way of reducing cross infection of pupils, teachers and family members.

Schools are an absolute hotbed for cross infection because a) Kids do not tend to wash their hands as thoroughly as they might, this is true of us all actually, b) School Children change rooms and move all over the building throughout the day and share equipment and c) there are a large number of people in close proximity and physical contact is frequent.

The eXtremeAir satisfies all the current criteria of being highly energy efficient, quick drying, vandal resistant and accessible for Children of different heights but also incorporates Cold Plasma Clean Technology to break down the molecular structure of viruses and bacteria on the surfaces of the hands.

This is not to be confused with the hand dryers we offer that trap 99.9% of bacteria over a 0.3 microns using a HEPA filter, the eXtremeAir is not only sanitizing the air, it is much more importantly sanitizing the hands every time they are dried. In terms of inflectional control cleaning the air that dries the hands may stop extra bacteria forming on the hands but it does nothing to tackle it.

The eXtemeAir CPC hand dryer therefore offers a passive way of improving hand hygiene throughout schools. We say passive’ because pupils don’t need to be educated to use it, hand dryers are already part of their cycle unlike using a sanitizer and there is no consumable to change.
It can even be used as an educational tool as wall plates are available that explain the technology

Another important feature of the eXtremeAir CPC is that it remains hygienic and energy efficient even when heat is used. If you use heat evaporation in normal circumstances it is not considered to be as hygienic but Cold Plasma Clean technology eliminates that as a problem. This in turn allows the motor speed to be reduced where quiet is needed i.e near classrooms, Assembly Halls, Libraries etc and warm air to be added. The eXtremeAir CPC then remains effective yet quiet (70% quieter than the new ‘50% quieter Airblade’ and Airforce, 130% quieter than the new Xlerator 500)

Click here to download the White Paper and learn more about Cold Plasma technology and the independent testing that has been carried out or call 0114 3540047 for more information.

There are very few things that can go wrong with most electric hand dryers. Many modern electric hand dryers no longer have a heater element, so they have become even simpler to diagnose. Anyone opening the cover of a hand dryer to conduct work on the electric components should be a trained professional. Ideally you should consult the trouble shooting guide in the user’s manual, however if this is not available here are a few of the potential issues that may occur with your electric hand dryer. The power to the hand dryer must be isolated and turned off before removing the cover.

The Hand Dryer is not blowing or the performance has reduced?

Depending on the age and type of motor the hand dryer has there are a few likely causes

On a brush motor hand dryer (majority of hand dryers) that has been in use for some time, the 2 brushes that hold the rotator will gradually ware. Even on a low cost unit this should not occur until the electric hand dryer has performed at least 100,000 cycles, so if it is relatively new or in a low use area this is less likely to be the fault.
Check when the electric hand dryer was installed and check with the supplier what the expected brush life is, in order to eliminate this as a likely cause. More simply you will be able to visually detect if the brushes are worn because the connection with the rotator will be slight or their will be no connection at all. It is also worth checking or replacing the springs that hold the brushes in place.

The good news is that a set of brushes are relatively cheap to buy and simple to change.

If the unit is new, it maybe that dust or debris has got into the machine and is inhibiting the performance. On brush motors, when the winding (copper coil) gathers dust the electrical connection will not be as god therefore the motor may be intermittent. Dust around any moving parts will inhibit the performance of the machine so please consult the supplier about the correct way to clean the internals of the hand dryer. You may also want to check the filter (if you hand dryer has one) is clear of debris, this is a common issue with high speed hand dryers as they suck more dust into the units and often have HEPA or anti-bacterial filters. Filters protect the motor but performance will be dimished if filters are left to gather debris.

Digital brushless motors have less maintenance issues but are affected even more my dust, so it is vital that they are cleaned in accordance with guidelines.

The hand dryer is making a rattling sound?

Potentially this could be the springs on the brush motor, if these are not at the correct tension they may move about as the motor rotates, other than that components may have come loose and the unit needs thoroughly checking.

The Hand Dryer has no heat coming out?

Many modern hand dryers rely on the speed of the airflow as opposed to evaporation to dry hands. Some of these hand dryers have the option of heated airflow or unheated airflow, as the unheated versions are far more energy efficient. So firstly check whether the hand dryer has a heater element, if it does not that the dryer will only give off heat when it is in regular use.
Secondly, if heat is desired and there is a heater element, there may be a switch under the unit or on the circuit board that allows the heat to be activated.
Thirdly, check the connection between the heater element and circuit board as it may have come loose and check that there is power to the heater element. If it is none of these things, you may need to obtain a new heater element from the supplier.

I put my hands under the dryer but nothing happens, yet there is power to the hand dryer?

This is most likely either a connectivity problem between the sensor and the circuit board or the sensor is faulty. First check the connection and clean the sensor, if this does not work replace the sensor, if still not working, check the power from the circuit board to the sensor
Circuit board issues

If you look at the hand dryer circuit board and there are signs that a component may have suffered damage then this may also link with the issue you are having depending on the function of the component in question. You can try changing the circuit board.

We hope you found this helpful, we have a team of qualified engineers who can visit your site to diagnose problems and can also carry out maintenance checks to ensure the smooth operation of your hand dryer. Please contact us on 0114 2866394 or email info@i-facilitysolutions.co.uk if you require further assistance.