The Ultimate Guide to Stainless Steel Troughs For Schools

Stainless Steel Troughs For Schools

Drinking troughs are an indispensable part of any school. With students constantly on the move during breaks, sports, and other activities throughout the school day, the demand for accessible water points is higher than ever. Hydration is key to maintaining energy levels and focus, which makes convenient access to drinking water essential in any school environment. 

Durable, safe, and efficient drinking troughs play a critical role in the schoolyard. These fixtures not only provide a reliable water source for large groups of students but also ensure that hydration remains a quick and hassle-free process. High-quality materials and designs that prevent leaks, resist wear and tear, and maintain hygiene standards are vital to creating long-lasting water stations. Prompting high standards of hand hygiene not only helps reduce the spread of germs and illnesses, leading to improved attendance, but user-friendly and visually appealing sink areas also contribute to a positive environment, fostering a productive teaching atmosphere and encouraging learning. By investing in well-constructed, stainless steel drinking troughs, schools can cater to the constant need for hydration while also promoting the health and well-being of students, thus maintaining a healthy and active school community.

The Different Types of School Troughs

Stainless Express school troughs come in two main categories; drinking troughs, and hand wash troughs. 

• Drinking Troughs: Stainless Express drinking troughs come pre-plumbed with safety rubber mouthpiece bubblers, making them perfect for use in schools and childcare centres. You can choose from a variety of tap styles, including Push Button, Cam, or Lever, to suit your specific needs.
  
  
• Hand Wash Troughs: Stainless Express provides hand wash troughs that are Watermark and WELS certified, designed to offer ample space for handwashing without causing water splashes. Each trough includes a 50mm waste outlet and durable wall brackets for secure installation.

The Key Benefits of Stainless Steel Troughs

The key benefit of stainless steel troughs is their exceptional durability and corrosion resistance. Additionally, they are easy to clean and maintain, making them suitable for a wide range of applications.

• Durability & Strength: Stainless steel is exceptionally resilient, capable of withstanding harsh environments and extreme temperatures without rusting or corroding. This makes it an ideal material for outdoor use in schools and other high traffic environments.
  

• Easy to Clean: A stainless steel trough’s non-porous surface ensures easy cleaning, preventing bacterial build-up and promoting a hygienic environment for kids. Wash troughs are also typically built on a continuous surface without visible joints to ensure thorough cleaning, as joints tend to collect dirt and germs. Additionally, wash troughs minimise awkward spaces and exposed pipework, making cleaning simpler and more efficient. This streamlined design speeds up the sanitation process, allowing staff to focus on other tasks.
  

• Resistant to Damage: Stainless steel is famously sturdy and vandal resistant. The material's resistance to impact, scratching, and other forms of damage makes stainless steel troughs perfect for settings where kids may be rough with their surroundings, ensuring they remain functional and intact even in demanding conditions. Additionally, all wash troughs pipework and wiring is concealed in the void behind the trough. Not only does this make the sinks look more attractive, but it also safeguards against damage and vandalism.
  

• Cost Effective: Stainless steel troughs offer a cost-effective solution for animal care due to their durability and low maintenance requirements. This reduces replacement expenses and provides a strong return on investment over time. With proper care, these troughs can last for many years, making them a reliable long-term option for animal management.
  

• Promote Healthy Environment: By providing practical, functional, modern washing facilities, schools can promote better hand washing habits. The result of improved hand washing, combined with a more sanitary setting, will actively reduce the spread of germs and bacteria – keeping sickness absences to a minimum and teachers and children in the classroom.
  

• Easy to Install: Stainless steel troughs are also incredibly easy to install, making them a convenient choice for both new projects and retrofits. Due to their lightweight nature and modular design, they can be fitted quickly with minimal disruption. Whether intended for indoor or outdoor use, these troughs require less labour and fewer tools for installation compared to other materials. Their prefabricated construction often comes with adjustable fittings, allowing for simple customization to different spaces. This reduces installation time, labour costs, and potential downtime, ensuring a hassle-free setup that gets your facilities up and running efficiently.
  
  
• They Look Great: Stainless steel is as modern as it is timeless, and its sleek, chic aesthetics will pair perfectly with the surrounding decor or architecture of any educational setting.

Comparing Stainless Steel to Other Materials

Plastic vs. Stainless Steel: Stainless steel surpasses plastic when it comes to superior durability and longevity. Plastic troughs, while lightweight and cost-effective, are prone to cracking, warping, and degradation over time, especially when exposed to extreme weather conditions. In contrast, stainless steel is highly resistant to environmental wear and tear, maintaining its structural integrity for much longer. This makes it a more reliable investment, as it reduces the need for frequent replacements. Additionally, stainless steel is non-porous, which means it doesn’t harbour bacteria, making it a more hygienic option for animal care and other uses.

Concrete vs. Stainless Steel: Compared to concrete troughs, stainless steel offers distinct advantages in terms of hygiene, weight, and ease of maintenance. While concrete is undeniably heavy-duty, it is porous and can absorb contaminants, leading to potential hygiene issues. Stainless steel, on the other hand, is non-porous and easy to clean, providing a more sanitary environment. Moreover, stainless steel is much lighter than concrete, making it easier to install and move as needed. Its sleek surface also requires less maintenance, as it resists stains, corrosion, and damage more effectively than concrete.

Choosing the Right Stainless Steel Trough For Your School

When picking out stainless troughs for your school, remember to factor in the following key considerations: 

• Size & Capacity: Choosing the appropriate size and capacity for your stainless steel trough is essential. Take into account the expected volume of use, the available space, and the specific needs of your commercial environment. Stainless steel troughs are offered in a range of sizes and configurations, including single, double, and triple bowls. Carefully assess your requirements and select a trough that provides sufficient capacity while making efficient use of the available space.
  

• Configuration Options: Stainless steel troughs come in various configurations tailored to meet specific needs. Evaluate your workflow to determine whether a single bowl or multi-bowl trough best fits your operations. Also, consider additional features such as integrated drainage boards, splashbacks, and faucet holes that can enhance functionality and streamline workflow efficiency.
  
  
• Quality & Brand Reputation: When selecting a stainless steel trough, it’s important to consider the brand's reputation and quality. Look for reputable manufacturers known for producing reliable, high-quality products. Research customer reviews and seek recommendations to ensure you invest in a trough that will stand the test of time.

Talk to Stainless Express About Your Stainless Steel Trough Requirements

Besides drinking troughs and hand wash troughs, Stainless Express also offers art troughs, foot wash troughs, surgeon’s scrub troughs, and much more. You can check out our full range of products and projects here. 

Stainless Express is globally recognized as one of the leading innovators in the design and fabrication of stainless steel products, commercial-grade plumbing fixtures, and architectural fittings. We pride ourselves on the exceptional high quality of our products as well as our excellent customer service. If you require any assistance, don’t be afraid to get in touch with us directly.