Oras - Blog

Customer story: an innovative way to achieve a sustainable shower experience at Break Sokos Hotel Flamingo

Oras — Fri, 24 May 2024 12:11:07 GMT

A one-minute hot shower can use more energy than the average household uses for lighting throughout the day. To solve this problem, Oras and the S Group launched a pilot project in February 2023. During the pilot, guests at Break Sokos Hotel Flamingo saved an average of 13% in water and energy. Located in Vantaa, Break Sokos Hotel Flamingo is one of the largest hotels in Finland.

The starting point:

Oras and S Group launched a six-month pilot project to study the impact of real-time feedback on water consumption.

Oras equipped around 100 hotel rooms with Oras Hydractiva Digital hand showers. The operating principle of the hand-held shower is simple: a small water turbine powers a display and indicator light. The shower user can monitor their water and energy consumption in real-time on the screen.

During the pilot, Oras and the S Group compared two identical floors in a hotel.

A leaflet was displayed in the rooms on one floor explaining the purpose of the digital hand shower and the aim of saving water. Guests were free to use the shower as long as they wanted, but real-time feedback encouraged them to reduce their shower use. There was no financial benefit to the guests for reducing water use.

There were no information sheets on the second floor, and the showers did not display feedback.

Results:

Digital showers offer both environmental and economic benefits and significant savings. Guests saved an average of 13% water and energy over the 6-month pilot. In the best month, consumption was more than 20% lower than in comparison rooms without the feedback on consumption. The pilot achieved 46% savings per shower compared to the European average.

The results support the UN Agenda 2030 and the S Group's sustainability strategy. Sokos Hotels has been voted the most sustainable hotel chain in Finland by consumers ten times in a row.

In addition, the feedback from hotel guests has been positive and encouraging: many have wanted to participate in water-saving initiatives.

In the future, the aim is to improve the results through better room communication and a 30-litre target for showers.

Next steps:

Positive experiences have encouraged the S Group to expand the use of digital showers. The plan is to triple the number of showers in the Vantaa location.

In spring 2024, another hotel owned by the S Group will join the project. The digital showers will be available to hotel guests in all rooms.

The next step will be a pilot project to test the impact of rewards on responsible shower use.

"Finally, we were able to do something concrete for sustainability. With the digital hand shower, hotel guests feel that sustainablee showering makes a difference. At best, hotel guests achieved savings of more than 20% in water and energy consumption at Break Sokos Hotel Flamingo."

Trial : the Break Sokos Hotel Flamingo used the Oras digital hand shower for 6 months.

Result: average water and energy savings of over 13%.

Architecting a flagship faucet experience onboard one of the world’s most climate-smart passenger ships

Oras — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 08:00:00 GMT

When Viking Line planned the design and interior of its new passenger cruise ship, Viking Glory, equipping the 222-metre vessel’s bathrooms and kitchens with the right choice of faucets was a smooth sailing process. Putting environment and comfort first, Viking Line naturally turned to Oras as the reliable partner to help them deliver a variety of faucet solutions renowned for being user- and environmentally friendly.

Thanks to advanced, innovative technological solutions, Viking Glory, which will sail passengers from Finland and Sweden, including some international passengers, is set to become the world’s most environmentally friendly passenger ship. From bow to stern, no compromise was made ensuring the highest standards of comfort, safety and sustainability were upheld onboard the vessel – and where else to look for evidence of this other than the faucets?

The challenge: Designing an interior anchored in style and sustainability

At the helm of coordinating interior design for Viking Glory and responsible for the planning of crew areas and cabins was, Architect, Johan Nordberg. He was tasked with the challenge of designing an interior that would spark continued interest amongst passengers in travelling on Viking Line ships.

This meant installing a variety of faucet solutions that echoed Viking Glory’s taste for Nordic maritime, timeless thinking and understated luxury. As well as achieving the right aesthetic, a ship of this calibre also required innovative and sustainable faucet solutions to live up to its pledge of being the world’s most environmentally friendly passenger ship.

The solution: A familiar faucet delivered by a reliable partner

Oras was selected as the obvious partner to provide faucet solutions for Viking Glory’s bathrooms and kitchens. With a variety of Oras faucet solutions installed on Viking Line’s older fleet, ship personnel were already familiar with them.

“Oras is a renowned manufacturer that we have been using since the 1980s, which meant it felt natural to continue this relationship.”

By partnering up, Viking Line combined their extensive expertise of ship projects with Oras’ customised support and solutions. Models were agreed early in the project to avoid logistical delays between Finland and the Shipbuilding yard in China. Due to well-organised planning, Oras products and solutions arrived on schedule.

The project placed high importance on installing familiar products with a reputation for sustainable innovation. For this reason, Oras Safira washbasin faucets were chosen for the cabins. Their sleek, universal design and sustainable 6l/min water consumption made them the perfect choice, striking the right balance between comfort and style while helping save water and energy on board the vessel.

Oras Cubista shower system Oras Nova shower faucet with shower set

A wide range of shower sets and systems enabled the Viking Line team to tailor installations to their visitors’ needs and the vessel’s individual requirements, finding a perfect match for every bathroom layout. By selecting the Oras Nova shower solutions, for example, guests get to enjoy both timeless design and functional features that ensure uniquely comfortable, safe and ecofriendly shower experiences.

With touchless fittings, water consumption can be reduced by half, while user-friendliness and hygiene rise to new heights. For these reasons, the Oras Cubista range was selected for public WCs and kitchens. The touchless technology will help Viking Line’s new ship deliver on its commitment to safety and responsible operations, as it prepares to welcome passengers in a post-pandemic and climate-concerned world.

The result: All hands on deck: A ship with a new design and a unique interior

A few delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic meant that the ship was finally delivered in February 2022, six and a half years after plans for the ship commenced. The newly designed vessel brought a familiar yet striking interior that went down well with passengers.

With the overall goal to deliver the most environmentally friendly passenger ship ever built, Viking Line looks back on a successful building project that upheld Viking Glory’s commitment to passenger safety and comfort, whilst saving energy and water consumption onboard the vessel of tomorrow.

The customized faucet solutions that brought the historic Kakola area to life creating a unique experience and preserving cultural heritage

Oras — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 08:00:00 GMT

How a wide variety of Oras’ faucet solutions helped preserve the cultural heritage of the famous Kakola area throughout the project’s construction phase.

The Kakolanmäki area is one of the most historical landmarks in Finland. Centred in the city of Turku, on top of the Kakola hill, lies the famous former prison complex, which used to be home to some of the country’s most infamous criminals.

Ever since the prison was moved to a new location in the early 2000s, the area has turned into a trendy neighbourhood with around 260 modern apartments, restaurants, and the boutique hotel, Kakola Hotel, with its congress facilities.

The challenge: Conserving the site’s historic charm and local environment

“The easiest part was purchasing the site from the state, after that, things became a little more complex”, explains Olli Ojala, chair of the board and property advisor at Kakola Group.

Transferred to the Kakola Group’s ownership in 2015, redesigning the former prison to a high-end home and hotel area meant following strict requirements. After all, the historic site forms a unique entity and covers 50,000-floor square metres of old and protected buildings, subject to supervision by the Finnish Heritage Agency.

This meant that all construction plans had to be approved before they could be implemented, a demanding task for the construction of the 260 apartment homes and 150 hotel rooms featured by the project.

Meanwhile, protecting the site’s environmental and cultural heritage was one of the project’s key priorities. This involved saving valuable resources and minimising the water and energy consumption of the project.

The solution: Combining the group’s local expertise with customised support and a wide variety of faucets

Set out to integrate sustainability into their overall architecture, the project underwent complex soil decontamination and rezoning processes. It also placed high importance on installing advanced resource-saving installations. This allowed them to meet key requirements of strict green building certifications, such as LEED and BREEAM, and simultaneously provide a pleasing, luxurious experience to guests.

“We wanted to keep water consumption as low as possible, but without compromising on comfort”, says Ojala.

By partnering up, the Kakola Group combined their local expertise with Oras’ customised support and solutions. Carrying out projects of protected sites for 40 years, the Kakola Group was well-experienced in accommodating the specific conditions of the project. Meanwhile, Oras’ expertise in developing water-saving installations provided guidance to select the perfect solution in each context – from luxurious hotel bathroom fixtures to kitchen faucets installed in the surrounding apartment complexes.

The perfect solution for each context: The hotel bathrooms feature Oras Safira faucets in matt black. The apartments were fitted with Oras Optima kitchen faucets.

“We explained our criteria for the water fixtures and the Oras representative brought a number of models to show us. Decision-making proved easy as we were able to choose independently in a small group with the owner-family”, Ojala continues.

Aware that maintaining the historic context of the region was a key priority, Oras focused on supplying water infrastructure that conserves the site’s ecosystem and guarantees the quality, lifespan and availability of spare parts needed to ensure continuity and maintainability to the hotel.

A final touch – Authentic design with diverse design lines

Alongside the financial investment, the primary goal of the project was of cultural nature. The hotel, for example, offers special ‘cell rooms’ that are designed to play on the building’s former life as a prison. For this, specific faucets that create as authentic as possible experience for adventurous guests was required. That’s why the faucets chosen for this section maintain a simple design and only have a cold-water supply.

Oras cold water faucet in a 'cell room.'

For the remaining installations, matt black faucets were chosen that perfectly align with the hotel’s overall interior.

“We chose the Oras Safira and Oras Optima product families. The matt black colour goes well with the hotel's colour scheme, which was inspired by the site’s unique history”, explains Ojala.

The matt black fittings were chosen to match the hotel's colour scheme, which was inspired by the site’s unique history: Oras Optima shower system and Safira washbasin faucet.

The design of shower and washbasin faucets creates a pleasingly simple aesthetic and is particularly easy to use and maintain.

The result: Perfect alignment down to the last detail

The Kakola project did not only bring new life to the Kakolanmäki region and found a new purpose for the historic landmark. It also showed the Kakola Group’s dedication to finding the perfect solution for each context.

With the overall goal in mind to create an authentic, top-notch hotel and apartment experience, the group looks back on a successful renovation project that conserves the local environment and regenerates the site’s unique charm – visible in each of the fixture’s details.

Touchless faucets help Norwegian school meet sustainability goals

Oras — Wed, 26 May 2021 06:00:00 GMT

To ensure the newly built school followed strict energy and water-saving requirements, Oras touchless faucets provided the best solution.

The wood-clad Ydalir school is a newly built complex in the Norwegian region of Hedmark – known for its timber-rich extensive woodlands – and comprises a sports hall and a kindergarten. Behind the project, local firm Ola Roald Arkitektur designed the building as part of a zero-emission neighbourhood funded by the Norwegian government, which will include over 1000 new homes, all built with sustainability in mind.

Experienced plumbers at YC Rør, who have been supplying the region with high-quality water systems since 2006, were responsible for the 8,400-square-metre school and chose to fit the space with Oras fixtures.

Most classrooms at Ydalir school and kindergarten have two Oras touchless faucets installed liked this.

“Oras could supply the kind of products that met all the requirements at very short notice,” says YC Rør project manager Morten Pedersen, “so it was an obvious choice for us.”

Energy and water-savings become a reality

The school was awarded the Norwegian BREEAM-NOR certification thanks to the building’s environmental performance and sustainable solutions. YC Rør minimised energy use in transporting water across the building and ensured that both water and lights are activated and deactivated through smart motion sensors.

When it came to bathroom and kitchen faucets, YC Rør teamed up with Oras to meet the strict energy water-saving requirements and fitted the space with Oras Electra washbasin faucets.

Thanks to the integrated touchless sensors, the faucets can ensure teachers and schoolchildren high levels of hygiene. And by activating only when used, the fixtures can cut the building’s water by half and help reduce the building’s overall energy consumption. Oras Electra faucets also come with integrated Bluetooth, allowing users to connect the faucet to an app and schedule automatic flushing to prevent water from stagnating in the system.

Oras Electra touchless faucet in one of the school’s bathrooms.

Experts in the field

Oras was pleased for the opportunity to bring its expertise to the table. And for YC Rør project manager Morten Pedersen, Oras proved an impeccable partner and an expert in the field.

“We have been on site one day per month for the past year making sure all technical solutions worked as intended through the seasons,” he says, “we’ve had no issues and all products from Oras work perfectly.”

Touchless smart faucets with automatic flushing land at Berlin’s new airport

Oras — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 08:00:00 GMT

Set to become one of Germany’s busiest transport hubs, the recently inaugurated Berlin Brandenburg Airport BER is located in Schönefeld, south of the city. With plans to further expand by 2035 and accommodate up to 58 million passengers per year, the airport is undergoing major renovation and construction – and working to ensure the highest hygiene standards.

© Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH / Günter Wicker

The challenge: Reducing stagnation in the drinking water network

With millions of passengers expected to travel through Berlin Brandenburg each year, facility manager Eiko Werth came up with a solution: equip the airport’s 200 sanitary rooms with touchless faucets that flush automatically.

“We needed to reduce stagnation in the drinking water network as much as possible, and it was important for the process to be automatic,” Werth explains.

Unlike the old fixtures, which required manual flushing to keep the installation clean, smart faucets with automatic flushing can reduce stagnation in the drinking water network and ensure compliance with drinking water hygiene requirements.

Much like an autopilot makes adjustments based on external factors to ensure a plane arrives smoothly at its destination, smart faucets enable adjustments to the frequency of the automatic flushing based on use over time — ensuring maximum hygiene and longevity in the system.

Wall-mounted touchless faucet installed in Berlin airport.

The solution: Choosing the right smart faucets for optimized automatic flushing

Did you know?

In the central Europe, Oras products are sold under the HANSA name, but Oras and HANSA are sister brands under Oras Group, sharing a combined mission to create the smartest water experiences for everyone.

Bringing over 25 years of experience, HANSA sales representative Uwe Hetzschold worked with the facility management at Berlin Brandenburg to understand the solutions HANSA faucets could provide. And after comparing faucets from several manufactures, the team picked high-performing HANSAELECTRA (Oras Electra) fixtures. Unlike other touchless faucets, HANSAELECTRA (Oras Electra) are equipped with Bluetooth technology, which can help prevent stagnation in drinking water systems through automatic flushing.

With clearance given to HANSA, 250 touchless HANSAELECTRA 64432219 (Oras Electra 6250FZ )with Bluetooth functionality were installed in the sanitary rooms of the new Terminal 1. A further 15 wall-mounted HANSAELECTRA 00880010 (Oras Electra 6189Z ) were installed during the renovation of the former Schönefeld airport, now Berlin Brandenburg’s Terminal 5.

Speaking of the installation process, Eiko Wert mentioned an initial hurdle caused by the insufficient tap hole size in the barrier-free toilets. Nevertheless, the team at Berlin Brandenburg were able to complete the installation of the 250 HANSA faucets within 6 weeks. Here, the Hansa Connect app (Oras App), which works with the faucet’s integrated Bluetooth technology, helped with the programming, as flushing programs could be saved individually and transferred to the faucets.

Touchless washbasin faucet with Bluetooth in Terminal 1

The result: Hygienic, automatic flushing systems in sanitary rooms

The arrival of touchless faucets that perform automatic flushing paved the way to an hygienic and efficient water system. The faucets’ touchless technology will help Berlin’s new transport hub save water and improve hygiene, as it prepares to welcome passengers in a post-pandemic world.

Along with being theft- and vandal-proof, the faucets are quick and easy to clean, further elevating hygiene standards while saving time and money in an industry that has no time for delays.

Touchless faucets ensure hygiene in Hillerød Forsyning

Oras — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 12:04:00 GMT

Hillerød Forsyning has good control over cleanliness in the new administration building, where waste water and drinking water employees are gathered under the same roof. One of the resources are the touchless Oras fittings in the strictly separated departments.

Hillerød Forsyning's new administration building accommodates around 100 employees and lies at the southern outer edge of Hillerød, where the water supply and the waste water departments have been located, together with waste handling and a large recycling site. Previously the departments were separated.

We are exposed to infection all the time, e.g. on public transport, in day-care facilities, in care homes, in schools and at workplaces - where we try to keep ourselves healthy and reduce sick leave. But a simple sneeze in the hand can mean that several others get infected. Because the sneeze in the hand contains infection, which is transmitted when you grab a door handle or faucet, the infection is quickly passed on to one or more others.

The water supply and waste water departments are separate

- Water supply and waste water are two worlds which must not be combined, says project leader Henrik Prühs, Hillerød Forsyning. Waste water is a source of water with the highest risk of infection from rats and other animals in the open country, whilst drinking water is regarded as a food.

- The challenge was to get a waste water and a drinking water personnel under the same roof when planning the new building for the administration and operating personnel. Therefore the two departments were located at each end of the new building, with all of the administrative functions in the middle. This is so that the operating personnel in the two departments cannot meet until they have passed through their respective shower departments, explains the project leader.

- After the tender we selected 16 touchless Oras shower fittings for the bathrooms, among other things. The aim was to reduce the possibilities of infection so that the employees could maintain their health. And it has worked, concludes project leader Henrik Prühs.

Oras is the market leader in touchless and electronic fittings

Over 30 years ago the Finnish company Oras put the first touchless fittings on the market. Oras is therefore market leader in touchless and electronic fittings, with 5 product series in the programme:

Oras has decided to produce the series in a timeless design and for different applications - showers, washbasins and kitchens - both for private homes and public places.

- The touchless fittings have the big advantage that they save both water and energy because they automatically shut off the water when it is not used. And although the user should not touch the fittings, they are easy to clean, so there is an optimum degree of hygiene, says Country Manager Kasper Sixtus Thomsen, Oras Armatur A/S.

Quality is in the details in the New Children's Hospital in Helsinki

Oras — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 10:47:00 GMT

The new children's hospital in Helsinki started its operations in September 2018, and both the premises and the technology are world class. Each detail has been carefully designed according to its purpose of use.

When you step through the main entrance of the hospital located in Meilahti, Helsinki, a tap by Oras is the first thing that greets you. It is there for cleaning wheelchairs and it reflects the idea of the entire building: each detail has been considered.

Oras has donated all the taps in the hospital. The donation included several hundreds of taps, as just about every room in the premises, which includes 118 patient rooms and 220 reception or rehabilitation facilities, has at least one water point.

"This is a large collaborative project and we wanted to be a part of it. Uponor is another company in the field of Finnish building technology that has provided the project with its competence," says Marko Sundholm, Country Manager of Oras Finland.

Sundholm is impressed by the new hospital.

"This is really fantastic. The selected materials are natural, which makes the building approachable. This is important to children who may be afraid of the sterile environment of a hospital. The hospital is a great reference for us, as it will certainly be well-known around the world."

Hygiene first

As with everything else, also the water fixtures have been selected with great attention to detail. The ideal tap has been selected for each location. Oras has developed portfolios that offer solutions for various premises.

"For example, in premises where the doctors use the taps, hygiene is number one, and in these cases touch-free taps are the right choice. In patient rooms, on the other hand, the nurses must wash their hands and the patients should be able to take water to drink, so hybrid taps have been chosen for these," says Oras' Category Manager Juhani Lempinen, listing some of the choices.

According to research, 80% of microbes spread between humans either by direct touch or indirect contact. In hospital conditions, good hygiene saves human lives. The indirect risk of transmitting microbes can be significantly mitigated near hand washing stations by using touch-free taps.

Exceptional situations will also be prepared for. Illnesses caused by e.g. legionella bacterium are prevented with laminar water flow. In household use, taps often have an aerator that mixes air into the water flow, but laminar flow has no air and thus it does not spray water around. This helps mitigate the risk of spreading microbes with the water to the surrounding areas and air.

Users as product developers

Products by Oras are used in many Nordic hospitals.

"Together with other operators, we have developed international networks through which we have planned products for hospitals. The end users are included in planning and they provide the basis for product development.

In the new children's hospital, model rooms were built in the parking garage, and with their help user needs were comprehensively reviewed. Lempinen sees the hospital projects as an important part of product development.

"In hospitals, we can develop the most advanced parts of our product portfolio: bring electronics and multi-purpose features to taps, which will then gradually also start to be introduced elsewhere," he says.

The surgical hand washing station offers something for everyone: different taps for different preferences.

The surgical hand washing station presents both touchless faucets and more traditional faucets with long lever which can be opened without touch or with an elbow – thus maximizing the hygiene.

Hospital's HVAC supervisor Mika Eloranta from Haahtela Oy gave a tour to Oras sales representative Juhani Karhula and country manager Marko Sundholm

Patient bathroom with Oras Safira 1096F and disinfection proof Bidetta hand shower.

Patient room

Oras Safira 1096F washbasin faucet and disinfection proof Bidetta hand shower.

Oras has over thirty years' experience in producing touchless taps. The taps' surfaces have been designed so that they are easy to keep clean, which also increases the level of hygiene.

Oras Electra touchless wahbasin faucet

Spotlight on hygiene – Oras chosen for ultra-modern hospital in Sweden

Oras — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 09:09:35 GMT

Helsingborgs Lasarett is undergoing a total transformation and the refit is in full swing. There are many factors to take into account when planning a hospital that has to be highly functional and able to meet future demand for modern wards and treatment methods. The choice of supplier plays an important role in ensuring the right level of hygiene and quality, as do questions about exactly what functions are needed.

Fojab Arkitekter and BSK Arkitekter have joint responsibility for transforming the main building at Helsingborgs Lasarett.

The first phase of the development was the east wing in the hospital’s distinctive cruciform building. The wing has a floorspace of 12,000 m2 and has undergone a complete refurbishment, with a new and larger fan room on the roof, new external walls and new electrical and telecom systems, sprinklers and HVAC installations, including one ventilation system per floor. Everything except the floor structure, pillars, stairs and lifts has been entirely refitted. The basic criterion has been to create care that is close to patients, for example by placing receptions in central locations and using glass walls as widely as possible, in order to make best use of natural light. “From each reception desk, you can see 6–9 rooms, which is exactly what was required,” explains Anna Hjort, lead architect at Fojab.

Wards and hygiene rooms

Several challenges have had to be overcome in designing the wards. Space is often tight and it is sometimes tough to plan for actions such as swinging beds around. The hygiene rooms on the wards also have to be adapted for wheelchair access. Korpinen’s corner basin was fitted to free up more space and make optimum use of the area available. The chosen faucet is the Oras Medipro 5510A, a single lever faucet with a functional design and plenty of room under the spout. The tap is designed for easy cleaning, with rounded surfaces and a minimum of joints where dirt can collect. Nickel-free pipes and a laminar flow allow for installation in hygiene classes 2 and 3 in line with the Swedish Association for Infection Control’s BOV guidelines. The wall of the hygiene room is lined with a plastic matting that is easy to clean.

Staff washbasin

Adjacent to each ward, staff have their own washbasin fitted into a niche – the result of a collaboration between the architect and Korpinen. This basin is fitted with the touchless Oras Electra 6334FT, while other washbasins in the departments have the touchless Oras Electra 6222F. It is naturally important to ensure as high a level of hygiene as possible for staff, and a touchless faucet gives hygiene standards a considerable boost. It is absolutely essential to avoid becoming contaminated and passing infections on.

“The products need to meet the BOV guidelines with regard to factors such as laminar flow. Flushing at 24-hour intervals is also an important function for minimising growth of legionella bacteria, for example. It has also been crucial that the water flow from the faucet doesn’t hit the washbasin’s drain, as there may be bacteria in the strainer that could splash up onto the basin surround,” says Maria Wallin, head of Heating and Sanitation at Sweco Systems.

Supplier choice

“When choosing a supplier, we looked at various ranges of touchless faucets and their functions. Oras has a wide range and the faucets live up to our functional requirements very well. We also have previous experience of Oras’ excellent support,” says Maria.

At the start of the project, several tests were carried out in a test room. It felt important that this worked as a collaborative job between client and contractor. Some of the material needed to be adapted and it was essential that everyone involved was solution-oriented.

Next up is the north wing, which will feature the new touchless faucet Oras Medipro 5521F. “The fact that this faucet can also be adjusted via Oras App is a real bonus. As well as monitoring water consumption and so on, operational staff will be able to adjust the values, set automatic flushing, etc. on their smartphones,” continues Maria.

About Helsingborg’s hospital of the future:

Refit: 74,000 m2

Newbuild: 45,000 m2

Began in 2014, estimated completion 2027

In the higher section of the main building, the east wing was first on the list, to be followed by a refit of the north, south and finally west wing.

The hospital has around 3,000 employees and 300 beds.

About the Oras Medipro series:

Oras Medipro is a series of faucets designed specifically for hospitals, medical centres and nursing homes. All the faucets in the Oras Medipro series meet the requirements set out in the 3rd edition of the BOV guidelines on construction and infection control.

Find out more about Oras’ faucet solutions for the health sector.

Maria Wallin, Head of Heating and Sanitation at Sweco Systems

Anna Hjort, Lead architect at Fojab

Oras Electra 6334FT

Oras Medipro 5521F

Oras Medipro 5510A

The Centre for the Meeting of Cultures in Lublin with Oras products

Oras — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 03:41:15 GMT

Oras products are ideally suited for private homes and public buildings such as the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures in Lublin, which has been equipped with modern and functional sanitary fittings made by the Finnish brand Oras. Touchless faucets installed in bathrooms have sent the level of hygiene to new heights while reducing water consumption and monthly maintenance costs.

The construction of the Centre started in 1974 and ended in 2015. This institution is a venue where youth and adults engage with the arts, learn about culture and new ways of thinking. It is a platform for inspiring interest, promoting diversity and building a sense of community. Officially opened in 2017, the facility has an area of 23,544.97 m2 and houses an opera, a cinema, a chamber and a ballet hall. It also features a bar, a restaurant and a cafe which are perfect for meetings and invite long, meaningful conversations about the arts.

Sanitary rooms in the building are fitted with electronic faucets by Oras. Their advanced technology enables water savings of 50% and ensures the highest standards of hygiene. The fittings come with motion sensors which start and stop the flow of water when needed. With drops of water kept away from their surface, the faucets remain impeccably clean and elegant at all times, thus offering a greater comfort and convenience to its users.

Products:
Oras Electra 6125F

Oras Cubista 221250

Oslo Airport chooses Oras again - Quality and reliability crucial

Oras — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 07:58:07 GMT

Touchless solutions from Oras Norway were chosen when Oslo Airport was extended 20 years ago, and chosen again for Terminal 2 when it was officially opened 27^th of April 2017. “We are indeed very proud, that goes without saying,” says Country Manager Lars Erik Fossum at Oras Norway.

Oras was chosen to supply touchless fittings when Oslo Airport, the new principal airport, took over from Fornebu in 1998. And now, 20 years later, the old facilities have been refurbished and new ones have been added. And again, Oras faucets were the fittings of choice.

“Of course, we are very pleased and proud to have been chosen to supply fittings again,” says Fossum.

Quality and reliability

Oras has been chosen to supply more fittings after 20 years of demanding service at the second largest airport in the Nordic region, and that says a lot for the quality and reliability on offer.

“We have a huge amount of traffic through the airport, and choosing touchless faucets was a visionary move back in 1998. Choosing just single lever faucets would have increased operating costs by a potential amount of up to one full-time equivalents just to operate the faucets,” explains Works engineer Jon Henning Kristoffersen, who is responsible for site sanitation.

Some 500 faucets, the majority of which are touchless Electra models, are in use in various bathrooms at both Terminal 2 and the original terminal building.

A good choice

Oras has been supplying excellent hand hygiene and saving vast amounts of water over the years since the airport opened in 1998. One of the major advantages of touchless solutions is the hygiene aspect and the opportunity to reduce water consumption. Making the most of the advantages of the Oras Electra series has saved both time and money for Avinor, which owns and runs the airport.

"We expect to save one full-time equivalent, and in the long run touchless solutions are far superior to the conventional models when it comes to durability,” explains Kristoffersen.

“We transport pre-mixed water out to the faucets. Allowing users themselves to adjust the temperature would cause far too much wear and tear,” says Kristoffersen.

Pioneering Norwegian enterprise

Oslo Airport at Gardermoen was one of the first really huge projects involving touchless faucets in Norway. Then, as now, the faucets simply had to work, that was key. There is no time for hassle or delays at an airport terminal.
“We were incredibly proud to have been selected as the supplier to the airport development project 20 years ago,” says Fossum, “but now, almost 20 years later, having been selected again to supply Gardermoen Terminal 2, we believe this is clear proof that our touchless faucets offer a durability and quality that simply allows them to go on working year after year despite heavy usage.”

“Touchless solutions were quite unknown when the airport opened in 1988. We were early to market with touchless solutions, and we saw that there was a lot of fumbling among users at first. But now I think nobody wants to go back to using levers on faucets,” smiles Kristoffersen.

Quality and safety

Surveys of usage frequency have been carried out in the toilets. There are 12 ladies’ toilets in the old departure hall. 600 visits an hour have been recorded, with peaks of up to 1200 visits an hour. It is estimated that there are 24 million visitors to the airport each year, so quality is crucial if things are to keep flowing.
“Of course, this is a demanding task. We have also learned over the years what works where. Most of our faucets are from Oras, but we do use other suppliers as well. Electra 6100 faucets account for 75 per cent of the total,” says Kristoffersen.

Great features developed over three decades at Oras

When servicing is required, for example, there is no need to shut down an entire row of faucets. The faucet in question is simply removed and repaired or replaced, and the other faucets work as usual. Faucets that are not used for a period of 12 hours, for example, are flushed through automatically for about 30 seconds. Clean, fresh water must always be available in all faucets to meet the needs of passengers.
Efficient operation and adaptation to the client’s specifications are possible here. Lars Erik points out that this product also offers some particularly great features when it comes to long-term operation.

A matter of trust

“This project shows that our technology can be relied on for projects of all sizes, and that we are a secure supplier that people can count on for decades to come. “We are modest about the enormous trust shown in us, and we are pleased to have completed the project in a way that maintains hygiene for passengers while also making the solution economical for Avinor to run,” says Lars Erik Fossum.
More information and technical specifications can be found at oras.com

Swedbank Head Office, Vilnius, Lithuania

Oras — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 14:17:00 GMT

The modern office building consists of two 15 and 16 story structures and of a third lower structure, comprising of two blocks. The streamlined office building includes Swedbank head office and cafeterias.

In the restrooms of the building, the employees and visitors are served by Oras touchless smart faucets.

Shopping center Galeria Korona, Poland

Oras — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 05:07:00 GMT

Shopping center Galeria Korona, a modern landmark built near the city center in Kielce, Poland, is one of the many Oras' smart faucet references in 2012.

The construction project started in 2007 and the shopping center was opened in May 2012. With the total surface of 93 500 m2 the streamlined shopping center houses 160 to 170 shops, restaurants, gym clubs and a cinema.
Toilets in the shopping center are equipped with Oras' smart faucets: Oras Cubista 2824F's and Oras Electra 6222F's. These faucets operate automatically which improves the customers' hand hygiene and also helps in keeping the restrooms tidy.

Altogether there are 105 Oras' faucets in the building, most of them Oras' touchless smart faucets.

Naantali Spa Hotel & Sunborn Yacht, Finland

Oras — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 06:14:15 GMT

Located by the sea, Naantali Spa Hotel is a popular business meeting, recreation and holiday destination. The Spa Hotel has also a unique, floating hotel Sunborn Yacht, a five-star cruise ship. In the Spa, there are four Finnish saunas and a steamy, aromatic Turkish sauna. In addition, there are five swimming pools each offering a different bathing experience and an outdoor pool which is heated to 30°C all year round.

As one of the ‘Royal Spas of Europe', Naantali Spa also features in the list of 100 Best Spas in the World. The hotel's guest accommodation is generously proportioned and luxuriously appointed. Totally renewed in the year 2012 the Spa Hotel offers accommodation from luxury suites to larger family suites. All faucets in the Spa Hotel are made by Oras.

The new M/S Viking Grace – the greenest cruise ferry in the Baltic Sea

Oras — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 09:21:56 GMT

Representing the cutting-edge of the global cruise industry M/S Viking Grace was placed in traffic between the Finnish mainland, the Åland Islands and Sweden in January 2013. When designing the product and service concept of the ship, special attention was paid to the innovative experiences offered to the passengers, a new kind of design-thinking and environmentally friendly solutions. The entire ship concept represents new thinking that takes all senses into account.

The modern, streamlined interiors of the new ship were designed by interior architect Vertti Kivi.
Naturally the faucets at Viking Grace save water!

Faucet selection for Viking Grace was made carefully and in such way that the facilities comply with sustainable development and optimal environmental solutions. In the use of water the objective was the minimization of the quantity of waste water. All cabins are equipped with water saving faucets and showers. Also, toilet appliances are ecological.

Oras provides a wide collection of faucets and customized solutions for cruise ships.

The State Hermitage Museum, Russia

Oras — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:08:31 GMT

Today, modern facilities are a necessity also in historical buildings. Convenient and extremely smart Oras Ventura 8010 wash basin faucets in the Hermitage restrooms have both; single lever and touchless function.

Tuuri shopping center, Finland

Oras — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:07:54 GMT

The details of Tuuri shopping center’s toilet facilities are all about quality and glamour. For example, the toilet countertops are made of spectrolite and the general color scheme is luxurious and harmonious. The chandeliers are from the hotel Inter-Continental Ballroom. There are five crystal chandeliers at the women's side, and three pieces at the men’s.

The washbasins are crowned by specially manufactured touchless Oras Electra faucets.

Helsinki Music Center, Finland

Oras — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:06:40 GMT

Built on the shore bank of Töölö bay, Helsinki Music Center is truly a combination of grandeur and excellent building work. The home of Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Sibelius Academy includes several world-class concert halls with superb acoustics.

The core of the open lay-out building is a vineyard-like main concert hall with 1704 seats. The circular foyer of the grand hall and the lobby areas are also utilized as a café and exhibition space. In addition to the main concert hall there are six smaller concert halls in the building for 140-400 listeners.

Oras’ smart faucets were an obvious choice to the Helsinki Music Hall where high quality, good hygiene and user-friendliness are key criteria. The faucets of Oras Cubista collection met also the aesthetical demands of the venue.

The Bolshoi Theatre, Russia

Oras — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:06:16 GMT

World famous Bolshoi theatre was re-opened in October 2011 after an extensive six year renovation. Naturally also the restroom and shower facilities were updated. There are approximately 200 pieces of touchless Oras Electra 6150F smart faucets in the theatre along with hundreds of Oras’ showers and single lever faucets.

Sanitary facilities of the Tallinn Song Stage, Estonia

Oras — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:05:45 GMT

The largest mass events of Estonia are held in the Tallinn Song Stage. The venue hosts rock concerts, dance events and festivals. Since durability was one of the main criteria, touchless Oras Electra 6104 smart faucets and Oras Electra 6567 faucets for urinals were chosen for the new, modern toilet unit.

Pirbadet – Norway’s largest indoor water park

Oras — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:05:10 GMT

The spectacular water park houses both swimming and fitness activities, which combine to attract around half a million visits annually. Most of the attractions are in one large room, meaning young and old alike can enjoy time together.

Park’s 96 showers and 37 restrooms are equipped with Oras smart faucets and smart shower panels.

Greentoi-toilets for golf courses, Germany

Oras — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:04:26 GMT

Greentoi is an exceptional toilet concept, equipped with a complex and pollution free technology. Due to the independence of any electric current, water and drains, Greentoi toilets can be placed anywhere on the golf course.

Oras’ touchless, 6050F smart faucets were an obvious choice for Greentoi, since the faucets save water and energy and are easy to use, functional and reliable for everyone.

Gerdahallen Gym, Sweden

Oras — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:03:53 GMT

Gerdahallen is a training and health center in the city Lund, in Southern Sweden which is maintained by a foundation of Lund University. The leading multi-purpose training and health center’s bathrooms are equipped with Oras Electra smart touchless shower panels.

Malmö Arena, Sweden

Oras — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:00:35 GMT

Malmö Arena is a modern, multi-purpose venue for concerts and events. Opened in 2008, Malmö Arena has been a premier venue in the region for world-class sporting events, concerts, family shows, full-scale conferences and smaller meetings, wining and dining or a quick snack.

Oras Electra 6250F smart faucets were chosen in the restrooms.

Metalist Stadium Kharkiv, Ukraine

Oras — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 04:59:38 GMT

Stadium is the modern sport complex, with the main and sub-football fields, 6 gyms, health-recovering center and a hotel for the sportsmen. That`s why the Metalist stadium was one of the venues of UEFA EURO 2012 championship in Ukraine. The stadium has capacity for 40 000 people. Oras Electra touchless smart faucets were chosen for public conveniences on the stadium: about 230 pieces of 6150F installed on washbasins and 300 of 6567 on urinals.

Svolvær school, Norway

Oras — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 14:17:45 GMT

Vågan Municipality wanted to be at the forefront of development. Therefore, it was decided that during renovation Oras’ touchless smart faucets would be installed to Svolvær school.

- We wanted to create a modern and flexible school that was prepared for future use. A school is very vulnerable when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness, so it was important for us to have touchfree faucets in the school building, says Johnny Mosand, Project Manager Vågan Property in Vågan Municipality.

Important to be forward-looking

All locker rooms in the school have touchless showers. The only faucets in the school which are not touchless are in the kitchen sections. Mosand is convinced that in the future schools and kindergartens will require touchless faucets.

- It was important for us to be ahead of the trend. FSA sets stricter requirements for school and nursery buildings. These solutions for hygiene and safety are already available on the market, so it was natural to bring them into use, says Mosand.

The fully renovated, perhaps the most modern school of the nation was officially opened for school year 2012/2013 in August by the King Harald of Norway. Approximately 560 pupils in the elementary and secondary Svolvær school can now look forward to a school year in a unique environment.

Oras is the proud supplier of HVAC solutions

The Chief Marketing officer of Oras, Thomas Hanche-Olsen, is proud that Oras is part of the modern construction project.

- We are very pleased that the municipality invests in touchless smart faucets. This will make schools safer and more hygienic for both children and adults. As a bonus, the school will also be both more environmentally friendly and energy efficient in terms of water saving. Water savings are then a part of everyday life, without compromising comfort in any way, says Hanche-Olsen.

Steinvegen Kindergarten, Norway

Oras — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 14:16:30 GMT

Privately owned Steinvegen kindergarten in Leksvik focuses on giving the children healthy, safe and valuable everyday life. Frequent hand washing improves hygiene and prevents bacteria from spreading. In addition, Oras touchless smart faucets save water and energy and are easy and safe to use.

Ørland Main Air Station, Norway

Oras — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 14:15:14 GMT

Ørland is operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force and it is an important air base for Norway. The air station is the base of fighter aircraft, search and rescue helicopters and a location for E-3A Sentry AWACS. It is also the host of exercises and a training center with 95 000 overnight stays each year. Bathrooms are equipped with Oras Electra smart shower panels.

International Airport Kharkiv – A modern gateway to the world

Oras — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 14:14:33 GMT

Designed by the renowned German company “Airport Research Center”, the new terminal of International Airport Kharkiv was completed in 2011. New terminal has the most modern equipment both related to aviation facilities and to passengers’ comfort in the terminal. Thus public conveniences are equipped with Oras Electra touchless washbasin smart faucets, 6120F. Additionally, Oras single lever faucets with Bidetta hand shower can be found in child care rooms. Shower rooms in personnel area and pilots accommodation area are also equipped with Oras single lever faucets and Oras shower sets.

Arlanda Express – Rail link between Stockholm Central Station and Arlanda Airport

Oras — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 14:13:13 GMT

With Arlanda Express, it is possible to easily and comfortably travel from Stockholm Central Station to Arlanda Airport in just 20 minutes.

The streamlined express trains, with its bright yellow, tapered ends, are especially adapted for the Arlanda-Stockholm line, with everything this entails in terms of speed, punctuality, comfort and safety.

Service house Elsie, Sipoo, Finland

Oras — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 14:12:27 GMT

Elsie – house for elderly and disabled, owned by the Sipoo service house foundation and the municipality of Sipoo, provides the elderly and the disabled a possibility for independent living in secure, cozy, home-like environment. There are two group homes, rental apartments, community daytime activity center and a diner which can also be rented for meetings or group activities.

The faucet choices in service house Elsie were made carefully according the special needs of the residents enabling the best possible level of independent living. Oras provides plenty of faucet options and special solutions also for service houses. Good hygiene and user-friendliness are the most important requirements for faucets in service houses. That is why touchless smart faucets played a key role when choosing faucets to service house Elsie.

North Estonia Medical Centre, Estonia

Oras — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 14:11:07 GMT

North Estonia Medical Centre, a regional hospital located in Tallinn, Estonia, opened a new unit in 2010; called the X-block. Approx. 350 pieces of Oras Electra 6120F smart faucets were installed in the hospital in all patient rooms, general premises and doctors’ reception rooms. Oras Electra 6662FT-shower panels were chosen to the bathrooms and additionally Oras Electra 6105 smart faucets and over 100 Oras’ single lever and thermostatic faucets were installed in the premises. Important arguments for choosing Oras were recognized high quality, hygiene of the touchless faucets, savings in water consumption and safety.

University Hospital of Turku, Finland

Oras — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 11:13:41 GMT

The new T-hospital became fully operational in January 2013 with 14 operating rooms, intensive care unit, polyclinic premises, emergency room and imaging premises.

High level of hygiene will be achieved by Oras’ touchless smart faucets. All faucets and showers in the new T-hospital are provided by Oras.

University Hospital of Trondheim, Norway

Oras — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 11:10:05 GMT

The hospital cooperates closely with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in research and in education of medical doctors. The first clinical centers were completed in 2006. The entire hospital project will be completed in 2015.

Oras smart faucets were an obvious choice for the hospital environment which demands highest level of hygiene and convenience.

PGE Arena Gdansk, Poland

Oras — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Oras delivered faucets to PGE Arena

The PGE Arena Gdansk, Poland, has capacity for 43,615 spectators, all seated and roofed. It is used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Lechia Gdansk. PGE Arena Gdansk is the third largest arena in Poland. Construction of the stadium started in 2008 and was completed mid-2011.
The stadium is one of the designated venues for the finals of UEFA EURO 2012.