FAQ

Stainless steel is the most durable material for washrooms. Compared to other common used materials like ceramic or composite materials, stainless steel is extremely resistant against vandalism, fire such as marks from cigarettes, commonly used chemicals like acids and is impact resistant. The material is colour-neutral and can be combined with all other materials and colours. Stainless steel is hygienic and easy to clean. Additionally stainless steel is 100 % recyclable and therefore environmentally very friendly.

Remove any protective coating as soon as possible after installation. Stainless steel can age with exposure to light and heat. Avoid the use of liquids containing chloride, hydrochloric acids and abrasives. Brushes with bristles made of steel should also be avoided. Franke recommends the use of a wet microfibre cloth and the Franke stainless steel cleaners Twister, Inox-cream and Multiclean. Additionally vinegar diluted with water (20 % vinegar, 80 % water) can be used. Rinse off with clean, cold water after cleaning to remove the residue of cleaning materials.

Stainless steel can rust if the protecting passive layer on the surface gets damaged by the effects of external factors on the material. This can occur when the surface is in contact with chemicals like bromide, chloride or iodine. Please always use the mounting fixings delivered with the product such as the stainless steel screws and washers. Untreated welding marks can change the colour, this is not rust and does not affect the lifespan of the product.

This material is a stable compound consisting of approximately 80 % natural minerals such as calcium carbonate and quartz as well as approximately 20 % of a high-quality unsaturated polyester resin. The stable and fracture-resistant material has a smooth, pore-free and high-gloss exterior skin. The Gelcoat layer that provides the Alpine White colour is easy to clean, impact resistant, non-abrasive and offers good resistance to alkalines and acids. Even water temperatures up to 80°C will not harm the Gelcoat surface.

Sanitary products manufactured under the brand name MIRANIT can be classed under the generic term of "cast mineral products". Compared to other cast products such as ceramic sanitaryware MIRANIT products have the following advantages:

• Higher stability in terms of impact resistance and being shatter-proof.
• Clean shapes with good design and the use of small radii.
• A total length of 3.60 m can be achieved for niche washbasins.
• Damaged surfaces can be mended with special repair kits.

The Gelcoat surface is dirt repellent and particularly easy to care. In most cases a damp cloth is completely adequate for cleaning the washbasins, multiple washing facilities and cleaning basins. More serious soiling can be removed with mild, non-scouring cleaners. This also applies to colour pencil traces, shoe polish, ink, iodine solution and lipstick. Stains that could result from burning cigarettes, for example, can be removed with a polishing paste. For a sustained shine it is recommended to occasionally rub MIRANIT equipment products with commercially available car polish and then immediately repolish the treated surfaces. Any damage to the surface can be mended using a repair kit (EAN number 7612982005862) with which almost invisible repairs can be accomplished.

Franke is a manufacturer of fittings in the public and commercial sectors. We produce self-closing fittings that are specifically targeted towards the requirements for hygiene and ruggedness as well as saving water and energy. Safety against vandalism is also a significant factor and we meet these requirements as the equipment supplier for prisons.

Basically our products are operated and tested according to EN816 with drinking water. Provided that the water is filtered, non potable water can be used as well.

Self-closing fittings for facilities heavily frequented by anonymous users provide a much better service than conventional ones because of their automatic functionality. Hydraulically or electronically controlled fittings are available for washing facilities, showers and flushing systems and provide the means necessary for considerable water and energy conservation - either by pushbutton or completely touch-free.

Electronic fittings - for particularly effective conservation Opto-electronic fittings only dispense water when the user is in the sensor range. Shower electronics with Piezo-buttons also effectively reduce operating costs with split-second adjustment of the maximum flow duration and an integrated start/stop function. In addition, the use of electronic fittings enables a large number of special functions such as hygiene flushing, thermal disinfection, pre-flushing, the reduction of flow time independent of the frequency of use and more.

As the formulas of commercial cleaners are frequently changed, we can not guarantee that they treat the fittings gently. In general, observe the following for fitting maintenance:

• Only use cleaning agents that are intended for this application area
• Never use cleaners that contain hydrochloric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, chlorine bleach or acid cleaners (caution: stress corrosion) that might be used for cleaning ceramic wall and floor coverings 
• Mixing cleaning agents is generally not permitted 
• Do not use abrasive cleaning materials or equipment such as unsuitable abrasives, pads or microfibre cloths 
• Do not use high pressure cleaners 
• Apply a cleaner suitable for use with a cloth if fogging occurs

Cleaning method for chrome fitting surfaces

• Follow the instructions from the manufacturer of the cleaning agent
• Clean as required, i.e. depending on the degree of contamination (dirt and lime scale) and the area of use (e.g. food industry or service area) 
• Adjust the cleaning agent dosage and application time to the specific requirements 
• Do not leave the cleaning agent on for longer than necessary (maximum 30 minutes) 
• Rinse with clear water after cleaning and completely remove any remaining residues (as otherwise small black colourations become visible - long-term damage) 
• Never mechanically remove incrustations 
• Prevent the build up of lime scale by cleaning regularly 
• Never apply cleaning products directly to the fitting (if necessary, existing lime deposits can by removed by directly applying the cleaner on a cloth) 
• Never spray cleaning solution on the fittings but on the cleaning cloth as the spray  can penetrate the openings and columns of the fittings and cause damage 
• Body care products such as liquid soaps, shampoos and shower gels can cause damage and must be removed after use

If there are special certificates, these are available as a download in the product area. If the required certificate is not available, please contact our customer service department.

If the products are subject to a directive of the European Union, declarations of conformity are available as a download in the product area. If there is no Declaration of Conformity, please refer to the question: Why is a declaration of conformity (CE) only on some products?

At the moment, Franke products are subject to the following directives of the European Union: Construction Products Directive, EMC-directive (only when electronic components are contained), low voltage directive (only when operating voltage is higher than 50 V). For products, which are not subjected to one of these directives, there is no CE conformity and the CE mark must not be applied to the product. As a matter of course our products fulfil the actual technical guidelines and norms and all legislative requirements.

Franke endeavours to keep all approvals and certifications up to date and to publish them as a download in the product area. If a special certificate / approval is missing, please contact our customer service department.

The use of wrong materials can cause corrosion when getting in contact with stainless steel. Therefore Franke supplies stainless steel screws and dowels as a special service.

Concrete walls are the most common surface used for fixing the Franke grab rails. As special service Franke supplies the screws and dowels for these wall types together with the product. Because of the huge amount of possible wall types and surface finishes, we cannot offer fixings for this variety of surfaces. The correct fixing to the wall is an essential part of the overall product security and this is the responsibility of the installer.

Because of the large amount of available soaps we are not able to give suggestions for products to be used. Franke recommends the soaps offered by Franke. Please check the ingredients very carefully. Liquids in contact with stainless steel must not be strong acids or salts like chloride, bromide, iodine and similar chemicals. These chemicals in contact with stainless steel can cause corrosion. If your soap dispenser is equipped with a tank cover make sure that it is in place. Evaporating of ingredients can cause aggressive gases which also can be very corrosive. Disinfectants act very aggressively on the seals of the soap dispensers.

Because of the large amount of available disinfectants we are not able to give suggestions for products to be used. Please check the ingredients very carefully. Liquids in contact with stainless steel must not be strong acids or salts like chloride, bromide, iodine and similar chemicals. These chemicals in contact with stainless steel can cause corrosion. If your soap dispenser is equipped with a tank cover make sure that it is in place. Evaporating of ingredients can cause aggressive gases which also can be very corrosive. Disinfectants act very aggressively on the seals of the soap dispensers. If the pump gets damaged by the use of aggressive liquids, a replacement pump can be ordered from your local Franke partner.

Basically the Franke paper towel dispenser are designed in a way, that the maximum possible amount of paper types can be used. Please note the maximum dimensions that fit into your dispenser. Commonly known paper product manufacturers offer a huge amount of different paper types of different quality (1 - 3 layer) and sizes. Franke recommends the Franke paper towels (EAN number 7612210000393).

Franke recommends the use of high quality brand name batteries of the following types: Standard D 1.5 V batteries for paper towel dispensers, Alkaline AA 1.5 V batteries for soap dispensers, lithium CRP2 6 V batteries for taps.

The lifespan of batteries is dependant on a lot of different factors. Most important is the quality of the batteries used. Tests by Franke have showed that there is a dramatic difference between brand name products and un-branded products. Brand name products had up to ten times lifespan. Another factor is the amount of usage. Less used batteries have a smaller lifespan, because of the self-discharge. Large temperature-differences and low temperatures also have a negative effect on the lifespan of the battery.

2D CAD data is available as a download in the product area. If these are not sufficient and you are in need of 3D data, please contact our customer service department.