Engineer performing maintenance on stainless steel equipment in a clean facility

October 19, 2026 Contractor Supplies

Eyewash Stations and Shower Equipment: How to Choose and Maintain Them

What OSHA Requires for Eyewash and Shower Facilities

Eyewash stations and shower equipment are needed wherever a worker's eyes or body may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials. OSHA's standard at 29 CFR 1910.151(c) says suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body must be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use. Which unit fits depends on your site: a plumbed, self-contained or combination unit, with personal washes only as a supplement.

The standard does not put "suitable" into numbers. In a 2002 letter of interpretation, OSHA said it had not adopted the 1990 or 1998 versions of ANSI Z358.1 and does not enforce them, and that it has often referred employers to the standard as a recognized source of guidance. The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) summarizes the 2014 edition in its selection, installation and use guide, and this article uses that guide's numbers as reference points. Your safety officer can confirm which rules apply to your site.

Key takeaways

OSHA 1910.151(c) calls for suitable drenching and flushing facilities where exposure to corrosive materials is possible.
A personal eyewash bottle supplements a station. It does not replace one.
Plumbed units need a weekly check, and self-contained units need fluid changes and cleaning.

Plumbed, Self-Contained or Personal: Which Type Fits?

The guide describes three kinds of eyewash equipment. The right one depends on whether you have a continuous water supply at the hazard and how much protection the job calls for.

The three types of eyewash equipment, as ISEA describes them
Type	What it is	What to know
Plumbed	A fixed-position unit connected to a continuous supply of flushing fluid	Must be tested weekly
Self-contained	A stand-alone unit with a reservoir of flushing fluid	Fluid is refilled or replaced after each use, and the unit needs cleaning
Personal wash	A supplemental device	Does not meet all the requirements, such as the 15-minute flush, and does not replace a station

Where the risk includes the body as well as the eyes and face, combination shower and eyewash units are typically considered. The guide adds that when injurious materials are present, a complete body flush is required and must be ready for use.

What does your site look like?

There is a water line near the hazard

A plumbed unit fits. The Wall Mounted Eyewash Station Plastic from Bradley lists an installation type of plumbed, and the Emergency Shower, Horizontal, 30 gpm from Guardian Equipment is listed as a plumbed shower with a 1 in. inlet pipe.

There is no water line at the hazard

A self-contained unit carries its own reservoir. The Portable Eyewash Station, 15.0 gal. from Guardian Equipment lists an 8 oz bacteriostatic additive, an identification sign and an inspection tag.

Workers need an extra rinse at the point of work

A personal wash can supplement the station. The Personal Eye Wash Bottle, 16 oz. from PhysiciansCare is listed as single use and tamper-resistant. The guide says personal wash devices do not replace emergency eyewashes and showers that meet the standard.

The body may be exposed, not only the eyes

Look at combination units, such as the Safety Shower and Eyewash from Bradley (Mfr # S19314EW) or the Shower and Eyewash Station from Haws (Mfr # 8300-8309), whose listing says it is certified by CSA to meet ANSI Z358.1. That statement comes from the manufacturer, so read the product data for the model you choose.

What ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 Uses as Reference Numbers

ISEA's guide to the 2014 edition gives these reference numbers. They are reference points for the equipment on a site, not statements about any one product in a catalog.

15 min Flushing time the equipment must be able to deliver.
0.4 gpm Minimum flow for a plumbed eyewash.
20 gpm Minimum flow from an emergency shower.
10 sec Reach time from the hazard, about 55 feet, along a clear path.

Source: ISEA, Emergency Eyewash & Shower Equipment: Selection, Installation & Use Guide, based on ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014.

The same guide sets an eye/face wash at a minimum of 3.0 gpm and an acceptable flushing fluid temperature of 60 to 100°F (16 to 38°C). It says the emergency shower should be on the same level as the hazard and that the valve should stay open without the operator's hands.

Warning: These numbers belong to the standard. A listing that names Z358.1 is the manufacturer's statement about that product, so read the manufacturer's data and ask your safety professional before you rely on a unit.

Weekly Checks, Cleaning and Training

Plumbed devices must be tested weekly, according to the guide. The run confirms that flushing fluid is available at the delivery head and flushes out sediment and microbes. It is not meant to be a full 15-minute flow test. While you are there, the installation points in the same guide make a handy checklist for the visit:

Activate the unit. Run it once and confirm flushing fluid is available at the shower head or the eye/face wash head and that the device is in working order.
Check the valve. It should stay open without anyone holding it.
Walk the path. A worker should be able to reach the station within 10 seconds, about 55 feet, along a clear path.

Worker in a hard hat at an industrial plant

Self-contained units follow a different routine. The fluid must be refilled or replaced after each use, the reservoir has a limited life and will need to be changed, and the unit needs cleaning and a visual inspection. Two listings in the collection cover stored fluid. The Eye Wash Preservative, 5 oz., PK4 from Haws says one bottle preserves 5 to 20 gallons of water for up to three months in Haws portable units. The Aquasep Eyewash Preservative, 8 oz from Guardian Equipment is listed for use with portable eyewash stations and as compatible with the Guardian brand.

The guide also says employee instruction and training is required. For the wider plan around drills and evacuation, see our guide to emergency preparedness and safety training.

Replacement Parts and Common Questions

The collection lists many parts alongside complete units: spray heads, dust covers, valves, bowls, shower heads, kits and cartridges. A part that looks right can still be wrong for your model, so run through this list first.

Find the manufacturer part number (Mfr #) on the existing unit or its manual and match it to the listing.
Read the brand and "for use with" lines, such as the Guardian brand on the Spray Head, 1/4 In NPT, FS or the Mfr. No. S19-921 on the On-Site Eyewash Tank.
Match thread and inlet sizes, such as the 1/4 in. thread on that spray head or the 1 in. IPS inlet on the Plastic Shower Head.
Check whether your unit is freeze resistant. The Eye/Face Wash Retro-Fit Kit from Haws says it is not for use with freeze resistant models.
Compare what is included, as in the Foot Control Assembly, which lists a chain, clamp, nut, ring, screw, spring and treadle.
Confirm the fit with the manufacturer's data before you rely on the part in a safety unit.

How do I know a replacement part fits my unit?

Match the manufacturer part number first. Listings in this collection show the brand a part is made for and, on some, the model it is used with, such as the Bradley eyewash tank listed for use with Mfr. No. S19-921. If the number on your unit does not appear in a listing, contact us with the product name or Mfr # before you order.

What comes with a shower tester?

The Emergency Shower Tester, White (Mfr # 8ND03) is listed as a test kit for emergency shower stations. It includes a 15 in. bucket, a pole, a shower funnel and a 12 in. wire ring. The replacement funnel (Mfr # 9RPP7) is listed as compatible with Mfr # 14034, so check that number before you order. Follow your manufacturer's instructions for how to run the weekly shower check.

Do portable eyewash stations need a preservative?

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for your model. A self-contained unit's fluid must be refilled or replaced after each use and its reservoir changed over time. Preservatives are listed for specific brands: the Haws product for Haws portable units, and the Aquasep product for use with portable stations and the Guardian brand.

The Bottom Line: What to Remember When You Buy Eyewash and Shower Equipment

Start from the hazard, not the catalog. OSHA asks for suitable facilities where exposure is possible, and your safety professional decides what suitable means at your site.
Match the type to the site. Plumbed units need a continuous supply, self-contained units carry a reservoir, and personal washes only supplement.
Treat the numbers as reference points. The 15 minutes, 0.4 gpm, 20 gpm and 10 seconds come from the standard, and each product's data says what that product does.
Plan the weekly check before you install. Pick a spot within the 10-second reach and decide who runs the weekly activation.
Order parts by Mfr #. Brand, "for use with" lines and sizes in the listing tell you what a part fits.

Shop Eyewash Stations and Shower Equipment at Contractor Supplies

The Eyewash Stations and Shower Equipment collection at Contractor Supplies lists the stations, showers, personal washes, parts and accessories covered above. Before you order, read the shipping page and the return and refund policies. If a listing leaves a question open, contact us with the product name or Mfr #. More buying guides are in the News blog.

Here are some of the products in our Eyewash Stations and Shower Equipment collection: