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Safety Shower Test Requirements

Drenching facilities, including emergency showers and eyewashes, are required for any facility that has corrosives on site. The U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) requires suitable facilities, deferring to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard Z358.1 for the specific requirements for installation, maintenance and testing of the emergency equipment. Since emergency showers go unused for long periods of time, it is vital to routinely testing their operation.

  1. Frequency

    • ANSI standard Z358.1 requires that emergency showers and eyewashes be tested weekly. This involves opening flow through the nozzles to verify that sufficient fluid is available to neutralize and wash away any corrosive material from a user. In addition, the eyewash fluid should be checked for debris and foreign objects that might cause injury to the eyes. The ANSI standard requires an annual inspection of flow rates through the supply line to be sure they meet minimum requirements.

    Drenching Fluid

    • The water or other fluid used for drenching should be clear and free of debris. Clouded or tinted fluid can be an indication of chemical or biological contaminants such as rust, fungus or bacteria. The flow rate should equal or exceed the minimum safe flow rate for that piece of equipment. For instance, emergency showers must produce at least 20 gallons per minute (GPM) for 15 minutes, and an emergency eyewash must produce 0.4 GPM for 15 minutes. The fluid supply line must be protected against unauthorized shutoff of the fluid supply.

    Testing Checklist

    • Weekly testing of emergency showers is required.

      Problems commonly looked for during an inspection include low or high pressure of water or other drenching fluid, activating-valve malfunction, broken or clogged nozzles, fluid discoloration or a high or low fluid pH. The lighting and signage around the shower should also be checked against the ANSI requirement that it be well-lit with a highly visible sign. The manufacturer's operating manual for the equipment being tested should be referred to for other testing criteria.

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