and How Aqua Safety Showers Helps You Meet Them
In workplaces where hazardous chemicals are present, emergency safety showers are not optional—they’re essential. When an exposure occurs, employees need immediate access to equipment that works exactly as intended. That’s why ANSI Z358.1 exists and why choosing the right safety shower manufacturer matters.
At Aqua Safety Showers, our products are manufactured and designed with ANSI Z358.1 compliance in mind, helping facilities protect employees and give them the peace of mind that they are meeting their legal responsibilities. Our TS1500 Self-Contained Safety Shower is our most popular unit that ticks all the boxes.
What Is ANSI Z358.1?
ANSI Z358.1 is the nationally recognized standard established by the American National Standards Institute that outlines the minimum performance, installation, testing, and maintenance requirements for emergency eyewash stations and safety showers. The purpose of this standard is to ensure that emergency decontamination equipment functions effectively and is immediately accessible in the event of exposure to hazardous chemicals, corrosive substances, or other workplace contaminants.
Although compliance with ANSI Z358.1 is voluntary, the standard is widely regarded as the benchmark for emergency eyewash and shower safety. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regularly references ANSI Z358.1 when assessing workplace safety programs and determining whether employers have taken appropriate measures to protect workers. As a result, adherence to the standard is often considered essential for demonstrating due diligence and regulatory compliance.
In facilities located in remote environments or areas without access to a continuous, reliable potable water supply, meeting ANSI Z358.1 requirements can present unique challenges. In these situations, self-contained safety showers and eyewash stations play a critical role. These systems store their own flushing fluid and are designed to deliver the required flow rate, temperature, and duration specified by the standard, ensuring effective emergency response even in locations where traditional plumbed systems are not feasible.
Key ANSI Z358.1 Requirements
Rapid Access and Proper Placement: ANSI Z358.1 requires that safety showers be located so they can be reached within 10 seconds of a potential hazard, ensuring that exposed individuals can begin decontamination immediately. The route to the safety shower must be clear, unobstructed, and well-marked, with no doors, equipment, or physical barriers that could delay access during an emergency. Proper placement also takes into account visibility, lighting, and proximity to hazardous operations, helping ensure that employees can quickly identify and use the safety shower even under stressful conditions or when vision may be impaired.
Minimum Water Flow and Duration: ANSI Z358.1 specifies that safety showers must deliver a minimum water flow rate of 76 litres per minute and be capable of maintaining that flow continuously for at least 15 minutes. This requirement ensures that sufficient water volume is available to thoroughly flush hazardous chemicals or contaminants from the body, reducing the risk of injury and limiting the severity of exposure. The sustained duration is critical, as immediate rinsing alone may not be adequate to fully remove or dilute certain substances. Consistent flow and pressure throughout the entire flushing period are essential to provide effective emergency decontamination until further medical treatment can be obtained.
The TS1500 Self-Contained Safety Shower is engineered to meet ANSI Z358.1 flow and duration requirements, providing reliable flushing capability for over 15 minutes even when connection to a continuous water supply is not available.
Uniform, Effective Spray Pattern: ANSI Z358.1 specifies that safety showers must deliver a uniform and consistent spray pattern designed to thoroughly flush the user’s entire body. The spray must provide sufficient coverage and volume to effectively dilute and remove hazardous substances without causing additional injury. An evenly distributed flow ensures that contaminants are not driven into sensitive areas or concentrated on a single part of the body, while the force of the spray remains gentle enough to be safe for prolonged use. This balanced spray pattern is essential for effective decontamination and supports the overall goal of minimizing injury following chemical exposure.
Aqua Safety Showers shower heads are manufactured to the ANSI Z358.1 specifications to deliver consistent, full-body coverage that supports effective decontamination during emergency use.
Hands-Free, Single-Action Activation: ANSI Z358.1 requires that safety showers be capable of being activated with a single, simple motion and then remain operating without the need for continued user assistance. This design allows exposed individuals to begin flushing immediately, even if their hands are injured, contaminated, or unable to function properly. Once activated, the shower must stay on until intentionally turned off, enabling the user to focus fully on thorough decontamination rather than controlling the equipment. This hands-free operation is critical in emergency situations where speed, ease of use, and reliability can significantly impact the effectiveness of the response.
All our products are fitted with stay open valves and are operated easily by hand with an option for foot activation, allowing injured personnel to focus on flushing contaminants rather than operating equipment—an essential requirement during high-stress emergencies.
Tepid Water : ANSI Z358.1 defines tepid water as a temperature range between 60°F (16°C) and 100°F (38°C) and emphasizes the importance of safety showers delivering water within this range to encourage a full 15-minute flushing period. Providing tepid water is critical because it allows exposed individuals to remain under the shower for the entire required duration without discomfort that could lead to premature termination of the rinse.
Water temperatures below the tepid range may cause thermal shock, hypothermia, or involuntary reactions that discourage continued use of the shower. Conversely, water temperatures above the recommended range can increase the risk of scalding and may open the pores of the skin, potentially allowing hazardous substances to be absorbed more rapidly. By maintaining tepid water, safety showers help ensure effective decontamination while minimizing additional injury and supporting compliance with ANSI Z358.1 requirements.
Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance : ANSI Z358.1 requires that safety showers be routinely inspected, tested, and maintained to ensure they function properly in the event of an emergency. This includes weekly activation of the unit to verify correct operation, confirm adequate water flow, and flush the system to prevent sediment buildup, corrosion, or microbial growth that could compromise performance.
In addition to weekly testing, the standard calls for a minimum of two scheduled maintenance visits performed by a fully trained safety shower engineer. During these visits, the engineer inspects all critical components, services the unit as needed, and verifies that the equipment continues to meet ANSI Z358.1 performance specifications. Regular inspection and professional maintenance are essential to ensuring long-term reliability, regulatory compliance, and readiness when emergency decontamination equipment is needed most.
All Aqua safety shower units are designed for easy inspection and routine testing, helping to maintain compliance while ensuring the unit is ready for use at all times.
Why ANSI Z358.1 Compliance Matters
ANSI Z358.1 compliance helps:
- Protect employees from serious injury
- Support OSHA inspection readiness
- Reduce liability and downtime after incidents
- Reinforce a strong, proactive safety culture
With products like the TS1500 self-contained safety shower, Aqua Safety Showers helps facilities confidently meet these expectations—in any environment.
Built for Compliance. Ready for Emergencies.
ANSI Z358.1 sets the benchmark—but high-quality manufactured safety shower products makes compliance possible. Aqua Safety Showers combines standards with real-world practicality to deliver emergency safety solutions you can trust.
When every second counts, Aqua Safety Showers is ready.