Anew range of products from sanitary ware specialist Armitage Shanks puts the focus on efficient technology that helps save water.

''Energy saving of any kind is now at the forefront of specifiers thinking worldwide,'' says a spokesman for the UK-based manufacturer. '' Clients today are now as interested in the ongoing costs of a building as in the installation or aesthetics of it.''

He continues: ''Armitage Shanks, perhaps more so than any other worldwide sanitary ware manufacturer and distributor, possesses an acute awareness of the limitations of our environment. As such the company is committed to continuous product development that focuses on products that promote water conservation and the use of waterless or highly water-efficient technology.''

In a bid to help specifiers, Armitage Shanks has a host of new and improved sanitary ware products that offer significant benefits to the specifier, facility manager and end-user in terms of their low water consumption.

The spokesman elaborates: ''In addition to already well-known and used products such as Sensorflow and six-litre flushing WCs, Armitage Shanks now offers the innovative new waterless urinal and Senserflow Solo range of brassware. Installing these products in any building will help to lower running costs and provide clients with immediate real long-term benefits.

''Research carried out by the company in the UK, shows that almost a fifth of water used in commercial buildings is flushed through conventional urinal systems. This staggering statistic prompted Armitage Shanks to concentrate its product development efforts on developing a urinal that requires a much-reduced quantity of water in order to function efficiently.

''A host of products and solutions were introduced over the last decade by a range of sanitary ware manufacturers in the public and private sectors, but no single product really fulfilled its promise until the arrival of the Aridian waterless urinal from Armitage Shanks.

''Launched earlier this year, following a 12-month trial at the UK's busiest airport Heathrow, Aridian guarantees to offer the end-user significant and immediate cost-savings through simple installation procedures, low maintenance requirements and water-saving benefits.

''Aridian uses a unique waterless cartridge, which incorporates a specially-developed chemical barrier to act as a combined waste and trap. Urine, which is 96 per cent water, flows down the surface of the waterless urinal and drains into the unique sealtrap cartridge. The cartridge is filled with a special liquid which is perfumed and also acts as a barrier preventing foul air from the drain coming into the washroom.

''The barrier does this by floating on the surface inside the cartridge and trapping any solids at the cartridge base. Cartridges are easily replaced in minutes using a specially-designed key. Maintenance guidelines advise changing the cartridge depending on usage; however, the average turnaround is expected to be four times per year. Trials suggest that this system can save 263,000 litres of water per bowl every year.

''Compared with conventional urinals, a six-bowl waterless alternative can save very significant amounts of money every year. So, installing a waterless urinal not only increases the water efficiency of the building, but also provides a significant and immediate financial incentive to reduce water consumption, and save money in the bargain.

''The waterless cartridge can also be fitted into a specially-modified Kinloch stainless steel urinal, available in sizes from 600 mm to 2,400 mm long for high-impact installations.

''There is however, significantly more to creating an energy-efficient washroom than the installation of urinal systems. The selection of appropriate brassware, for example, can dictate the level of water efficiency for an entire washroom.

The latest innovation from Armitage Shanks in this area is Sensorflow Solo - a development of the tried and tested Sensorflow system that promotes increased water efficiency. The water flow system of Sensorflow Solo is triggered by hands crossing a sensor, and is available either wall-mounted or basin-mounted and with integral or remote sensors they provide a versatile, robust and attractive solution.

''The benefits of installing Sensorflow Solo mean an end to endless running taps and wasted water, which can also lead to significant savings. UK Environment Agency figures show that a single dripping tap can potentially save as much as 1,800 litres per year.

''The reduction in flushing volumes of WCs to six-litre flushes also facilitates improved water efficiency in the washroom and bathroom. The Braemar WC with Sensorflow extends the efficiency value. Possessing a six-litre sensor-operated flush, its modern design has high aesthetic appeal. Research shows that a single Braemar WC could save 35,000 litres of water per year, per WC. This estimate is based on a WC flushing six litres of water (as opposed to a 7.5 litre flushing WC), six times per hour, 12 hours per day, 330 days per year.

The modern designs, functionality and energy-efficient awareness of Armitage Shanks sanitary ware and brassware give the opportunity to make individual design statements, safe in the knowledge that the products chosen are both financially viable, and suitable to withstand the rigours of the commercial washroom, the spokesman adds.