A commercial kitchen sink rarely needs just one type of tap. Getting the combination right affects how quickly your team can wash up, how practical the sink is during a busy service and how well the setup stands up to everyday commercial use.

Pre-Rinse Sprays: Built for Speed and Reach

A pre-rinse spray tap uses a flexible hose and trigger-operated spray head to remove food debris from pots, pans and plates before they go into the sink or dishwasher. It’s built for reach and speed.

Larger cookware and busy pot-wash areas benefit most, especially where a hooded or pass-through dishwasher is doing the heavy lifting behind it.

Our Aquajet and Aquatechnix ranges include a variety of configurations. Check the mounting, water feed and dimensions against your existing sink and plumbing before ordering.

Standard Mixer Taps: Simple and Reliable

Not every sink needs the reach or flexibility of a pre-rinse spray.

For everyday jobs such as filling pans, food preparation and general sink use, a commercial mixer tap may be all that’s required.

CaterTap and Moffat mixer taps cover this end of the range, with straightforward options for commercial kitchens where a full pre-rinse setup simply isn’t necessary.

Hands-Free Taps for Hygiene-Critical Areas

Where reducing hand contact is particularly important, a sensor-operated tap removes the need to touch handles to turn the water on and off.

These work well at dedicated hand-wash stations and in food preparation areas, helping businesses maintain good hand-hygiene practices.

Installation: Deck-Mounted, Pedestals and Water Feed

Before choosing a commercial tap or pre-rinse spray, check how it needs to be fitted to your sink and connected to the water supply.

A deck-mounted tap fixes through the sink or work surface rather than being mounted on the wall.

You’ll also see terms such as single pedestal, twin pedestal, single water feed and twin water feed when comparing pre-rinse units. These describe different aspects of the tap’s configuration, so don’t assume that a single-pedestal or monobloc tap automatically has a single water feed.

For example, some single-pedestal monobloc pre-rinse sprays use separate hot and cold supplies which are mixed by the tap.

Checking the configuration of your existing sink and plumbing before ordering can save an unnecessary return visit from your plumber.

Bowl Fillers: Do You Need One?

Some pre-rinse spray taps are available with a separate bowl-filling tap alongside the spray head.

This gives you a conventional water outlet for filling pans, bowls or the sink itself without having to use the spray gun.

Depending on the model, different reach options may be available. For example, selected Aquajet pre-rinse units can be supplied with either a 150mm or 300mm bowl filler.

If your sink is used for both pot filling and pre-rinsing, a bowl filler can be a very useful addition. If the station is predominantly used for rinsing, you may prefer to keep the setup simpler without one.

Choosing the Right Spray Gun

The spray gun matters more than it looks. It’s the part your team handles repeatedly throughout the day, so comfort and spray pattern count as much as the tap itself.

Selected models in our Aquajet range feature a rose-head spray gun, designed for rinsing pots, pans and crockery.

Hose length and overall reach matter too. Weigh these up alongside the spray head itself, especially if you’re working with large sinks or bulky cookware.

WRAS Approval Explained

You’ll see WRAS approval listed on some commercial taps and water fittings.

WRAS approval provides a recognised way of demonstrating that a water fitting meets an appropriate quality and standard against the relevant UK Water Fittings Regulations or Byelaws. That’s subject to the conditions of approval and correct installation.

WRAS approval itself is a voluntary certification scheme. You must comply with the applicable Water Fittings Regulations or Byelaws whenever you connect fittings to the public water supply.

Approvals apply to specific products and can expire. Confirm the current status for the exact model you’re considering rather than assuming the approval covers an entire manufacturer’s range.

For further information, you can visit the WRAS Approvals website.

Which One Do You Actually Need?

For many working kitchens, the answer may be both: a pre-rinse spray at the pot-wash sink and a mixer tap for more general duties.

If you’re only fitting one, think about what happens at that sink most often.

• Lots of pots, pans and plates to rinse? A pre-rinse spray is likely to make life easier.
• Mostly filling pans and carrying out general sink duties? A commercial mixer tap will usually cover it.
• Dedicated hand-wash station? A hands-free sensor tap is worth adding.

The important thing is to choose the tap for the job rather than simply fitting the same type at every sink.

Not sure which combination suits your setup? Call us on 01379 641223 and we’ll help you find what you need.