Portable sinks should be self contained and mobile in design and require no additional plumbing. It should be as easy as to add water to the fresh water tank.
There are a good number of choices. The big question is always how to get value for money. There are alternatives from a few hundreds of dollars up to several thousands.
In some cases the investment of several thousands is well justified. In some other cases there is no need to pay for a pricey portable sink.
The health department has some requirements and some standards and you should make sure to buy a portable sink that meets those requirements.
What features to consider when selecting a portable sink:
Size and weight:
Know the exact dimensions of the cabinet to ensure it will fit the designated space. Check doorways and openings where the portable sink passes through to reach its point of use. Some portable sinks are easy to move and transport, others are too heavy and difficult to move or transport. If you need to transport the portable sink on a regular basis, like in food festivals, take into consideration that the one you buy does not weight too much.
Hot Water:
Do you require hot water? in most cases the health department will require you to have hot water. To avoid accidents related to electricity, make sure that the electrical supply must be able to handle 20 amps. In most cases, you will be required to have hot water in cold weather and food preparation situations.
Electrical and on-demand water tank heaters are the safest and most convenient.
Water capacity:
Five gallons of fresh water is a good amount of water. Please keep in mind that a minimum of 7.5 gallons of waste water tank is required.
Make sure that a good water pump is installed. You do not want to have a cheap water pump that is going to give you problems or give you water flow problems. The water pump will be the most used part of your portable sink, so make sure you have a good water pump that will last a good time.
Other Standards:
Water pump should meet UL, CSA and NSF standards
Water heater should meet CSA and UL standards
Electrical components should meet UL and CSA standards
Cabinet and top should meet FDA standards
Water lines should meet NSF and FDA standards
All electrical installation on the portable sink should be grounded with a 20 amp circuit breaker
NSF Certified versus non-NSF Certified Sinks:
Do you need a NSF Certified sink? you should check with you health inspector.
You are not always required to buy a portable sink that has a NSF Certification. The NSF mark conveys that an independent, third-party organization (NSF) has determined that the product complies with the relevant standard (NSF international http://nsf.org)
Where to buy an affordable portable sink: CLICK HERE TO CHECK SOME ALTERNATIVES
