Elbow Action Bib Cock

Quick Answer: The Elbow Action Bib Cock is a wall-mounted water tap whose long lever handle is pushed with the elbow or forearm, so the flow at a laboratory or handwash sink can be started and stopped without touching the tap with clean or contaminated hands.

How an Elbow-Operated Bib Cock Works

A bib cock is the plumbing name for a tap that screws into a wall supply point, with its inlet horizontal and its spout turned down over the sink. The elbow action version replaces the small cross or lever handle with a long arm that projects far enough to be nudged sideways by an elbow. Many taps of this kind use a quarter-turn mechanism, so a short swing of the arm takes the flow from off to fully on; the valve type used in this item should be checked with the order.

The long lever exists for hygiene. After hands have been washed, closing an ordinary tap with the fingers puts them back on the surface that was touched when the hands were dirty. With an elbow lever the hands never meet the tap, which is why this pattern is common at handwash points in microbiology rooms, pathology and diagnostic laboratories, animal houses and food-testing labs.

Because it delivers water from one supply at one temperature, the elbow action bib cock suits a plain handwash basin or a utility sink. Where hot and cold water must be blended at the basin, a mixer such as the Double Elbow Action Surgical Basin Mixer is the matching fitting.

Where Elbow-Lever Taps Are Fitted

• Handwash basins at the exit of microbiology and tissue-culture rooms, where hands are washed after handling cultures.
• Sinks in pathology, blood-sample and diagnostic laboratories.
• Food, dairy and water-testing laboratories that follow a hand-hygiene routine.
• Nursing and medical skills labs where the handwashing technique is taught.
• Utility sinks used by staff whose hands are often gloved or wet with reagent.

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Have the bib cock fitted by a plumber, with thread-sealing tape on the wall connection, and check that the lever swings clear of the wall and any shelf.
• Wipe the lever with the lab’s usual surface disinfectant during routine cleaning; it is the one part everyone touches.
• If water drips after the lever is closed, the washer or cartridge needs attention; do not force the lever past its stop.
• In hard-water areas, remove limescale from the spout outlet from time to time so the stream stays straight.

Why Choose LabEquip

Buyers of this tap are usually laboratory builders and institutions fitting out handwash points in microbiology, pathology and nursing blocks. LabEquip can supply it together with the other sink fittings in its General Lab Products range, and thread sizes and quantities can be settled through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a bib cock and a pillar tap?

A bib cock is mounted on the wall, with a horizontal inlet and the spout pointing down into the sink. A pillar tap stands upright on the sink deck or counter and is fed from below. The choice depends on where the supply pipe comes out.

Why do labs use an elbow lever instead of a normal handle?

It lets the user turn the water on and off without touching the tap with their hands. After handwashing, this avoids picking up contamination again from a handle touched earlier with dirty or gloved hands.

Can the elbow action bib cock supply hot water?

It can be connected to a hot supply if its internal parts are rated for it, but it delivers only one temperature. For blended hot and cold water from one spout, a double elbow mixer is used instead.

Is this tap suitable for a surgical scrub station?

Scrub stations are usually specified by a hospital’s engineers, often with mixers and long spouts. This bib cock is a general laboratory and handwash fitting, so compare it with the scrub-area specification before choosing it.

How is the tap fixed to the wall?

The threaded tail of the bib cock screws into a female threaded wall fitting on the supply pipe, sealed with PTFE tape. The thread of this model should be matched to the wall point before ordering.

How should the lever be cleaned?

Wipe it with a mild detergent and then with the laboratory’s usual disinfectant, such as 70% alcohol, as part of daily bench cleaning. Avoid abrasive pads, which can scratch a polished or plated finish.

Last Updated: September 2026