Water Tap, Chrome

Quick Answer: The Water Tap, Chrome is a chrome-plated water tap for handwash basins, preparation-room sinks and clean-water points in laboratories, where a bright, easily wiped finish is wanted and corrosive fumes are not present in quantity.

Chrome Finish in a Laboratory

Chrome plating is the familiar bright silver finish on most domestic and commercial taps. It is hard, smooth and easy to keep hygienic, which suits handwash basins, staff areas and preparation rooms. Chrome-plated taps normally have a brass or other metal body under a nickel and chromium layer; the listing does not state the body material, the mounting style or the handle type.

In a laboratory the finish is the main thing to think about. Chrome copes well with water, soap and alcohol-based cleaners, but acid fumes, especially hydrochloric acid vapour, and splashes of strong acids or bleach can pit and dull the plating over time. Taps near fume hoods, acid stores or sinks used for acid baths are therefore often coated instead, like the grey deluxe water tap.

This chrome water tap suits clean-water duties: handwashing, filling wash bottles and buckets, rinsing apparatus that has already been emptied, and the sinks in offices and staff rooms attached to lab blocks.

Care & Handling

• Clean with mild soap and water or a non-abrasive cleaner; scouring powders scratch plating.
• Rinse off acid, bleach or disinfectant splashes straight away.
• Dry with a soft cloth to prevent hard-water spots.
• Replace the washer or cartridge when the tap drips, rather than overtightening the handle.

Applications

• Handwash basins at lab entrances and in microbiology rooms.
• Sinks in preparation rooms used mainly for clean water.
• Staff rooms and offices attached to laboratory blocks.
• Filling wash bottles, reservoirs and cleaning buckets.

Specifications

Why Choose LabEquip

Estates teams and lab planners fitting handwash stations and clean-water points often choose chrome taps for their familiar, easy-clean finish. LabEquip lists this tap in General Lab Products; tell us the mounting and connection you need through our contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a chrome tap suitable for a chemistry lab sink?

It is fine where the sink mainly handles water and detergent. At sinks exposed to acid fumes or frequent acid splashes, a coated or plastic-bodied lab tap lasts longer, because acids can pit chrome plating.

Why does chrome plating sometimes peel or pit?

Chemical attack, especially from hydrochloric acid vapour and bleach, or abrasive cleaning can break through the thin plating. Once the base metal is exposed it corrodes and the plating lifts around the spot.

How should a chrome tap be cleaned?

Wipe it with mild soap or detergent and warm water, rinse, and dry with a soft cloth. Avoid scouring powders, wire wool and strong acid descalers, which dull the surface.

Is this tap for hot or cold water?

A single tap delivers whatever supply it is connected to. Most taps of this kind are used on the cold supply; for blended warm water, a mixer is the right fitting.

How does a chrome tap differ from an epoxy-coated lab tap?

Chrome is bright, hard and easy to wipe but vulnerable to acids. Epoxy and powder coatings are duller but form a chemically resistant layer, which is why they are used on taps near fume hoods and acid work.

What causes white marks on the chrome?

White spots are usually dried hard-water scale. Wiping the tap dry after use prevents most of them, and a mild vinegar solution applied briefly and rinsed off removes light deposits.

Last Updated: September 2026