Hand Wash Basins
Commercial hand wash basins for Australian food businesses — stainless steel hand wash sinks and stations that give your kitchen the dedicated hand-washing facilities food-safety rules require. The range runs from compact wall-mounted basins through knee- and foot-operated hands-free units to mobile wash stations for sites without fixed plumbing. Fitting out the wash-up area at the same time? See our commercial stainless steel sinks for pot-wash and prep bowls, or browse commercial tapware to pair the right spout and valve with your basin.
Who hand wash basins are for
Australian food businesses are required to provide dedicated hand-washing facilities — a basin used only for washing hands, separate from food prep and wash-up sinks — and it's one of the first things an environmental health officer looks for at inspection. That puts a dedicated hand basin on the fit-out list for every café, restaurant, takeaway, bakery and catering kitchen in the country. Beyond hospitality, the same units serve childcare centres, healthcare and aged-care facilities, food manufacturing floors and workshops, while self-contained mobile stations cover food trucks, market stalls and pop-up sites where there's no plumbing to tap into.
What's in scope
Wall-mounted hand wash basins
Compact stainless steel bowls that mount at hand height near your prep and cook lines. Deep bowls and splash-back profiles keep water off the wall and the floor, and the smooth 304-grade finishes wipe down fast and resist bacteria build-up through years of high-traffic use.
Knee and foot operated hands-free basins
Basins with the tap triggered by a knee push-panel or foot pedal, so staff never touch a handle with dirty or clean hands. Timed-flow versions run for a set burst and shut off on their own — a water saver in busy kitchens where taps get left running.
Mobile hand wash stations
Self-contained units with their own fresh and waste water tanks, built for food trucks, market stalls, events and temporary kitchens. They give you a compliant hand-washing point anywhere you trade, with no fixed plumbing connection needed.
One thing a hand basin can't do is double as your cleaning sink — wash water from mops and buckets needs its own outlet, so plan a cleaner's sink or mop sink alongside it in the fit-out.
How to choose a hand wash basin in three steps
Most buyers in this category are solving a compliance problem, so start there and work back to the hardware.
Step 1 — Confirm what compliance asks of your site
Australian food-safety standards require hand-washing facilities that are dedicated to the job, easy to reach from food-handling areas and supplied with warm running water. Your local council enforces the detail — how many basins, where they sit and what your floor plan needs to show — so check their fit-out requirements before you order, especially for a new premises or renovation.
Step 2 — Pick the activation: standard tap or hands-free
A standard hot-and-cold tap set meets the basic brief at the lowest cost. Knee- or foot-operated hands-free basins go a step better — staff don't re-contaminate clean hands on a tap handle, which is why they're the default in new commercial fit-outs, healthcare settings and high-volume kitchens. If water use is a concern, timed-flow models cap every wash automatically.
Step 3 — Sort the mounting, plumbing and placement
Wall-mounted basins need solid fixing points and hot/cold supply roughed in at the right height; check the bowl size fits the wall space near your prep line without blocking a walkway. No plumbing at all — or a temporary site? That's when a mobile station with its own tanks is the right call rather than a compromise.
If you're working out how many basins and sinks your whole kitchen needs — hand wash, prep, pot wash and cleaner's sink — our guide to commercial kitchen sink requirements walks through the full count for a compliant fit-out.
Popular picks: two proven starting points are the 3Monkeez round hands-free knee operated basin for fixed kitchen installs, and the Kitchen Knock mobile hand wash station where you need a self-contained unit for food trucks, markets or temporary sites.
Frequently asked questions
Do commercial kitchens need a separate hand wash basin?
Yes. Australian food businesses are required to provide hand-washing facilities that are used only for washing hands — a prep sink or pot-wash sink doesn't count. Environmental health officers check for a dedicated, accessible basin at inspection, so confirm the number and placement your local council expects before finalising a fit-out.
What is a knee-operated hand wash basin?
A knee-operated basin is a hands-free stainless steel hand wash sink where the tap is triggered by pushing a panel with your knee instead of turning a handle. Staff can wash without touching the tap with soiled or clean hands, which cuts cross-contamination — the reason knee and foot operation is standard in modern commercial kitchen and healthcare fit-outs.
Do hand wash basins need hot water?
Australian food-safety standards call for warm running water at hand-washing facilities, so plan a hot and cold supply or a tempering arrangement at each basin rather than a cold-only feed. Mobile hand wash stations handle this differently — check each unit's specs for how it supplies and stores water.
How much does a commercial hand wash basin cost?
In this range, compact wall-mounted stainless steel basins start at around $110, hands-free knee-operated models typically sit between $850 and $950, and self-contained mobile hand wash stations run to around $1,400. The spread mostly reflects activation (standard tap versus hands-free) and whether the unit carries its own water tanks.
Can I use a mobile hand wash station for a food truck or market stall?
That's exactly what they're built for. A mobile hand wash station carries its own fresh and waste water tanks, so it provides a compliant hand-washing point at food trucks, market stalls, events and temporary kitchens with no fixed plumbing. Councils generally expect mobile food vendors to have hand-washing facilities on board — confirm the spec yours requires.
Where should a hand wash basin be installed in a commercial kitchen?
Within easy reach of the areas where staff handle food — close to prep benches and the cook line, unobstructed, and never behind a door or down a corridor. Larger kitchens with multiple work zones often need more than one basin so no station is a long walk from warm water and soap; your council can confirm the count for your floor plan.
Do you deliver hand wash basins across Australia?
Yes. Commercial Kitchen Store ships nationwide, and Australian-based phone support is available on 1300 111 901 if you need help matching a basin or station to your fit-out. For cover details, see our warranty and service information.