Systems and methods for disinfecting plumbing fixtures and rooms with plumbing fixtures

1 . A system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture, the system comprising:

at least one plumbing fixture located in a room comprising a bathroom in a building;

a disinfecting chemical storage or disinfecting chemical generation unit for storing, generating, or both storing and generating a disinfecting fluid;

a programmable control module or manual controls for inputting, adjusting, or both inputting and adjusting system control parameters;

a distribution structure comprising piping or other conduit fixedly mounted relative to the plumbing fixture and configured to pump or convey the disinfecting fluid to a surface of the plumbing fixture;

an attachment configured to attach a portion of the distribution structure piping or other conduit on, in, or near the plumbing fixture;

at least two separate openings integrally formed in the piping or other conduit, wherein each of the at least two separate openings is configured to distribute the disinfecting fluid onto a different area on a surface of the plumbing fixture surface relative to the remaining openings, the at least two separate openings being physically spaced apart along the piping or other conduit and positioned and oriented to direct disinfecting fluid toward different predetermined surface regions of the plumbing fixture.

2 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises at least three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten openings.

3 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein the plumbing fixture is selected from a sink, a toilet, a bathtub, a shower, or a portion of a wall or floor of the room equipped with a floor drain.

4 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to disinfect either simultaneously or sequentially two or more plumbing fixtures wherein the two or more plumbing fixtures are the same type of plumbing fixture or are different types of plumbing fixtures.

5 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the distribution structure is positioned into a new plumbing fixture.

6 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the distribution structure is configured to apply the disinfecting fluid onto at least one faucet, handle, or other high touch point of the at least one plumbing fixture.

7 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 1 , further comprising a backsplash or other barrier to control the direction of flow of the disinfecting fluid and to prevent the disinfecting fluid from contacting non-plumbing fixture surfaces or surfaces of the at least one plumbing fixture not intended to be regularly wetted with fluids.

8 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the distribution structure is configured to apply the disinfecting fluid onto at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% of a surface of the at least one plumbing fixture intended to be regularly wetted with fluids.

9 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein the disinfecting fluid comprises ozone.

10 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein the disinfecting chemical storage unit stores a disinfecting chemical chosen from hydrogen peroxide, a chemical comprising chlorine, or a chemical comprising a quaternary ammonium compound.

11 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 1 , further comprising at least one germicidal radiation emitter including a UV emitter.

12 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 11 , further comprising a person detection sensor, a door position detection sensor, or both.

13 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 11 , comprising a plurality of germicidal radiation emitters wherein each of the germicidal radiation emitters are located at least one, two, three, four, five, six, eight, or ten feet apart from another germicidal radiation emitter.

14 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 11 , further comprising an air movement element configured to move air in the room, the air movement element comprising an air filter equipped with a fan to circulate air through the air filter.

15 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 14 , further comprising a programmable control module configured to control components of the air movement element, the germicidal radiation emitter, the distribution structure, the air filter, or combinations thereof.

16 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 1 , further comprising an air movement element configured to move air in the room, the air movement element comprising an air filter equipped with a fan to circulate air through the air filter.

17 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 16 , further comprising a compound for absorbing or destroying an airborne disinfecting chemical, including ozone, a sensor to detect compounds in the air, including a disinfecting chemical, or both.

18 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the distribution structure is configured to apply the disinfecting fluid onto a toilet seat.

19 . The system for disinfecting at least one plumbing fixture of claim 18 , further comprising an air movement element configured to move air onto the toilet seat.

20 . A facility selected from a healthcare facility, nursing home, rehabilitation or long-term care facility, restaurant, office building, school, retail store, hotel, hospitality facility, auditorium, theater, recreational facility including a gymnasium, stadium, swimming pool, fitness center, food processing or preparation facility, research facility, manufacturing facility, private restroom, or public restroom, the facility comprising:

at least one bathroom comprising at least one plumbing fixture;

a disinfecting chemical storage or disinfecting chemical generation unit configured for storing, generating, or both storing and generating a disinfecting fluid;

a programmable control module or manual controls for inputting, adjusting, or both inputting and adjusting system control parameters;

a distribution structure comprising piping or other conduit fixedly mounted relative to the plumbing fixture and configured to pump or convey the disinfecting fluid to a surface of the at least one plumbing fixture;

an attachment configured to attach a portion of the distribution structure piping or other conduit on, in, or near the at least one plumbing fixture;

at least two separate openings integrally formed in the piping or other conduit configured to distribute the disinfecting fluid onto different areas of a surface of the at least one plumbing fixture, the at least two separate openings being physically spaced apart along the piping or other conduit and positioned and oriented to direct disinfecting fluid toward different predetermined surface regions of the plumbing fixture.