Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 6th November 2025 Issue no. 1185
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Smart washrooms go live at Beijing Daxing International Airport
As a 4F-class international airport, Beijing Daxing International is a world-class aviation hub that can take the biggest planes. Designed with energy efficiency and environmental protection in mind, the terminal integrates green energy-saving technologies and modern information systems, making it a new landmark in China.
Earlier this year, the airport's property management team began with the needs of travellers and chose washrooms as a starting point to integrate Internet of Things (IoT) concepts into cleaning management. The goal: to build truly smart washrooms, giving passengers a tangible sense of accessible tech-driven services.
As the solution provider for this smart washroom project, Nanjing WinShine implemented systems for cubicle occupancy sensing, visual guidance, environmental monitoring and supply alerts. Making good use of IoT technology, these systems address travellers' key needs while solving long-standing challenges in facility management.
By upgrading infrared sensors, smart locks and other sensing devices, the system detects the real-time occupancy status of washroom cubicles. The collected data is displayed on integrated screens, allowing travellers to see cubicle availability before entering. This enables them to decide whether to use the washroom or head to another nearby facility. Additionally, each cubicle is equipped with simple red-green light indicators to clearly show availability, helping travellers quickly identify an open cubicle - improving both efficiency and user experience.
The supply alert system uses custom sensors embedded in dispensers for items like paper towels and hand soap. When supplies run low, the system triggers refill alerts, ensuring passengers always have what they need. The environmental monitoring system uses odour-detection devices to optimise air freshening and cleaning schedules.
By visualising smart washroom data, the system not only supports cleaning staff with real-time prompts but also enhances peace of mind for users. Travellers can provide feedback and suggestions via an in-washroom evaluation system. The airport's property team can then use this data to refine and expand their services - making the washrooms smarter and more user-friendly.
All IoT devices used in this project were developed in-house by WinShine. They utilise ultra-low-power wireless communication technology from EnOcean. Impressively, 80% of the sensors harvest energy from mechanical motion to transmit wireless signals - completely battery-free and maintenance-free. This approach greatly reduced the complexity of design reviews, installation and inspections, significantly simplifying project implementation.
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