A slop sink at which to draw water for scrubbing and general cleaning and in which to empty soiled scrubbing water and other slops, should be provided in every building. In a cottage a slop sink on the second floor will often save the cost of the fixture by protecting the bath tub and water closet from the wear and tear incident to using them for drawing and emptying scrub water and slops. Hotels, office buildings and other large institutions should have one or more slop sinks on each floor, and in hospitals slop sinks are indispensable on all floors. It is evident from the uses of a slop sink that it should be supplied with hot and cold water, and in addition, hospital slop sinks should be flushed from an overhead tank or from a flush valve. The contents of bed-pans are emptied into hospital sinks, so that to a certain extent they partake of the functions of a water closet and must therefore be made and operated like one. The outlet to slop sinks should be unobstructed by strainers or cross bars, so the waste pipe will receive a good flush. In the case of hospital sinks this requirement is absolute, on account of its dual function.

Fig. 155

Slop sinks are usually made 10 to 12 inches deep and from 20 to 24 inches square. They are made both of iron and of porcelain. Iron slop sinks are made either plain, galvanized or porcelain lined.