In short
- Count enclosed zones, not total square metres: every toilet, corridor, dining room or room with a door counts separately.
- Rule of thumb: one PULSE per toilet, one FLOW per 120 m² of corridor or dining room, one SENSE in rooms up to 80 m² and one LUME at reception.
- An open-plan floor of up to 600 m² can be covered by one ORBIT; with ducted air conditioning, one HALO covers up to 800 m².
- Indicative example for a 60-bed home on two floors: 13 units and a purchase of 1,180.87 € (VAT incl.).
It is the first question almost every care home manager asks us: "how many units do I need?". The short answer is that it depends less on the total floor area of the building than on how many enclosed zones with a different smell it has. Here is the method we use to size a home remotely, from photos and measurements.
How do you calculate the number of diffusers for a care home?
By counting zones, not square metres: every enclosed space with its own smell needs its own unit, sized to its floor area. Air from a toilet does not reach the corridor when the door is closed, and a large unit in the corridor will not fix the toilet.
- List the zones. Shared and assisted toilets, corridors on each floor, dining room, lounges and activity rooms, reception, laundry, waste room and, if there is one, the rehabilitation gym or chapel.
- Measure each one. Length by width is enough. If the ceiling is higher than 3 metres, add 20 % to the area.
- Note the dominant smell. Urine, faecal, food, damp or none. That decides the product (neutraliser or fragrance).
- Assign the unit by coverage. Using the table below. If a zone exceeds the coverage, two medium units work better than one pushed to its limit.
What coverage does each diffuser have?
From 7 m² (PULSE, one toilet) up to 800 m² through ducts (HALO). These are the approximate coverage and consumption figures at normal intensity:
| Unit | Coverage | Typical use in a care home | Approx. consumption | Price (VAT incl.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PULSE | Up to 7 m² | Toilet, washroom, waste room | 50 ml/month | 72.99 € |
| SENSE | Up to 80 m² | Lounge, laundry, a specific bedroom | 100 ml/month | 89.99 € |
| LUME | Up to 100 m² | Reception and visitors' room | 150 ml/month | 109.99 € |
| FLOW | Up to 120 m² | Floor corridor, dining room | 250 ml/month | 79.99 € |
| ORBIT | Up to 600 m² | Open-plan floor or long open corridors | 300 ml/month | 149.99 € |
| HALO | Up to 800 m² through ducts | Building with central air conditioning | 350 ml/month | 194.99 € |
Refills cost 29.99 € (150 ml) and 34.99 € (250 ml). In Spain and Portugal there is also a monthly plan that includes the unit, the product and shipping. You will find the general table by floor area in which diffuser to choose by square metres.
How many diffusers does a 60-bed care home need?
In this indicative example, 13 units. It is a typical two-floor home with corridors of about 200 m² per floor. Your home will be different, but the reasoning is the same:
| Zone | Area | Unit | Quantity | Product | Price (VAT incl.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared and assisted toilets | 5 to 7 m² each | PULSE | 6 | Jasmine neutraliser | 437.94 € |
| Floor corridors | 200 m² per floor | ORBIT | 2 | Jasmine or Cotton Fresh neutraliser | 299.98 € |
| Dining room | 120 m² | FLOW | 1 | Jasmine neutraliser outside mealtimes | 79.99 € |
| Lounge and activity room | 80 m² | SENSE | 1 | Aloe Vera neutraliser or a soft fragrance | 89.99 € |
| Reception | 60 m² | LUME | 1 | Soft fragrance | 109.99 € |
| Laundry | 25 m² | SENSE | 1 | Cotton Fresh neutraliser | 89.99 € |
| Waste room | 6 m² | PULSE | 1 | Jasmine neutraliser | 72.99 € |
| Total | 13 | 1,180.87 € |
Combined consumption is around 1,550 ml a month: between 6 and 7 refills of 250 ml, that is between 209.94 € and 244.93 € a month in product.
How many diffusers does an adult day centre need?
Usually between 3 and 6. A day centre has no bedrooms and no night shift, so the work is concentrated in toilets, dining room and main lounge: one PULSE per toilet, one FLOW or LUME in the lounge and one SENSE in the dining room. We explain it product by product in the odour neutraliser buying guide for day centres.
What if the building has ducted air conditioning?
Then a single unit connected to the air conditioning can cover several shared areas. The HALO (up to 800 m²) and the ATMOS connect to the ducts and spread the product with the treated air, with no visible devices. Even so, toilets still need their PULSE: supply air does not reach a washroom with its own extraction with enough force. We cover it in how to connect a diffuser to the air conditioning.
What sizing mistakes are common?
- One large unit for the whole floor with the doors closed. The corridor improves and the toilets stay the same.
- Fragrance where a neutraliser is needed. Perfume over urine is exactly the smell to avoid. Before choosing, read air freshener or odour neutraliser in a care home.
- Intensity at maximum. In residents' areas, use the lowest setting that works and run it in time slots.
- Forgetting the laundry and the waste room. Two small sources that can spread bad smells through half the building.
- Not involving the nursing team. With residents who have respiratory conditions, their areas are decided together with the care staff.
Frequently asked questions
How many diffusers should I put on each floor?
One per shared toilet, one or two for the corridor depending on its length (FLOW up to 120 m², ORBIT up to 600 m² if open-plan) and one per enclosed room. A typical care home floor usually needs between 5 and 8.
Is a diffuser needed in every bedroom?
No. Only in bedrooms where management asks for it because of persistent incontinence, with a SENSE at minimum intensity. Elsewhere, treating toilets and corridors is enough.
Isn't one large unit cheaper?
It may cost less to buy, but it does not work if the zones are separated by doors. You pay less and the smell stays in the toilets.
How much product does a care home use per month?
It depends on the units. In the 60-bed example, about 1,550 ml a month.
How do I send you the details for the calculation?
Send photos and the measurements of each zone by WhatsApp, to info@bendis.es or call +34 911 09 70 50. We do not make site visits: we size everything remotely and the units arrive configured.
Can I start with just one floor?
Yes. Many homes start with the assisted-care floor and expand once they see the result.
More on care homes: scenting for care homes · care home smell: why it happens and how to remove it · which odour neutraliser to choose · odour neutralisation.
Sources
- CSIC, Envejecimiento en Red, care home statistics in Spain.
- Spanish Regulation on Thermal Installations in Buildings, RD 1027/2007 (BOE).
- Coverage and consumption: BENDIS unit technical data sheets.
Written by the BENDIS Team.
