Zip Water's Award-Winning Accessible Remote Advances Inclusive Design

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – 09/10/2026

Zip Water today announced the Zip Accessible Remote, a 2026 Australian Good Design Award-winning innovation developed to make accessing drinking water easier, safer and more inclusive.

Designed and manufactured at its facility in Condell Park, NSW, the Zip Accessible Remote was developed in response to growing demand from workplaces, government agencies, healthcare providers and specifiers seeking more inclusive drinking water solutions. The product enables users to dispense instant boiling, chilled and sparkling water without needing to operate the controls on the tap itself.

"This project started with a simple question: how can we make accessing drinking water easier for everyone?" said Mike Abbott, President Culligan ANZ and Zip Water International.

"Many workplace products are designed around the needs of the average user, but accessibility requires us to think more broadly. The Zip Accessible Remote was developed to give more people the confidence and independence to access drinking water safely and comfortably, while providing organisations with a practical solution that supports workplace inclusion."

The development process brought together teams across Product Development, Engineering, Innovation and Specification to develop a solution that prioritises accessibility, usability and safety from the outset. To help ensure the final product meets the needs of a diverse range of users, Zip Water consulted with leading accessibility specialists from across the industry throughout the development process. The Zip Accessible Remote has been designed to support compliance with relevant AS 1428 accessibility requirements within the built environment.

Unlike conventional tap controls, the Zip Accessible Remote was designed from the outset with accessibility as a core requirement rather than an added feature. The design incorporates Braille labelling, illuminated controls, oversized activation buttons and flexible installation options to support a broad range of users and environments. A dedicated safety activation button for boiling water has also been incorporated, helping reduce the risk of accidental dispensing while ensuring safety remains a priority alongside accessibility.

As accessibility becomes an increasingly important consideration in the built environment, the Zip Accessible Remote demonstrates how inclusive design, safety and compliance can be embedded into everyday products from the outset rather than considered as an afterthought.

Available from October 2026, the Zip Accessible Remote is suitable for both new installations and retrofit applications on Zip HydroTap G5 Commercial systems, making it easier for organisations to incorporate accessible design into both new and existing environments.

For more information, contact Zip Water.