Zip Water introduces award-winning Accessible Remote for commercial HydroTap

Accessible controls for commercial installations

Zip Water’s Accessible Remote, designed and manufactured in Condell Park, NSW, has received a 2026 Australian Good Design Award. Available from October 2026, it dispenses instant boiling, chilled and sparkling water without requiring operation of the tap controls.

Compatible with Zip HydroTap G5 Commercial systems, the accessory supports new installations and retrofits. Its features include:

Braille labelling and illuminated controls;
Oversized activation buttons and flexible installation;
A dedicated boiling-water safety activation button.

Zip Water consulted accessibility specialists and developed the remote to support relevant AS 1428 requirements. Workplaces, government agencies, healthcare providers and building specifiers had sought more inclusive drinking-water equipment. The safety control is intended to reduce accidental dispensing.

Mike Abbott, President Culligan ANZ and Zip Water International, said the project aimed to make drinking-water access easier for everyone.

Earlier development of the HydroTap platform

On 14th November 2024, Zip Water announced a refrigeration-system development for HydroTap G5. The company introduced R290 refrigerant, describing this natural propane refrigerant as having low Global Warming Potential.

The redesigned front fascia incorporated an airflow vent. Zip Water associated the integrated ventilation with improvements to its air-cooling technology and energy efficiency when delivering chilled water. Zip Water introduced these refrigeration changes before the Accessible Remote.

Zip Water

In October 2025, Zip Water’s Most Eco-Friendly HydroTap received an Australian Good Design Award in the Product Design category. Zip Water designed and commissioned the Australian project. The recognition covered the command centre’s development, a year before the accessibility accessory received its own award.

The 2025 jury praised the combination of low-GWP refrigerant and airflow design, characterising it as an incremental improvement to an existing system. Its assessment highlighted sustainability elements and the integration of refrigeration and ventilation changes.