Sloan

Brand overview

Sloan Valve Company was founded in 1906 in Chicago by William Elvis Sloan, who invented the flushometer valve — a device that replaced water-wasting tank-type toilets with a direct-pressure flush system that could be used repeatedly without waiting for a tank to refill. This invention fundamentally changed commercial plumbing, and Sloan has dominated the commercial flush valve market ever since.

Today, Sloan is headquartered in Franklin Park, Illinois, and manufactures flush valves, sensor faucets, waterless urinals, and integrated restroom systems. Their products are found in virtually every major commercial building, airport, stadium, and healthcare facility in North America.

The Sloan Royal flush valve — first introduced in 1906 and continuously improved — remains the most specified flush valve in the world. Its design is so well-established that "Royal-type" is used generically to describe the diaphragm flush valve mechanism used by all major manufacturers.

History & background

Sloan was founded in 1906 and has grown to become one of the most recognized manufacturers in the commercial restroom industry. Headquartered in Franklin Park, IL, the company has built its reputation through consistent product quality, broad distribution, and strong support for the architectural and contractor communities.

Over the decades, Sloan has expanded its product line to cover virtually every category of commercial restroom accessory and fixture. This breadth of coverage is one of the primary reasons architects continue to specify the brand — the ability to coordinate finishes across a complete restroom package from a single manufacturer simplifies specification and reduces field substitution risk.

Today, Sloan products are distributed through commercial plumbing and hardware distributors nationwide and are available through online commercial suppliers including Total Restroom.

Product lines

Most-specified Sloan products

Who specifies and uses Sloan products

Why Sloan matters in commercial restroom specification

Sloan's market dominance comes from 115+ years of refinement of a single core product — the diaphragm flush valve. The Royal design is so well-proven that it's used as the baseline against which all competitors are measured.

For facility managers, Sloan's greatest value proposition is maintainability. The diaphragm kit — the primary wear component — costs $5–15, is available at every plumbing supply house, and can be replaced in 10 minutes without specialized tools. This simplicity of maintenance keeps operating costs low and restrooms functioning reliably over decades.

The transition to sensor flush valves has been one of the most significant changes in commercial restroom design over the past two decades. Sloan's SOLIS (solar-assisted sensor) and Optima (standard sensor) lines have become the default specification for any project where touchless operation is desired. The elimination of manual push handles reduces cross-contamination and the perception of a "cleaner" restroom — an important consideration for facilities where user perception of hygiene matters.

Specifying Sloan products

Flush valves are typically specified under MasterFormat Section 22 42 13 — Commercial Water Closets, Urinals, and Bidets. Include valve model number, GPF rating, finish (polished chrome is standard; satin chrome and matte black available for premium projects), and operating type (manual or sensor).

Standard specification language: "Sloan Royal 111-1.28, 1.28 GPF, polished chrome, manual diaphragm flush valve for floor-mount toilet. Acceptable alternate: Zurn AquaVantage Z6000-1.28."

For sensor valves: "Sloan SOLIS 8186, 0.5 GPF, polished chrome, solar/battery-powered sensor flush valve for urinal. Acceptable alternate: Zurn Z6913-0.5."