A pad incinerator is a machine you will live with for years. These ten questions help you compare models. They apply to any maker.

1. What temperature does it reach, and how was that measured?

A temperature printed in a brochure is not a measurement. Ask whether it is the heating element, the chamber air or the exhaust, and ask for a test report. Indian rules and standards describe different numbers, from 300 to 400 °C in a draft standard for small units to 800 °C in the national sanitary-waste guidelines, and the guidelines have been argued in court. We found no Nepali standard.

2. What does the exhaust pass through?

Ask about each stage: smoke suppression, carbon filter, scrubber, particulate trap. A chimney alone is not a filter. Down To Earth warns that small units lack emission monitoring, so ask whether the maker can show test data.

3. How many pads per cycle, and how long is a cycle?

Makers quote about 5 to 20 pads per cycle and cycles from 15 to 60 minutes. Work out whether that covers your busiest hour. A school with 300 girls and one slow unit will have a queue.

4. How much power does it use?

Ask for kWh per cycle for the model you are buying. The only pad-specific figure we found is about 1.25 kWh for one maker’s unit. Multiply by cycles per day to get a monthly electricity bill, and add it to the cost.

5. How much ash does it leave, and who empties it?

Makers claim very small amounts. A draft Indian standard limits ash to 1 g per five napkins per cycle. Ask how often the tray needs emptying, where the ash goes and whether it is safe to handle.

6. What does it protect against?

Look for an overheat cut-off, a door that is safe to touch and a body that stays cool on the outside. A girl has to use it alone, quickly and without training.

7. What may and may not go in?

A pad incinerator is for pads. Ask the maker what else it can take, and put a sign on the door.

8. Where does it go, and what does it need?

It needs a wall that can carry it, a power socket, space to vent and a clear path from the cubicles. See where to put a machine and a bin.

9. Who services it?

Ask where the technician is, how fast they come, what the warranty covers and which parts wear out first (heating elements, thermostats, filters). A unit made in the same country is easier to repair than one that must be sent back.

10. Is an incinerator the right choice here?

For some schools a lidded bin with daily collection is simpler and safer. Be honest about whether the school has the power and the upkeep for an incinerator.

Questions people ask

What is a reasonable cycle time?

Makers quote 15 to 60 minutes. A draft Indian standard caps a cycle, cooling included, at about 30 minutes. Ask for the figure for your model and what it includes.

How much electricity does a pad incinerator use?

The only pad-specific figure we found is about 1.25 kWh per cycle for one maker’s unit. Ask for a figure for the exact model and multiply by cycles per day.

Can we burn other waste in it?

No. A pad incinerator is built for pads. Burning plastic bags or other rubbish in it can damage it and release harmful gases.