Are your current washroom facilities and toilet cubicles all they're cracked up to be?

Industrial toilet cubicles should be built with thought to the consistent usage they will fall prey to over time. However, the aesthetic of toilet cubicles should not be forgotten by the designer when he or she is laying the design down. The cubicles should be designed in such a way to take into account the ‘clientele’ so to speak, and what might be suitable in a factory or other workplace, might not be suitable in a hotel, restaurant or other similar location.

On the whole washroom facilities such as hand basins, toilets and shower cubicles are built to withstand the pressure of consistent use and less than delicate handling day in and day out. Public washroom facilities get a lot of hammering on a day to day basis, and some of the people using them are less than ‘hygienic’ when they are using them. One has to wonder how these people treat their own homes although that is another subject entirely.

Taking this ‘less than hygienic’ use in to consideration, cleaning and sanitation of washroom facilities are another factor uppermost in the design. The ease in which washroom facilities can be cleaned and of course the ‘depth’ to which they can be cleaned should be paramount in the designer’s mind when preparing the final design and layout.

Public washroom facilities need to be designed with ease of maintenance and cleaning operation; by definition, public washroom facilities are much more prone to abuse than the facilities in someone’s home for example. There is also likely to be times during the day when they are in great demand just like at home, therefore there should be sufficient to cater for the projected number of users.

The numbers of people you will have to cater for will indicate the minimum number of toilet cubicles which are required on site. There is legislation which falls under the Health and Safety at Work Act which denotes the minimum number of cubicles required on any one site. These parameters will be dictated by the number of employees and/or stakeholders expected to be on site at any one time and of course the mix of gender numbers.

Architects and developers work hand in hand with designers to ensure all installations meet the minimum legal requirements, not just to protect your business but to protect the users of toilet and washroom facilities on site.

If you have a washroom dilemma and need a new toilet cubicle, urinal, locker, sink or wall cladding, give our team a call today. You are able to choose from a wide variety of materials and finishes to suit your uniquely individual project requirements and specifications. For more information about washroom facilities and toilet cubicles, log on to the website of Atlas Washrooms, the address of which is www.atlas-washrooms.co.uk.

Industrial and commercial toilet cubicles should be designed for ease of cleaning and hygienic usage

The ease with which modern washroom facilities and toilet cubicles are cleaned is perhaps the single most important consideration for the designer. Health and safety is of course a prime consideration when designing and installing washroom facilities and toilet cubicles. There are always reports on the news and in the press about outbreaks of one bug or other laying low whole swathes of a workforce.

The better the design and ease of cleaning means there is less of a potential risk of infections spreading, although no matter how well toilet and washroom facilities are designed, generally poor hygiene practices are to blame. Education of the workforce with signs reminding people to ‘wash hands after use’ is a practical measure which can be taken.

The overall flexible approach and a custom made solution which works well and delivers a safe, robust washroom solution regardless of the industry or commercial sector your business operates in is a must. Washroom facilities and in particular toilet facilities should in the main be totally practical, and yet as pleasing to the eye as a washroom can be given the reason anyone visits a washroom.

Depending on the location, that is to say a factory, restaurant, hotel or other commercial environment the facilities will need to be able to withstand heavy usage. Unlike a single toilet in an office where only one or two people work and the usage will be light, in a factory or large industrial site where many tens or hundreds of staff work, usage will be on an industrial scale. 

 

Given that the toilet in your home is perhaps flushed half a dozen times a day, or the sink in your bathroom is used maybe a few more times a day, the facilities in a public washroom are in constant use day in day out. The potential of damage if they aren't robust enough is high; the potential for abuse by less than hygienic use is higher.

If you own or run a business you will be acutely aware of the Health and Safety legislation; within the framework of the legislation are guidelines on the type and number of facilities you need to provide a workforce, or indeed other stakeholders and members of the public visiting your premises. If you have an issue or need new toilet and washroom facilities, always consult an expert with a long track record in the industry.

If you have a washroom dilemma and need a new toilet cubicle, urinal, locker, sink or wall cladding, give our team a call today. You are able to choose from a wide variety of materials and finishes to suit your uniquely individual project requirements and specifications. For more information about washroom facilities and toilet cubicles, log on to the website of Atlas Washrooms, the address of which is www.atlas-washrooms.co.uk.

Do your current washroom facilities and toilet cubicles cater for your staff and visitor numbers?

The health and Safety at Work regulations are quite specific in the number of toilet cubicles, wash hand basins and shower cubicles that are provided for staff using the site. In addition there is a minimum number laid down for the provision of urinals in toilets provided for male employees and visitors

Obviously, if the site is not open to members of the public such as a restaurant, department store or shopping mall then the provision for washroom facilities and toilet cubicles isn't an option for consideration. However, it is far better to have more than the prescribed minimum if only to save on potential fines for not adhering to and complying with the legislation

All owners of industrial and commercial premises have a duty of care to provide sufficient toilet and washroom facilities. Most commercial and industrial premises comply; however, if your premises are being refurbished and renovated or indeed completely restyled, make sure the architects and designers work closely in conjunction with a professional outfit providing on site washroom and sanitation facilities.

Don't forget that the washroom facilities provided for men’s toilet and women’s toilet facilities varies for obvious reasons. There are strict guidelines and regulations which also govern the provision of separate washroom and toilet facilities for disabled persons, and of course these need to be built to allow access for the disabled who are confined to wheelchairs.

Public washroom and toilet facilities differ from those typically found at home; they have to be robust enough to deal with the potential of hundreds of daily uses. By comparison to the toilet facilities you have at home, a commercial or industrial site facility will probably see a month’s use in a single day compared to the facilities in a typical home.

They also have to be designed and built in such a way that cleaning is carried out efficiently and more importantly effectively. Public toilet facilities which are staff only OR staff and visitors tend to get abused far more than home toilet facilities. You’ve probably visited some of these less than salubrious establishments; cleaning and hygiene are important factors and the risk of spreading bacteria and infection should be kept to the absolute minimum.

The facilities you should have on site should reflect the potential daily traffic from staff and visitors as well as customers. In any case, the facilities you have on site should be of a minimum in accordance with the current legislation.

If you have a washroom dilemma and need new toilet cubicle, urinal, locker, sink or wall cladding, give our team a call today. You are able to choose from a wide variety of materials and finishes to suit your uniquely individual project requirements and specifications. For more information about washroom facilities and toilet cubicles, log on to the website of Atlas Washrooms, the address of which is www.atlas-washrooms.co.uk.