We are now, perhaps more than ever before spending more time than ever outside of the home, and in particular in sporting arenas where life is seemingly returning to normal and our desire to venture out and be entertained is back with a vengence. As a result, we’re expecting much more from public spaces, including washrooms, where we are becoming increasingly aware of how components such as hygiene, comfort, usability and aesthetics combine to impact our overall experience. Many design issues can be controlled by the designers before the building is open and as others by management while in operation. The right planning, the right selection of finishes, fittings and fixtures should all be considered.
There are a number of aspects to consider in the design of a washroom such as;
- Equity of access
- product considerations
- robust and vandal resistant fittings and fixtures
- space for rubbish receptacles, knowing that paper towels cannot be recycled
- large capacity dispensers for busy washrooms or at least with restricted flow
- sensor activated flushing and tapware
Australian standards set out specifications and design guidelines to ensure products consistently perform safely, reliably, and the way they’re intended to. A product of superior durability is needed for a demanding commercial washroom environment. Inferior products which are not made to Australian standards can often result in poor hygiene and safety, and can be problematic when it comes to maintenance. When considering product selection, it is imperative that the materials chosen are hardwearing and robust.
Most commercial washrooms require accessories as listed here.
- Waste bins
- Sanitary disposal units
- Hand dryers and/or paper towel dispensers
- Hair dryers in gyms, hotels and aquatic centres
- Soap dispensers and soap dishes
- Toilet paper dispensers
- Mirrors- either glass or stainless steel
- Grab rails
- Towel rails
- Shower seats
- Shelves, and
- Hooks
