Aria Partitions: Enhanced Comfort & Privacy

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When you’re considering renovating your facility’s restroom, there’s a lot of factors that you need to consider to bring your restroom into the next level. You’ll want to create a unique experience for each occupant with a few design implementations, and, of course, the right materials. One major factor to consider is your toilet partitions. There are plenty of materials out there that can do the job, but you’ll want to find something that’s stylish, sustainable, and long-lasting.

You may want to consider the HDPE plastic Aria Partitions® from Scranton Products.

Consider the Style

You may be thinking that a bathroom doesn’t need a lot of style, but you’d be surprised how the occupants feel. Most commercial facility restrooms lack certain pomp and frills, but you don’t have to use those as your touchstone. Instead, make the restroom unique and inspiring. Aria Partitions™ are sleek and stylish, and available in seven different panel designs, 17 different door designs, and 27 unique colors and textures, allowing you the opportunity to customize your bathroom’s appearance.

Improve the Privacy & Comfort

One of the major advantages that Aria Partitions have is that they offer higher privacy. The hinges are designed in a way that reduces the sightlines, leaving no open spaces between the door and the frame. There’s no open space above or below, resulting in the utmost privacy for the occupant. Due to the customizable options, you can easily design your restroom to offer exceptional comfort and privacy.

Thinking Long-Term

When you’re embarking on a renovation project, you’ll want to think long-term and utilize the materials that will last. Aria Partitions™ are made from HDPE (high-density polyethylene), which is a solid plastic. It’s 100% recyclable, and even made from recycled materials, making it a sustainable option for your restroom.

This solid plastic is highly durable and resistant to the elements. It can take several hits without showing any surface damage in the form of dents, cracks, or scratches. It’s not absorbent, so it won’t soak up any moisture that would normally degrade other partitions. Lastly, it’s impervious to graffiti, and any sign of unwanted artwork can be easily wiped away. You won’t have to repaint these partitions because their solid color will last.

Less Maintenance for You

One thing that facility managers can agree on is their distaste for repetitive restroom maintenance. Most commercial bathrooms require vigorous cleaning, as well as fixing the partitions, whether it’s loose screws and hinges, or even graffiti that needs to be painted over. Aria Partitions™ and HDPE plastic are very low maintenance. They just require light cleaning. You won’t have to worry about fixing the hinges or replacing the screws. You won’t even have to replace them because they’re one of the most durable choices on the market.

Choosing Aria Partitions™ for your commercial facility’s restroom is a smart choice for a variety of reasons. They provide the utmost privacy, they’re strong and durable, they’re stylish and sophisticated, and they can last the years. Do you want to learn more about Aria Partitions™ and how you can configure them to bring your restroom to the next level? Learn more about Aria Partitions™ from your friends at Scranton Products.

Maintaining Your School Bathroom

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As a facility manager of a school, you’ve got a lot to keep up with in terms of maintenance. However, one of the most important areas to focus on are the bathrooms in your school. There are a variety of factors that can contribute to the drop in quality of your bathrooms, but there are a few ways that you can stay ahead of the elements and keep your bathroom in great shape.

Factors That Affect Your School’s Bathrooms

The bathrooms in your school may be the most visited areas of the entire building, which means that you’ll need to stay on top of cleaning and maintenance to ensure that everyone walks away with a pleasant experience. However, the first step towards keeping your bathroom in great shape is identifying the factors that affect your school’s bathrooms.

  • Unpleasant Odors. There are a few reasons why your bathroom has a distinct and unpleasant smell, but the first step is identifying where the smells are coming from before you initiate a plan to rid your restroom of these odors.
  • Dirty Floors & Vanities. No one likes to see excessive dirt and crud on the floor, especially in the bathroom. Countertops and bathroom vanities are also known to collect dirt, so executing a thorough cleaning plan is important.
  • Low Water Pressure. If your water pressure is low, it can add stress and aggravation to the bathroom experience. Be sure that the sink and toilet water pressure are up to your standards.
  • Mold Growth. Over time, your bathroom will begin to sprout mold because the humidity and moisture create an environment where fungus thrives, and foul smells are present.

Execute a Heavy-Duty Cleaning & Maintenance Strategy

Make a plan to clean your school’s restroom vigorously on a regular basis—and not just sweeping the floor and throwing away any paper towels that didn’t quite make it into the trash. You’ll want some anti-bacterial cleaning products to meticulously clean the restroom. This can help combat the smells and bacteria that are growing. You’ll also want to regularly check your facility’s water pressure to be sure that the water in the sink and the toilet flushing are up to par.

Stop Mold in Its Tracks

Earth Toned Bathroom interiorYou’ll be able to spot mold sprouting in the corners of your bathroom, but that’s not the only place it can grow. Often, mold begins to sprout inside toilet partitions that have an inner core. The kraft paper interior stays moist due to the humidity in the bathroom. Over time, the mold will begin to take over. Once mold has grown inside these partitions, it’s difficult to clean and salvage the partitions.

However, you can stay ahead of mold growth and put off on replacing your partitions repeatedly. Using HDPE plastic partitions can help ward off mold because this solid plastic doesn’t feature an inner core that can absorb moisture. Installing HDPE plastic partitions has a variety of benefits: they’re easy to clean, mold won’t grow, and they outlast most other materials.

Picking a Long-Lasting Solution

Having a solid plan to regularly maintain your bathrooms is important. You’ll want to take the necessary steps that you’re combatting the elements, preventing any mechanical issues, and warding off mold and bacteria. HDPE plastic partitions can aid you in a number of ways, from preventing mold growth within your stalls, reducing the foul odors, and having a material that can last a long time to stand up to the factors that affect your school’s restrooms.

Want to learn more about HDPE plastic partitions and how using the right materials can help you maintain your school’s bathrooms? Check out this eBook, Choosing Bathroom Materials, from your friends at Scranton Products.

8 Ways to Improve Your Commercial Bathroom’s Experience

Even though the bathroom in your facility is visited every day by numerous occupants, do you ever ask them how their experience was? This probably isn’t the right approach to assess the quality of your commercial bathroom design or how the occupants gauge it. However, in order to improve the bathroom experience in your facility, you’ll want to focus on the areas that actually need the improvement. Commercial bathrooms have evolved over the years, and are now becoming an alluring and relaxing component to your facility. Here’s eight different ways you can improve the commercial bathroom experience for your occupants.

  1. Consider Renovating Your Bathroom.

You may keep up on industry trends, but you’ll have to remodel your restroom if you want to stay ahead of the times. Some facilities offer a stylish and comforting restroom by using the right materials and some design implementations that can transform a normal bathroom into relaxing getaway. To truly improve the experience, you may want to consider starting from the ground up.

  1. Stay Up on Industry Trends.

Some modern offices and facilities encompass artistic design into their buildings. Whether it’s taking on the open space concepts, or simply using more stylish accessories, facilities are changing drastically, so it’s always important to learn about the latest commercial restroom trends. This can even translate to your restroom. Take a look at a few to get a better idea of how you can transform your bathroom that can enhance the experience.

  1. Amplify the Space in Your Restroom.

Did you know that you can make your restroom appear more spacious without having to knock down any walls? By using the components and materials creatively, you can get a lot out of the confined space. You can get this done in a few different ways, one of which is by using larger mirrors behind your vanities, which makes the restroom seem more spacious. Another way is by leaving open space under your sinks. Most restroom sinks have their pipes and components covered, but if you leave this space open and your vanities slim, it can add space to your facility’s restroom.

  1. Use Soft Colors & Lighting.

Lighting can have a huge effect on the restroom experience. Do away with the bright fluorescent lights, and go for something softer and more energy-efficient. You can even complement the light with softer and neutral colors. Using neutral colors will not only help make your restroom soft on the eyes, but it can also reduce the sight of dirt or stains that would be very noticeable on a brightly colored wall.

  1. Think Long-Term with Your Partitions.

When it comes to choosing your toilet partitions, you’ll want something that’s visually appealing, but will also last for a long time. Materials like HDPE plastic have been utilized in restrooms across the country, and has yielded positive results. It’s a solid plastic that’s durable, impact resistant, non-absorbent, and best of all—sustainable. It’s made from recycled material and can easily be recycled, but they’re guaranteed for 25 years, so you won’t have to worry about recycling or replacing them anytime soon.

  1. Improve Occupant Privacy.

A common complaint that occupants have about the restroom at their job is that it’s not as private as they’d like it to be. There can be major gaps under the stall, and even the door leaves a considerable space that can make for an uncomfortable experience. HDPE partitions can be configured using hidden hardware and clasps to eliminate sightlines, which provide a private and secure experience for the occupants.

  1. Invest in Automated Fixtures & Features.

It may seem like a major investment, but utilizing automated fixtures like sinks, soap dispensers, and even motion-sensing lights can save you costs. The soap dispensers will provide the precise amount for each occupant, which will reduce waste. The motion-sensing lights will help reduce your energy costs significantly. It also saves occupants from touching any components in your restroom.

  1. Combat Mold & Mildew Ahead of Time.

Mold is always a threat to reduce the quality of the commercial bathroom experience. The constant moisture and humidity in the restroom are the perfect environment for mold to grow and spread. When it finds its way in different components, like your vanities and partitions, getting rid of it can be very tricky. However, utilizing HDPE plastic bathroom stalls and vanities can help combat mold because these materials won’t absorb any moisture and mold won’t sprout inside the plastic. By utilizing a few of these tips, you can certainly improve the occupant experience with your facility’s restrooms. Want to learn more to help you get started? Check out this eBook, The Professional’s Guide to Commercial Bathroom Renovations and Remodels, from us at Scranton Products.

 

Scranton Products’ All New Aria Partitions®

At Scranton Products, we’re proud to have helped facility owners and building managers with our sustainable Aria Partitions in Industrial Restroomproducts that have helped them cut costs on maintenance and increase occupant productivity and happiness. While many of our products have made facility managers happy, we’re set to raise the expectations by giving you a peek at our new Aria Partitions™.

Welcome to the next level of bathroom privacy and design.

Upgraded Privacy

Most restrooms in office buildings, restaurants, and public places have an invasive feel to them. The partitions have gaping sightlines, they’re short, and there’s plenty of visibility at the bottom. Aria Partitions® aim to reduce the sightlines and provide a secure and personalized setting for your bathroom experience. There’s no visibility of feet due to our shoeless system, and there’s no wide crack between the door and hinge that provide a window of sight because of the overlapping edges. Instead, you get an enclosed partition where you can comfortably use the restroom without a worry in the world of being seen through the cracks.

Sophisticated Design

Have you ever walked into a restroom that just seemed bland and uninspired? The toilet partitions have a huge effect on that, but with Aria Partitions™, there’s an added elegance and refinement that will provide an alluring sophistication to any restroom. The best part is that you have your choice of design. The first choice is the height, with 86 inches or 112 inches, providing a tall and private structure for occupants. Aria Partitions™ are customizable to tailor to your restroom, with seven different panel designs, 17 door designs, as well as 27 available colors and textures that you can pick to customize the restroom in your facility.

Easy Installation

One of the many benefits of Aria Partitions™ is that they’re easy to install. There’s less structural restrictions than normal toilet partitions because they’re floor supported. You don’t have to make sure they’re fixed to the ceiling or wall. Each partition features the floor and frame aluminum brackets, stainless steel hinges, and door accessories, like wall stops and coat hook bumpers.

Durability & Longevity

Aria Partitions™ are made from HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plastic. These partitions are highly durable and can stand up to the elements, like humidity and moisture. Since the partitions are made from solid plastic, they won’t absorb any of the moisture or sprout any mold. Aria Partitions™ are also impact-resistant, meaning they won’t crack or break after taking a hit or two.

Another major advantage to HDPE plastic like Aria Partitions™ is that they’re low maintenance. Since they don’t absorb moisture, they won’t need to be replaced. They don’t need to be repainted because their color won’t fade. The only maintenance that these partitions require is a light cleaning. Due to the low maintenance, these stalls rank as one of the best for the cost of ownership.

Are you interested in learning more about Aria Partitions™ from Scranton Products? Download the brochure or contact us today.

Filling the Gap: Rising Demand to Improve Toilet Compartment Privacy

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As a facility manager, there are many ways that you can make your commercial bathroom a little more comfortable. Softer lighting tends to work, as do air fresheners. However, one of the biggest complaints that occupants have of the restrooms in their office building is the lack of privacy with the toilet partitions. This a common issue among many commercial bathrooms, and the demand for improvements on toilet compartment privacy has been on the rise.

Below, we’ll state the common problems with toilet compartment privacy, and we’ll even list some helpful solutions to help you get started on making your facility’s restroom more comfortable and private for your occupants.

Problems with the Lack of Privacy in Commercial Restrooms

You’d think that toilet stalls are private enough, but there are a few factors that may have been overlooked when you ordered your partitions. The major complaint is the gap between the door and the actual partition. While some gaps vary in size, the issue still remains that there’s a gap that provides an unwanted view inside of the stall when the door is closed. No one likes being watched, or being visible while they’re going to the bathroom.

Another issue is the open space from the floor to the bottom of the partition. While this isn’t as bad as the door gap, it’s still unsettling that your feet are clearly visible when you’re in the stall. Some stalls are even short, which can create an uncomfortable scenario when the occupant in the next stall happens to be taller than the actual partitions.

Choosing Better Materials

When you’re faced with an issue of privacy, or lack thereof, you’ll need to find the route of the problem. Most commonly, the stalls that you have in your facility face the gap dilemma. One way to combat this is by choosing different toilet partitions.

Hiny Hiders and Eclipse Partitions® provide excellent privacy with occupants. Their design incorporates the shiplap cut edges, so when the door to the partition is closed, it’s closed tightly and reduce any gaps or unwanted sightlines. These partitions can be customized to fit the overall design or size of the restroom in your facility.

These toilet partitions also have a variety of benefits because they’re made from HDPE. This solid plastic provides a more durable material that is resistant to scratches, dents, and impacts. These stalls can even hold up to constant moisture exposure and won’t absorb any that would otherwise create mold. Common restroom partitions have a paper core that can absorb the moisture and sprout mold, which is hard to get out. So, those kinds of stalls are inevitably replaced, which can be costly over time. HDPE plastic simply lasts longer and requires less maintenance.

Are you considering making the jump to HDPE to make your toilet partitions more private and comfortable? Check out this free eBook, The Professional’s Guide to Commercial Bathroom Renovations and Remodels, from your friends at Scranton Products.

 

 

Commercial Bathroom Layout Ideas & Tips

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There’s a lot of thought and consideration when it comes to commercial bathroom design. You want it to be inviting, not off-putting, so you’ll want to be careful with your design and choices. Staying up on design trends can help you transform a run-of-the-mill restroom into a warm and welcoming space for occupants to relieve themselves. Here are a few commercial bathroom layout ideas and tips for you to consider in order to bring your restroom into the modern age.

Open Design & Maximizing Space

Right now, open space is a huge trend within different offices because it increases airflow, productivity, and even the social aspect. This trend can be utilized in your restroom, even if you’re working with limited space. The key is using that space and making it seem bigger. Luckily, there are a few ways to make your restroom seem more spacious, without having to knock down the walls or expand its borders.

Sinks and vanities are crucial for every bathroom, so you’ll want to make this space really pop. Make the area under the sink empty to utilize the space. You can even use properly placed mirrors to help make your bathroom seem a little bit bigger, as well as more modern.

Get Creative With Your Sink & Stall Placement

Finding new and inventive commercial bathroom designscan help boost your restroom’s appeal. No one said that sinks have to be attached to a wall. In fact, floating sinks and vanities are becoming increasingly popular in modern offices, and even in restaurants. Placing a series of sinks in the middle of the bathroom, as opposed to against the wall, creates a new and exciting experience for the occupants.

While privacy is one of the most important components to a public restroom, you don’t have to follow the typical layout with three stalls tucked in the corner. You can have free standing, private bathroom stalls. Because the stalls won’t be right on top of each other, and your occupants won’t feel cramped or uncomfortable.

Use Better Materials

One of the biggest downfalls to commercial restrooms is the choice of materials used for the stalls and partitions. The most common materials are coated steel and phenolic plastic. The problem is that these materials can be susceptible to faster-than-normal wear and tear. Due to overwhelming humidity and moisture in commercial restrooms, the steel can rust and the phenolic plastic can sprout mold in its core.

Think about using a stronger, more durable material that can stand up to these factors. HDPE’s moisture and mildew resistance makes it an ideal material for bathrooms. In addition, it provides a strong and durable stall that won’t degrade and become riddled with foul-smelling mold, or cosmetic scratches and dents.

Showers & Dressing Compartments FAQs

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If your facility features a shower area or even dressing compartments, it’s important that you’re using the right materials to make sure that occupants or employees are comfortable, as well as covered with privacy. There are a variety of materials that are in use, but none of them compare to HDPE in terms of durability, security, and sustainability. So, if you’re considering using HDPE showers or dressing compartments, here are some answers to the most common questions that facility managers have.

Get started by looking for the question(s) that’s most relevant to you so you can learn the answer!

How Are These Showers/Dressing Compartments Stronger Than the Standard Materials?

Most facility showers and dressing compartments are made from steel, coated steel, or even phenolic plastic, which can be strong and provide adequate privacy for anyone who’s washing or even changing. However, most of these materials seem strong on the surface, but can be easily scratched or dented, resulting in an eyesore on your shower stall. HDPE plastic is solid and durable. As it’s a solid piece of plastic, it will resist dents and scratches.

How Are They Affected by Humidity and Moisture?

Humidity and moisture are a common threat in your bathrooms, shower facilities, and changing areas. Most of the materials used for showers and dressing compartments have a plastic exterior, but with a softer inner core that’s susceptible to mold growth due to the constant exposure to moisture. Once mold is inside, these materials need to be removed and replaced. HDPE showers and changing compartments are a solid plastic, making them impenetrable to moisture, and they can easily stave off mold growth. These HDPE materials will help you keep your air quality high.

Can They Provide Enough Privacy?

Absolutely! HDPE shower stalls and dressing compartments can be tailored to fit any designated area. You can select your preferred height and width, as well as custom make an ADA-compliant shower stall. Your shower and dressing compartment occupants will be satisfied with the level of privacy that HDPE compartments and stalls provide.

Is There a Lot of Expensive Upkeep?

You’ll be happy to know that HDPE plastic is a low-maintenance building material. Due to the resistance to mold growth, they won’t need to be replaced early in their cycle. As for any stains or blemishes on their surface, they can easily be wiped away without a rigorous and extensive cleanup.

How Long Will These Stalls and Compartments Last?

These HDPE stalls and compartments will last for a long time. Because they’re durable, they won’t endure any surface damage, and due to the low-cost maintenance, these stalls and compartments will eventually pay for themselves after only a few years. These materials are also sustainable, and they’re made from both pre- and post-consumer material, making them up to 100% recyclable.

Want to learn more about how HDPE stalls and compartments would be a great material for your facility? Check out our free eBook, The Professional’s Guide to Commercial Bathroom Renovations and Remodels, from your friends at Scranton Products.

ADA Compliant Bathroom Measurements

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When you’re about the begin a thorough remodel or your facility’s bathroom, or you’re about to break ground on your new facility, there are several regulations and guidelines you need to follow to not only pass inspection, but also to adhere to the needs of the occupants. One of the most common forms of these regulations are the ones set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These guidelines can help you design an accessible restroom and its features are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

What to Think About When Remodeling/Building Your Restroom

When you begin outlining the designs for your facility’s restroom, keep ADA compliance in mind. You’ll need to make sure that you hit the exact measurements when you’re figuring out the stalls and partitions. Forgetting to utilize the required measurements set by the ADA could lead to consequences including fines, as well as having to completely reconfigure the layout of your facility’s restrooms. Doing so would be a painstaking process that would delay construction as well as any tentative finish date of your facility’s renovations.

Specific ADA Compliant Restroom Measurements

Before ordering the parts and materials, you’ll need to lock down the specific ADA compliant measurements for the restrooms. There should be at least one stall designated for a disabled individual.

ADA Compliant Stall Dimensions:

  • 60 inches wide for a wall-mounted toilet
  • 56 inches deep for a wall-mounted toilet
  • 59 inches deep for a floor-mounted toilet

The stall should also include a grab bar for easy access when transitioning from wheelchair to toilet. The grab bar should be at minimum 36 inches long and no more than 6 inches from the inside corner of the stall. The adjacent grab bar shouldn’t be more than 12 inches from the back wall of the partition. All grab bars must be at least 33 to 36 inches from the floor. Bathroom sinks shouldn’t be more than 34 inches from the floor, and they should provide a knee clearance of 27 inches high and 30 inches wide.

Using the Right Materials for Your Restroom

Now that you know the specific measurements for the ADA compliant stall and sink, you’re ready to begin ordering your  materials. However, there are a few factors you should consider before choosing your material. You want to be sure to select a sturdy and durable material because you have to consider that when a disabled individual is using the grab bar, they’re placing their whole weight on the bar, so you’ll need a  bathroom partition that can stand up to the pressure.

While there are plenty of plastic and steel options to consider, HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is one of the more reliable materials to use. It’s impact- and scratch-resistant, and due to its solid plastic construction, it can stand up to the humidity and moisture as well as prevent mold from growing. Best of all, HDPE partitions are customizable, allowing you to choose your specific measurements in order to be compliant with the regulations set by the ADA.

Want to learn more about how to make your facility’s restrooms ADA compliant? Check out our eBook, ADA Guideline for a Compliant Restroom, from your friends at Scranton Products.

What is ADA-Compliant?

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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed by Congress in 1990. It’s a civil rights law that prohibits the discrimination of people with disabilities. Not adhering to the strict building standards to meet the needs of disabled people is an act of discrimination, and it’s a law that building managers need to address and to adhere to in order to make their facility easily accessible to disabled occupants. As a facility manager, it’s your job to not only implement ADA-compliant entrances and bathroom fixtures, but you also need to ensure that these designs are legal in accordance with the ADA, and can be easily accessed and utilized by any disabled occupant.

Four Major Priorities for Accessibility

According to the Department of Justice ADA Title III regulations, there are four major priorities to follow to ensure that you’re following the law and ensuring that your facility is ADA-compliant. Whether you’re building from the ground up, in the middle of a renovation, or beginning to embark on a remodel, you’ll want to be sure that you’re implementing these priorities to make your facility easily accessible. Read below to learn about the four major priorities when it comes to making your facility ADA-compliant.

1.      Accessible Approach & Entrance

Not all your facility’s occupants are able-bodied and agile. You need to ensure that entering your facility isn’t a difficulty for anyone with any disability that effects their mobility. Be sure to have a ramp and a railing so any wheelchair occupants can enter your facility without any hassle. The ramp should be 48’’ wide with a one-inch rise for every foot of ramp to ensure that the incline isn’t too drastic for the individual.

2.      Access to Goods & Services

Whether it’s a cafeteria in an office building or a sales rack in a department store, occupants of all abilities must be able to easily access these goods. Ensuring that countertops are at an appropriate height is paramount. The maximum height should be no higher than 36’’ with adequate floor space for any type of wheelchair to easily maneuver.

3.      Access to Public Toilet Restrooms

Every occupant in your facility will need to relieve themselves from time to time, and as a facility manager, it’s your responsibility that they can do so without too much strain or difficulty. Each restroom should have at least one handicapped-accessible toilet stall that consists of 60’’ of width. You also need to install a grab bar that’s 36’’ long with an adjacent grab bar on the other side, both of which should be 33” to 36’’ from the floor. Since occupants will be putting their whole weight on these grab bars, utilizing stronger materials like HDPE (high-density polyethylene) partitions may be a wise idea.

4.      Access to Other Items

This category consists of making sure that essential items like water fountains are easily accessible. Water fountain spouts should be no higher than 36’’ inches off of the ground so any wheelchair occupant can get a drink of water without a struggle.

Making Your Facility ADA-Compliant

It’s important to adhere to these guidelines when you’re building from the ground up, or starting an extensive remodel. Making sure that facets and features of your facility is accessible to all occupants is the law, so be sure to consider these regulations when going over your designs. Following these guidelines will come in handy when your facility gets inspected, and by complying with the ADA regulations, your facility has a great chance of passing the inspection.

Are you looking to get started on making your facility more ADA-compliant? Check out this free eBook, ADA Guidelines for a Compliant Restroom, from your friends at Scranton Products.

 

Restroom Requirements for Commercial Buildings

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Whether you’re the proud manager of a commercial facility, or you’re in the process of designing your building, there are a lot of legal requirements that you need to adhere to for the benefit of the facility’s occupants. More importantly, your facility’s restrooms need to meet certain standards involving architectural planning and health code standards. Here are a few tips to help you meet these OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) specific requirements for commercial buildings that ensure your occupants can have a safe and sanitary restroom.

Planning Your Toilet Facilities

When you’re planning your facility’s restrooms, there’s a lot that you need to factor into the designs. It’s always best to have an idea of how many employees or occupants are going to be in the facility on a daily basis. Generally, 1-15 occupants legally require at least one toilet per each gender-designated restroom. If the occupancy is between 36 and 55 individuals, then that number jumps to three toilets per restroom.

While many people enjoy the single occupant restroom, it can cause frustration and complaints, so if you’re planning your facility from the ground up, a multiple occupant restroom should be heavily considered. If you expect a possible influx of occupants due to company growth, choosing a multi-toilet and urinal restroom is a wise choice. Make sure to include a designated handicapped stall to be ADA compliant.

Ensuring Occupant Privacy

Relieving oneself is a private matter, so taking the necessary steps to ensure privacy is important. Single-toilet restrooms should have a door that can be locked from the inside. Multiple-toilet restrooms should feature stalls and partitions that provide the necessary privacy. Non-ADA stalls should be at least 60 inches in width and a minimum of 55 inches high, but not limited to 72 inches in height.

Sanitation Standards

Hand washing stations are also a requirement in your restroom. Signs indicating the requirement to wash hands can be helpful in reducing health risks of spreading germs and infections. For a multi-toilet restroom, more than one hand washing station should be made available to the occupants. Soap dispensers should be checked sporadically throughout the day and refilled if necessary.

A thorough cleaning should be conducted daily to ensure that any germs or bacteria are eradicated. It’s imperative to combat mold growth because it can reduce the air quality and result in respiratory issues for the occupants. Due to the constant exposure to moisture and humidity, various restroom components can actually harbor mold growth.

Whether mold has already sprouted inside your stalls, partitions, or vanities, or you’re simply looking for preventative measures, there have been great results with the implementation of HDPE (high-density polyethylene) solid plastic materials. Not only are HDPE materials impervious to mold growth, they’re also impact-, dent-, and graffiti-resistant. Due to their solid construction and homogenous coloring, they don’t require repainting. These low-maintenance stalls can actually help you keep your air quality in good standing while providing the utmost privacy and security for your occupants while they’re using the restroom.

 

Following these guidelines will help ensure that your restroom is OSHA and ADA compliant. If you’d like to learn more about designing your restroom, or the best materials to use, download the Restroom Design for Commercial Facilities or Choosing Bathroom Materials eBooks, courtesy of Scranton Products.