Today, locker decorating has taken on a new meaning. What was once completed with the hanging of a small mirror and a magazine cutout of the current teen heartthrob has escalated to include shag rugs, chandeliers, wallpaper, and more. These completely customized lockers are an excellent way for students to express themselves, but they could be inadvertently damaging the lockers with their renovations.

In this post, we discuss some basic locker decoration rules and guidelines so you can avoid damage to lockers in your school while still allowing students to have fun.

Locker Decoration Rules

Locker Decoration Rules & Guidelines

At the beginning of the school year, most institutions distribute a code of conduct that specifies the school’s many rules and regulations. This is a great opportunity to let new and returning students know about any locker decoration rules or guidelines.

Below are some suggested guidelines that you might want to include in your code of conduct booklet.

NO Harsh Adhesives

Stickers, glue, and adhesive mounting strips can be great for securing locker decorations in place, but they’re also likely to damage the locker when attempting to remove those decorations. Magnets or painter’s tape should be used instead.

NO Decorating with Markers or Pens

Marking the inside or the outside of the locker with pens or markers should be strongly discouraged for obvious reasons. These marks will be virtually impossible to remove and may likely result in a need to repaint the lockers.

NO Painting

Students shouldn’t be allowed to paint any section of their lockers. Not only can paint fumes be harmful when inhaled, a haphazard painting job could damage nearby lockers or the locking mechanism.

NO Strong Magnets near the Locking Mechanism

Metal locks can easily be affected by nearby magnets, making them difficult or impossible to open. For that reason, places magnets near the locking mechanism should be avoided.

 

Promoting Non-Destructive Locker Decorating

One of the easiest ways to make sure that the lockers in your school aren’t damaged by annual decorating is to have lockers that are resistant to those items that can damage them. For example, if you consider a traditional metal locker, it can be damaged by use of magnets, harsh adhesives, markers, and so on. However, a locker made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is difficult to damage by these means.

For one, it’s impossible to use magnets in this plastic locker. So you don’t have to worry about the locking mechanism being damaged. HDPE is also resistant to graffiti, making it more difficult for students to mark the locker with pens or markers.

Not only that, but HDPE lockers are also resistant to dents, scratches, and rust—all threats that metal lockers face.

To learn more about HDPE locker, download our FREE Ultimate Guide to HDPE Plastic Lockers. This helpful eBook covers the many benefits of HDPE lockers, how they compare to metal lockers, and explains how they provide a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative.

Providing bathroom accommodations for the disabled isn’t just important if you own a public building, it’s required by law. But just how do you design accessible bathrooms for the disabled? What are the rules and regulations that architects need to know before having a contractor begin work?

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at designing accessible bathrooms for your commercial facility and what important questions you should keep in mind.

Is the Sink or Vanity Easily Accessible?

Guests should be able to wash their hands easily after using the restroom to promote a clean environment and reduce the spread of dangerous bacteria. However, certain sink or vanity constructions may make it more difficult for someone with a disability to complete this simple task.

To make your bathroom more accessible, consider mounting sinks to the wall, no more than 34 inches high and with at least 27 inches of clearance underneath. That way a guest in a wheelchair can easily approach from the front to wash their hands.

bathroom material

How Accessible Is the Toilet?

If you’re in charge of a commercial restroom, at least one toilet must be wheelchair accessible. The American Disabilities Act suggests the toilet be around 17 to 19 inches high, which makes it easy for all users to sit down, stand up, or transfer from a wheelchair.

You’ll also need to install a grab bar mounted on the closest wall. The preferred placement is two grab bars positioned 36 inches apart with the toilet placed 18 inches from either bar. This makes it easy for anyone to use the bathroom no matter what additional support they may need.

Adequate Lighting Is Important for Bathroom Accessibility

Making sure that your commercial restroom is well lit is one way to ensure accessibility. Lighting should be abundant in all areas, including inside each bathroom stall. Try to plan bathroom lighting ahead of time to avoid shadows, which might conceal hidden obstacles or create the illusion of a supportive surface where no support is available.

It’s also recommended to use motion-activated lights, so they’ll turn on automatically even when users have trouble reaching the light switch. This nifty piece of technology can also help to save your organization money since motion-activated lights turn off automatically when the facility isn’t in use.

Other Design Features for a Handicap-Accessible Bathroom

Although proper lighting and support bars are important, they’re not the only things you’ll need to consider when designing your next bathroom. For example, stall doors that open out instead of in allow for more room inside the stall itself. You should also consider hook placement on the back of stall doors so they’re accessible by those who may be disabled.

In general, doorways will need to be at least 34 inches wide for a wheelchair to pass through, but wider or labyrinth entrances might also be considered.

To learn more about restroom design for commercial facilities, download our free eBook Restroom Design for Commercial Facilities. With helpful information on choosing partitions, sustainability concerns, and more, this free guide is essential for anyone thinking about designing or redesigning a commercial bathroom.

For many reasons, schools are frequently the target of vandalism, break-ins, and theft. For one, some people see schools as being owned by no one rather than being owned by everyone. Schools can also be a source of great frustration for the students that go there, so they may use vandalism as a way of expressing that stress.

But whatever the reason, it’s important for schools to develop plans and strategies for preventing these issues from occurring. In this post, we’ll discuss some of the best ways to prevent theft, vandalism, and break-ins from happening at your school.

Prevent Break-Ins by Controlling Access

Keeping doors locked on weekends and when the building isn’t in use is an essential tip for keeping your school safe from break-ins and theft. But what about when parts of the school are in use and others aren’t?

In this scenario, moveable gates are perfect for sectioning off hallways and even whole wings of a building. These lockable gates also allow cleaning staff and other personnel to still move freely through the building.

It might also behoove you to think about limiting access from other entry points, like lower-level windows. Consider planting thorny bushes to help deter would-be intruders from attempting to break into your school.

Use Warning Signs to Deter Vandalism

As simple as they may seem, posting clearly visible warning signs can be an extremely effective way to reduce the amount of unsupervised loitering and the problems that arise from such activities. Warning signs play a vital role in setting rules and expectations for your school and the school grounds.

You can also clearly establish the school territory by using student art and gardens. These indicate that the school along with the grounds around it are monitored regularly and well cared for.

People are much less likely to deface or break into a property that’s in good condition compared to one that looks deserted and rundown. Remove any existing graffiti from lockers or bathroom walls immediately.

Stop Theft by Securing Valuables

Any valuable equipment should be kept in a safe and secure place that’s accessible only by authorized personnel. Storing things like expensive audio-visual equipment in the classroom or similar common area leaves the equipment at risk. It could easily be damaged or even stolen when a faculty member isn’t watching.

You can also use carts to move expensive equipment from room to room so only one room has to be secured at a time.

Use Graffiti-Resistant Materials

Given their nature of privacy and being secluded, two things that vandals rely on, school bathrooms are frequently the target of vandalism. One way to prevent vandalism is to utilize materials that are resistant to graffiti and scratches.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE), for example, is a durable plastic material that’s highly resistant to graffiti. It can be used for a multitude of applications, including bathroom partitions, vanities, and lockers. In addition to helping to deter vandalism, this material is 100% resistant to rust.

Want to learn more about HDPE bathroom partitions? Check out this case study from the Dallas Independent School District.

High-density polyethylene, or HDPE, is a type of plastic that’s tougher and stronger and can endure higher temperatures than most other polymers. This durable plastic is used in a wide variety of applications, from transporting water to storing school books while students are in class. But those who aren’t familiar with this versatile material or who have had negative experiences with other materials in the past might be concerned about the product’s safety.

Is it safe for people to come in contact with HDPE? Are there any negative health implications? We’ll answer these questions and more as we explore everything you need to know about HDPE.

[READ MORE: The Ultimate Guide to HDPE Plastic Lockers eBook]

 

Is HDPE Dangerous?

In a word, no. HDPE isn’t necessarily dangerous in its final form, once it’s been molded or manufactured into the container or product that it will continue to be used for until eventually being recycled. In fact, HDPE is frequently used for packing food thanks to its compliance with regulations set out by the US Food and Drug Administration. However, it should be noted that while all food-safe containers are made from HDPE, not all HDPE is food-safe.

HDPE can be dangerous during the manufacturing process if proper care and precautions aren’t taken. The dust or resin of polyethylene, for example, can cause eye irritation as can the vapors from the resin when it’s being heated. Individuals who are likely to be around HDPE while it’s being manufactured should wear adequate safety gear to avoid unintentional injury.

Using HDPE Safely

Given its high durability and resistance to most damage, HDPE has become a popular material for use in commercial buildings. At Scranton Products, our HDPE products even come with a GREENGuard Gold Certification, making them suitable for use in areas where occupants are considered especially sensitive, like hospitals and schools.

And since our HDPE products are colored throughout during the manufacturing process, there’s no need to repaint, which helps to limit the amount of volatile organic compounds affecting indoor air quality. Not only that, but since HDPE is extremely easy to clean, there’s no need for cleaning staff to use heavy-duty and often harmful chemicals.

Commercial Applications for HDPE

Although HDPE can be used in a variety of applications, some of the most exciting uses are in commercial building design. For instance, HDPE is perfect for lockers since the highly durable plastic is resistant to dents and scratches. It’s also guaranteed never to rust.

In commercial bathrooms, architects are using HDPE bathroom partitions because they’re resistant to graffiti and bacteria, unlike traditional metal partitions. Other applications include shower stalls and dressing compartments, which provide safety and privacy inside dressing rooms and locker rooms.

Interested in learning more about HDPE? Check these common HDPE questions!

 

 

Running a school involves a substantial amount of upkeep. Regular cleaning, HVAC system maintenance, repairing lockers—the list of work orders goes on and on. So it’s no surprise to find out that sometimes routine maintenance and repairs can fall to the wayside. However, it’s been suggested that school building conditions may directly impact student absenteeism.

Is there any merit to this claim? And if so, what do school officials need to know to keep student absenteeism down and school building conditions high?

Dirty Truth about Student Absenteeism

A 2010 study published in the American Journal of Public Health found a positive correlation between student absenteeism and the conditions of the school building. In fact, the worse condition a school is in, the higher student absenteeism will likely be.

One of the leading causes of short-term absenteeism is asthma, which can easily be triggered by poor air quality or negative building quality.

To keep students healthy and reduce the number of absences, it’s vital for school officials to maintain regular cleaning and maintenance procedures, not to mention use high-quality materials in the building’s design.

School Building Conditions to Monitor

Having your maintenance or cleaning staff keep a careful eye on building conditions is an important step in reducing the frequency of student absenteeism. However, there are specific areas that are more likely to be a threat than others.

The gym locker room for one can be prone to quick deterioration if left unchecked. Metal lockers have a tendency to rust due to the high level of moisture. That same moisture can also cause mold or mildew to form. Plus, if the room isn’t ventilated properly, high humidity and offensive odors can significantly impact the facilities indoor air quality.

School Building Conditions

To stay on top of such threats, cleanings should be carried out regularly, and alternatives to metal lockers should be considered. High-density polyethylene (HDPE), for example, is naturally resistant to rust as well as mold.

Using HDPE to Combat Student Absenteeism

HDPE isn’t new. Actually, it’s been around since the 1950s. Today, the durable plastic is used in a variety of applications, including school lockers. These plastic lockers have color throughout, so there’s no need for repainting, or danger of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

More than just for lockers, HDPE has also been used to create bathroom partitions. Not only do they resist rust, but the partitions also resist the spread of bacteria and can even deter graffiti and other acts of vandalism.

If your school’s bathroom or locker room is still using metal fixtures, it might be time to think about remodeling.

 

We live in a world where environmental consciousness has become the new status quo for everything from designing candy wrappers to spaceships. But architects are left to wonder, how do you build a facility with premium features without negatively impacting the local environment?

The answer to that could easily fill a book (and it has!), so for this post, we’ll narrow it down and focus on how to design and eco-friendly bathroom.

Conserve Energy with Motion-Detectable Lighting

One of the best ways to make your bathroom more eco-friendly is to reduce the amount of wasted energy. Installing lights that rely on a motion sensor to turn on will help to keep them from running when the room is unoccupied. Just make sure to set the auto-off timer to an appropriate interval to give guests enough time to use and exit the facility before the lights shut off.

Use Automatic Faucets to Reduce Water Waste

When it comes to water waste, hand washing is one of the top perpetrators. By using an automatic faucet, you can be sure that the water is running only when someone is washing their hands.

For additional water conservation, opt for using slow-flow faucets, which use significantly less water while still offering the same amount of hand washing capability.

You can also add automatic soap dispensers, which might not save on energy costs, but they can help to make your bathroom more sanitary.

restroom cleaning checklist

Opt for an Air Hand Dryer Instead of Paper Towels

Paper towels add to the amount of waste your facility produces. Not only that, but they also contribute to the deforestation of woodland areas around the world. So instead of using paper towels in your facility, you can have an air hand dryer installed. These high-powered air dryers work just as well as paper towels without the wasteful by-product.

As a bonus, use an automatic hand dryer that will help to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria within the facility.

Install High-Efficiency Toilets

High-efficiency or low-flush toilets have been around for years, but many people have the misconception that low flush somehow equates to low quality. Nothing could be further from the truth. These highly efficient toilets use a fraction of the water of full-flush toilets but are equally as effective.

Consider installing low-flush toilets and urinals in your bathroom to make it eco-friendly.

Use Eco-Friendly Materials

When you sit down to design the bathroom, it’s important to consider what materials you’ll use. Will they need to be made from scratch or are there eco-friendly options made from recycled resources? Materials like high-density polyethylene (HDPE) offer the greatest opportunity for eco-friendly material sourcing.

HDPE is made up of recycled materials and is itself 100% recyclable. The durable plastic can be used for manufacturing bathroom vanities and toilet partitions as well as shower stalls, lockers, and other applications.

Want to learn about other ways to make your building eco-friendly? Download our FREE eBook Sustainable Building Products: How to Make Your Facility Eco-Friendly from Top to Bottom. This helpful guide will walk you through where you can implement recyclable materials, how to combat harmful emissions, and more. 

Unfortunately, vanity shopping has nothing to do with buying new expensive clothes for yourself. Instead, it refers to bathroom vanities, and choosing the right one can be just as difficult as choosing the right shirt for a party. You want something that’s stylish, will go along with your restroom design, and will leave a lasting impression on your guests. But you also need it to hold up to heavy use and general wear and tear.

Understanding How Much Vanity You Need

It’s likely that the size of your facility will dictate how large your bathroom vanity can be. Smaller bathrooms, for instance, may only have space for a small vanity with a single sink. However, larger bathrooms, like commercial bathrooms, may be able to accommodate much longer vanities that have two or more sinks built in.

If your bathroom has only one toilet, then a vanity with a single sink and mirror is probably more than enough. But if there are two or more toilets (or a toilet and a urinal), you might consider choosing a longer vanity if the bathroom has room for it.

bathroom material

Storage Space Under the Vanity

Will cleaning products and toilet tissue refills be stored in the bathroom or in another location like a storage closet? If you plan on keeping them in the bathroom, you’ll need adequate storage space so they’re out of sight until your cleaning staff needs them. Most vanities can be built with drawers and cabinets, giving you ample space for storing supplies.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that while storage space is nice, it’s not always a convenient addition for your guests. This is especially true for the disabled, who may need space below the bathroom vanity to move in if they’re restricted to a wheelchair. Consult with your architect about ADA requirements and how to make sure that your bathroom provides accommodations for disabled individuals.

Choose Bathroom Vanity Material Wisely

The material your bathroom vanity is made from is just as important as the color, texture, or design. For example, a metal vanity wouldn’t be a good idea for a vanity that also features a sink or any plumbing. That’s because metal is highly susceptible to rusting when it comes in contact with moisture.

Although it can offer a distinctive look, wood isn’t necessarily a good choice for your bathroom vanity either. Wood is extremely porous and can easily absorb water should there ever be a leak. Once the wooden vanity absorbs water, it’s likely to begin rotting and could even start to grow mold, which is dangerous for both your staff and your guests.

One type of material that seems to be perfectly suited for bathroom vanities is high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Durable plastic vanities come in a wide variety of colors and textures and are naturally resistant to rust, mold, mildew, and even graffiti.

For more information about HDPE and bathroom design, check out our free eBook Restroom Design for Commercial Facilities.This helpful guide features tons of information on basic restroom requirements, sustainability, material options, and more.

When constructing a new building, architects hope to create something that’s both functional and an aesthetic addition to the existing landscape. But more than ever, designers are focused on creating eco-friendlier buildings as well, with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification being a top priority.

Continue reading to find out what a LEED building is and why using sustainable building materials is so important.

Definition of a LEED Building

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) created LEED as a rating system to evaluate how green friendly a building is. The rating system is also used to help shift the design world toward more sustainable trends.

Buildings earn credits for each environmentally friendly component during the construction phase or thereafter. For example, buildings that have a plan in place for waste management during construction earn credits, or points. If there was no plan, the building would miss out on those credits.

In total, your building will need at least 40 credits to earn LEED certification. However, there are several certification levels available—silver, gold, and platinum—and each designation requires a different number of credits to qualify.

LEED Certification Levels

  • 40-49 Credits = Minimum for certification
  • 50-59 Credits = Silver
  • 60-79 Credits = Gold
  • 80-110 Credits = Platinum

Importance of Sustainable Building Materials

A green building, built through sustainable design, focuses on the efficient use of energy and materials. Reducing the impact that a building has on the environment by conserving water and energy is essential for an eco-friendly building to be successful. The concept of sustainable building design is important because your building can leave a long-lasting impact on the surrounding environment.

In the US, buildings account for nearly 40% of all energy use and almost 70% of electricity consumption.

To limit the negative impact that buildings can have on the environment, sustainable design strives to reduce operating costs and improve occupant productivity by limiting waste and reducing consumption.

The benefits of green building design range from improved air and water quality to protecting local ecosystems, so it’s obvious why many architects favor sustainable building designs.

Getting Ready for LEED Certification

To help your building earn LEED certification, you first must know what the criteria are for scoring. You can find the current LEED scorecard online. Although your building will be required to meet certain categories to be considered for certification, the rest of the categories in which you can score points is completely up to you.

Keep in mind, though, that the more points you accrue, the higher level of certification you can achieve.

Another important part of earning LEED certification is choosing the right materials. Using sustainable building materials, like HDPE plastic, during the construction phase will add points to your overall LEED score.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is one organization that has instant name recognition with building owners and managers. A compliant building is known to be green friendly, use less energy, and ultimately cost building owners less money in long-term costs. So it’s no surprise to learn that a lot of people with existing building are interested in applying for LEED certification.

Learning how to make your facility LEED compliant is the first step in creating a happy, healthier, and more cost-efficient building.

What’s LEED Certification?

LEED certification is acquired by earning points in 9 categories. Forty points is the minimum needed for certification, but more points can spring your building into one of the following LEED certification categories: Silver, Gold, or Platinum.

Here’s how the point ranges break down:

  • 40-49 points: Certification
  • 50-59 points: Silver
  • 60-79 points: Gold
  • 80+ points: Platinum

Your score card will be tallied and added to your LEED application, but first you’ll probably want to make some changes to your building so you can earn more points. So let’s take a closer look at some of the ways you can increase your number of LEED compliance points.

LEED Certification Checklist

Although there are over 100 possible points up for grabs on the LEED certification checklist, 12 items are specified as being required for your facility to even be considered compliant. It’s imperative that you make an effort to meet these list items if you hope to achieve certification.

So what are these prerequisites?

1. Construction Activity Pollution Prevention

The purpose of this requirement is to help reduce pollution from the construction process. You’ll need to come up with a plan for controlling soil erosion, sedimentation, and airborne dust.

2. Outdoor Water Use Reduction

Reducing outdoor water consumption is required if you want your facility to be LEED compliant. To do this, you’ll need to either show that no irrigation is required or that reduced irrigation is being used (30% less than the calculated baseline during the peak watering month).

3. Indoor Water Use Reduction

The water your building uses indoors is just as precious as the water it uses outdoors. Reduce water consumption by 20% to achieve this prerequisite. Plus all new toilets, urinals, bathroom sinks, and showerheads will need to be WaterSense labeled or the local equivalent.

4. Building-Level Water Metering

This supports water management and helps you spot areas where you can further improve water reduction. Since most facilities have a water meter, you may be able to earn this credit without having to dish out any capital for renovations.

5. Fundamental Commissioning and Verification

Although a little more in-depth than other requirements, it’s still important to ensure that you complete these commissioning process activities. The purpose is to support a facility design, construction, and operation that meets your plans for energy use, water consumption, indoor air quality (IAQ), and durability.

6. Minimum Energy Performance

Your facility will need to demonstrate an energy reduction of 5% for a new facility or 3% for a renovations project. Not only will this help you earn certification, but you’ll also save money on your energy costs.

7. Building-Level Energy Metering

Similar to the water metering, you’ll need to have a meter that accurately measures your facility’s energy use.

8. Fundamental Refrigerant Management

Basically, this requirement specifies that your building can’t use chlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerants in the HVAC and refrigeration systems. If it does, a phase-out process must be implemented.

9. Storage and Collection of Recyclables

This is a no brainer. If you want your facility to be LEED compliant, you have to provide adequate methods for recycling glass, plastics, metal, paper, and cardboard.

10. Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning

During the building of your new facility or its renovation, you’ll need a plan for waste disposal. The plan needs to show how you’re limiting the amount of waste that will end up in a landfill by sending to recycling facilities.

11. Minimum IAQ Performance

IAQ is an important health factor for your building. You’ll need to demonstrate that your building has minimum pollutants and adequate ventilation.

12. Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control

Smoking must be prohibited indoors and designated smoking areas must be established outside. These areas must be at least 25 feet from any entrance, window, or air intake.

Using LEED-Compliant Materials

As part of your plan to make a LEED-compliant facility, you should consider what materials you use in your building. Certain materials, like HDPE plastics, can help you achieve certification because of their low impact on the environment and assistance in improving IAQ, among other benefits.

Learn more about HDPE and how to build a sustainable building by downloading our free eBook Sustainable Building Products: How to Make Your Facility Eco-Friendly from Top to Bottom

Giving your employees a safe place to store their belongings while at work not only improves the security of your facility but can also help to keep your business running more efficiently. Below, we take a closer look at some industries that would benefit from employee lockers as well as a two additional industries that could use lockers for their guests.

Employee Lockers for the Retail Industry

Retail workers often bring a number of their personal belongings to work, including cell phones, cosmetics, handbags, backpacks, and portable gaming devices. Although its handy to have these items before work or while on break, they can quickly clutter the break room, stock room, or even the sales floor.

Lockers give employees a safe and secure place to store their personal items while they’re at work. As a result, they’ll feel less inclined to have the items nearby throughout their shift where they could cause major distraction.

As an added bonus, employees will know their belongings are safe. This peace of mind is especially appreciated when working with a large staff or during the holiday season when numerous seasonal employees are hired for support.

Lockers in Healthcare Facilities

Studies have shown that scrubs can carry large amounts of bacteria. So it’s a good idea to provide healthcare workers with an area where they can change in and out of their scrubs before and after their shifts. Lockers provide the perfect place for storing street clothes during their shift as well as any other personal belongings they may not want to carry with them.

When choosing the right lockers for your facility, consider using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) lockers, which have been proven to reduce the growth of bacteria and germs.

locker replacement checklist

Using Lockers in Other Industries

One of the first things people think of when they think of lockers is a school. The education industry has been using lockers for years as a way to keep jackets, book bags, and other personal effects from clogging up classrooms. However, lockers can also be used for faculty.

Consider placing lockers in the faculty lounge or another communal space away from the student population.

Another common application that people think of when thinking of lockers is at the gym. Fitness centers across the globe offer lockers for their guests to store wallets, purses, keys, and more while they’re exercising. However, given the moist and humid nature of most locker rooms, metal lockers are highly susceptible to rust. Instead, consider using HDPE lockers which are 100% resistant to rust.

Learn More About HDPE Lockers

No matter what industry you’re in, it’s likely that your facility could benefit from employee lockers as well as lockers for your guests. To learn more about the benefits of lockers made from HDPE, download our free Ultimate Guide to HDPE Plastic Lockers. This helpful resource will teach you about HDPE plastic, how HDPE lockers outperform metal lockers, and more.