IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO FIRST LOOK AT A SAMPLE OF THE LIGHT SOURCE YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT USING SO YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. — Ken Reynar, principal, Light Solutions
PHOTO: HART CONCRETE DESIGN
above this area, designers can be creative with color and paint patterning. Tile remains very popular in public
restrooms because it is easy to maintain. Materials typically not specified in wet areas, like wood and bamboo, now are being replicated by tile manufacturers, providing the wood look in a water-friendly and easily cleanable surface. I am not a fan of grout unless the joints
Concrete, which provides a warm look in a restroom space, can be formed into today’s popular trough sinks.
Hand-drying Trends Last year, the Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research published “The Hygienic Efficacy of Different Hand-Drying Meth- ods: A Review of the Evidence.” The study notes effective hand drying is essential for removing bacteria from hands. (View the study online:
bit.ly/MpwTCh.) There are many ways in which to effec-
tively dry hands in today’s public restrooms. Paper towels are still most popular, but there is a trend toward those jet-engine- speed hand dryers to eliminate paper alto- gether. Manufacturers have been improving upon these hand dryers the past few years, making dry times faster and the units more energy efficient.
When choosing a hand dryer for a pub-
lic-restroom project, think about the space and the patrons. Will patrons want high- speed drying no matter the noise level? Do you want them to leave the restroom excited to talk about their hand-drying
74 RETROFIT // May-June 2013
CALL ME OLD SCHOOL, BUT I LIKE A WOMEN’S RESTROOM WITH A VANITY AREA
SEPARATE FROM THE SINKS.
experience with their friends/colleagues? Is energy efficiency a concern? No matter what form of drying you
choose, it is important to be thoughtful in the placement of dry-to-wet areas. Do not design restrooms in which patrons have to walk away from the wet area, dripping as they go, to the towel dispenser or hand dryer. It’s unsanitary and creates a slippery surface for the next guest.
Surface Trends When it comes to surfacing, the options are enormous for floors and walls. When on a budget, paint is your best friend. Commer- cial codes generally require a 48-inch wash- able surface around all toilet/wet areas, but
are tight—at least 1/16 inch or tighter. Epoxy grout, which cleans up nicely, is a bet- ter alternative. When using tile on floors, consider larger sizes to achieve less grout. Smaller, more grout-intensive tiles can be used for wall details. In many public spaces, vandalism can be an issue in restrooms. There are prod- ucts on the market designed to withstand impact and easily be cleaned of graffiti. For example, stalls can be made of high-density polyethylene, reinforced composites or powder-coated metal. Perhaps more important is to design a
space that doesn’t invite vandalism. Some- times it’s as easy as creating enough space for interaction between patrons. In school restrooms, you might consider providing kids the opportunity to release their creativ- ity in a constructive way by using the new dry-erase wall paints. Or follow the lead of a professor at Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Miss., who conducted a study in the early ’90s about restroom graffiti. He posted signs in a restroom that read “A local licensed doctor has agreed to donate a set amount of money to the local chapter of the United Way for each day this
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