there will always be a debate about the comparative merits of paper towels or electric hand dryers, the latter do at least remove the need to check and empty wastepaper bins.


Similarly, choosing higher capacity dispensers may be a simple way of reducing the necessity for frequent and time- consuming replenishment visits.


One must be pragmatic, of course. A larger capacity soap dispenser might reduce the need to refill it so often, but in a washroom that sees little use, it could become counter- productive if the soap itself were to congeal. That would impose greater maintenance demands, which would obviously be a false economy. Dispensers should be sized appropriately to the washroom’s use. However, within sensible limits, leaning towards those larger capacities can save time and money.


In a further effort to minimise the time and effort associated with refilling, designers should aim to specify systems that are easy to open, close and lock securely. Equally, they should be quick and easy to inspect and refill.


Ideally, all dispensers should be accessible via a single key so that staff don’t have to waste time contending with different locks. ‘Behind the mirror’ systems afford an obvious advantage here, since all components are contained within one lockable cabinet. However, much of the same accessibility can be achieved by purchasing all the relevant dispensers from a single supplier and specifying one-key access as a requirement.


Easy clean, easy savings


Maintaining clean and pleasant facilities is important for many reasons, not least employee safety and brand image. The condition of a washroom says a lot about how an organisation regards its employees and, so far as workplace morale is concerned, a good washroom is generally a worthwhile investment. This becomes even more important when washrooms are also used by visitors: customers, suppliers, or members of the public.


However, maintaining those clean, pleasant conditions can be expensive and time-consuming, particularly in older and poorly designed rooms. Conversely, good design can make a substantial difference by minimising the need for more intensive and regular cleaning.


One way that this can be achieved is by using behind the mirror systems that, in effect, create self-contained wash stations, complete with water, soap dispensers and drying facilities. The cost benefits are twofold: first, each user stays in one place at every stage of washing and drying, so there's no need to move between basin and dryer with wet, dripping hands. Accordingly, floors stay drier and maintenance staff have less cause to make regular visits to keep rooms clean and safe.


Second, by placing all of the necessary washing facilities behind a mirror, the dispensers are protected against dirt and dust, against accidental knocks and scratches, and


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against deliberate tampering or vandalism. This reduces cleaning demands and also limits the risks of having to fund repairs or replacement.


Repair costs


Although cheaper washroom fittings may limit initial purchase costs, it’s no secret that more robust systems will last longer and incur fewer costs over the course of their working lifespans.


No building manager wants to have to deal with breakages or mechanical failures. Not only do they entail unwelcome repair costs, they are also disruptive. Washroom users will be inconvenienced if they find a dispenser unserviceable; then the fault must be reported, parts must be ordered, repairs must be scheduled and at least part of the washroom may have to be put out of action while the repairs are undertaken. This all means extra work – which comes at a cost – and, in a highly trafficked washroom, any downtime could be problematic.


The use of more durable materials is one important indicator of longer-term reliability. Stainless steel, for example, is strong and highly resistant to abrasion, corrosion, discolouration and mechanical wear. It will also tolerate regular cleaning without any loss of performance. Moreover, if it is subjected to aggressive vandalism, a stainless steel housing may dent or deform but it’s very unlikely to produce dangerous shards or sharp edges. It’s also more likely to stay functional, despite superficial damage.


Safety, hygiene and downtime risks


Although washrooms are a necessity, legally and practically speaking, they can also constitute one of a building’s higher- risk areas when it comes to infection control.


The issue was highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which greatly raised awareness of health risks and changed the way that ordinary users regard the washroom environment. People – workers, customers and other visitors – expect to feel safe in such facilities, but any sense of security can quickly be eroded if faced with cramped conditions, empty or broken dispensers, poor lighting, wet floors or bins that have begun to overflow.


Such problems are not merely a matter of appearances, of course. Even now, at a time when public concerns about COVID have passed their peak, people are hesitant about using poorly maintained washrooms; they still have legitimate, well-founded concerns. COVID variants continue to mutate but there are other risks, too, such as the emergence of concerning flu strains. There are also new cold viruses that may be less dangerous in themselves, but which can nevertheless be highly contagious and cause businesses to lose many days of productivity to illness.


The pandemic taught the world clear lessons: that maintaining social distance can be an effective way to reduce transmission risks, and that good hand hygiene is one of the best defences against contracting disease. The


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