WASHROOM HYGIENE
challenge for designers is therefore to provide adequate washing facilities without creating precisely the sort of densely crowded environments that heighten health risks.
Reconciling these two demands requires careful analysis of typical user routes through the washroom, from the entrance to the exit. Any opportunity to eliminate surface contact points is generally going to be worthwhile. That can be achieved in a number of ways, starting with the doorway. In larger washrooms, an entrance door may be unnecessary. Careful placement of walls may be enough to obstruct sightlines and maintain privacy; obviating the need to touch door handles while simultaneously improving the flow of traffic through the room. This may be particularly beneficial to people who use wheelchairs or walking aids.
Surface contact can also be eliminated by choosing sensor- activated dispensers (for water, soap, dryers, etc.) that operate without buttons or handles. Self-contained wash stations are especially effective in this regard and, as a further benefit, they remove the need for users to queue for hand dryers or to gravitate towards a central wastepaper bin.
Bottleneck areas can also be reduced by placing dispensers above sinks; a design practice that leaves more floor and wall space free, and therefore enables users to maintain greater personal distancing.
Upholding brand values
Most organisations are conscious of visual branding issues, and their washrooms will often reflect these in terms of design and colour schemes. However, washrooms can also make more subtle statements about brand values, such as an organisation’s attitudes towards safety and sustainability.
Signage can be important in this respect: notices that offer advice on waste minimisation, water use, inspection regimes, recycling policies and hand hygiene. However, the choice of materials and fittings can also speak volumes. For example, some modern hand dryers are far more energy efficient than their older counterparts. Similarly, stainless
steel has obvious benefits in terms of durability, but it can also be sourced from recycled stock and recycled again after use. Such choices won’t be noticed by every user, but they all help to tell a consistent and credible story.
Designing for special needs and environments
Other design issues arise in specialist environments. In schools, for example, designing washrooms without an entrance door can act as a deterrent to vandalism or bullying because any loud noise will travel further and because the absence of a main door will reduce the impression of the washroom being beyond the sight and hearing of teaching staff.
In some custodial and healthcare settings, self-harm may be a risk, so building managers should consider to what extent risks can be designed out. In a washroom, this could include specifying anti-ligature fittings, which are specifically designed to help reduce the potential to attach a ligature for the purposes of self-harm.
In care settings, some users may suffer from dementia and may therefore find ordinary washrooms disorientating. However, intelligent use of high-contrast colours, good signage and good lighting can help to make washroom visits easier and less stressful. Similarly, since loud or unexpected noises can be a source of anxiety and may disturb people in residential settings, the use of hand towels may, in such cases, be a more prudent choice than electric hand dryers.
Design support
Washroom designs will inevitably vary according to footfall, space, structural constraints and activities within the building. To assist designers, Dudley Industries has produced a washroom guide that includes product specification advice for different environments. You can check out the washroom guide by clicking here.
www.dudleyindustries.com
“It’s no secret that more robust
systems last longer and incur fewer costs over their lifespans.”
38 | TOMORROW'S CLEANING
twitter.com/TomoCleaning
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
