Going through changes


Dudley Industries let us know what to keep in mind when refurbishing washrooms to maintain safety and practicality.


Washrooms may need to be updated and refreshed for a variety of reasons, whether aesthetic or practical. Fittings and equipment can wear out, room capacity might need to be increased, safety issues might force design adaptations, or simply that the décor needs to be refreshed. Any number of considerations could prompt a need for change.


When that need arises it also presents an opportunity to introduce design elements that enhance user safety and reduce ongoing costs.


Designing out slip hazards


An example is the use of dispensers situated above hand basins. These create self-contained wash stations that eliminate the need for users to move from basin to hand dryer or paper towel dispenser. As a result, there’s much less risk of wet hands dripping water onto smooth tiled floors. This delivers an immediate and obvious safety benefit.


Better use of space


Removing the need for a separate hand drying area also means that users don’t have to queue or gather. The COVID-19 pandemic provided an important lesson about safe personal distances and, with infection rates expected to pick up during the winter months, this remains a serious consideration.


More generally, self-contained cabinets set above basins ensure that no floor space is wasted. User flow through the washroom is therefore optimised, helping to maintain capacity by eliminating potential bottlenecks. This, in turn, can help building owners maintain adequate provision without having to expand existing washrooms or install additional facilities.


Designing out infection risks


Points of surface contact often present an infection risk, but a washroom refresh is an opportunity to address this. For example, behind-the-mirror wash stations can include sensor-operated soap dispensers and hand dryers that require no manual contact at all. Paper towel dispensers will require some contact, but only with the paper itself.


Reducing maintenance costs


When dispensers are set behind a lockable, mirrored façade, they’re inevitably better protected than those that are merely affixed to a wall on their own. They’re less susceptible to accidental knocks, scratches, and deliberate tampering, and less exposed to splashes, dust, and dirt. Consequently, they should perform more reliably and for longer, helping to minimise repair and replacement costs.


Many good cabinet systems also come with large capacity dispensers – again, all safely hidden behind the mirror. They may also include storage space for spare consumables. These are both features that help to reduce the need for regular staff intervention, and facilitate quick and easy replenishment.


24 | FEATURE Minimising installation costs


While it’s true that some cabinet systems can be very sophisticated and require considerable wiring and connectivity, others can be fitted much more simply. In some cases, all that’s required is for a mounting plate to be affixed to the wall; the cabinet is then hung securely from it. Cabinets that house either paper towel dispensers or battery- operated soap dispensers require no external wiring at all. They can therefore be installed with little more effort than, say, an individual soap or towel dispenser.


“Removing the need for a


separate hand drying area means users don’t have to queue or gather.”


Crucially, this approach doesn’t require full redecoration. Cabinets can be installed over existing tiles or wallcoverings in a process that is simple and non-intrusive. Once fitted, the minimalist, mirrored finish will only reflect the existing interior design, so it cannot ‘clash’ or force redecoration works on purely aesthetic grounds.


Other safety issues


Behind-the-mirror systems offer numerous benefits but other ranges are available that address specific risks or user needs. Anti-ligature systems, for example, may be specified for environments where there may be a risk of self-harm, and there are specially coloured products that provide important visual cues for people living with dementia; cues that can help them to remain calm, well-oriented, and able to use the facilities safely and independently.


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