LEISURE & RETAIL DESIGN ANDEQUIP
Tina Bowden, Sales Manager at Dudley Industries, takes a look at considerations when specifying for high-end washrooms in retail, leisure and hospitality venues.
In retail, leisure and hospitality premises, the washroom experience can leave a lasting impression that can either support or erode a brand image. It is therefore important that convenience and hygiene standards feature prominently in washroom designs and that all facilities are suitably equipped to cope with high levels of use and expectation.
Wear and tear A high number of visitors inevitably increases the risk of damage. This will often be the result of accidents rather than vandalism, but both may be possible in publicly-accessible washrooms. Fortunately, many of these, risks may be minimised through good design and product selection.
Material choice is perhaps the most obvious consideration. Stainless steel is especially effective because it is extremely robust and resistant to knocks, abrasion, corrosion and discoloration. However, damage risks can also be reduced by mounting dispensers above basins, where they are less likely to be knocked in passing. Better yet, they can be set behind mirrors, which simultaneously provide effective protection and lend a greater sense of light and space to a room.
Maintenance and supply Dispensers are only useful when they are kept well stocked, so capacity and maintenance are important considerations. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, people have become more conscious of the need for good hand hygiene, so the use of soap, paper towels and so on has generally increased. In many washrooms, this can require that maintenance staff spend more time ensuring that dispensers are refilled regularly. A more cost-effective and less labour-intensive alternative could be to replace small dispensers with larger units with a greater capacity.
Space and user-flow Another consequence of the pandemic has been to highlight the importance of appropriate distancing. Visitors are much less happy about having to squeeze together in cramped conditions, or to stand in line to use a hand-dryer. Consequently, washroom designers must give consideration to user-flow through washrooms and to how bottlenecks might be eliminated.
Slimline recessed units often help to maximise the available floor-space. So does making each basin a self- contained wash-station, each with its own water, soap and drying facilities. There’s an enduring debate about whether paper towels or hot air-dryers are more effective overall, but one factor in favour of the latter is that they
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don’t require a bin. That, in turn, frees up floor space and less chance of wet hands dripping on floors and creating slip-risks. Hand-dryers also remove the need for staff to keep replenishing paper towel supplies, so they can reduce overall labour costs and free up storage space for other washroom consumables.
Touch-free dispensers People are generally more aware of surface contamination risks so touch-free dispensers can afford an effective way to reassure visitors that high standards of hygiene are being observed. PIR detectors and simple timers will safely activate flush mechanisms, taps, soap dispensers and hand-dryers – thereby eliminating key touch-points while also helping to minimise opportunities for accidental knocks or vandalism.
Sourcing Bear in mind that washrooms will typically demand a range of fixtures beyond basins, soap dispensers and dryers. Others include toilet roll dispensers, coat hooks, sanitary disposal, toilet brush holders, waste bins and more.
Working with a single washroom equipment manufacturer simplifies the purchasing process and can yield savings on staff time and procurement. It affords the opportunity to install a full suite of matching units and, if all dispensers can be re-filled using a single key, servicing will tend to be more efficient too.
An experienced designer and manufacturer should also be able to help with washroom design issues, advice on legal compliance and the ability to develop custom solutions to suit different room sizes and branding requirements.
www.dudleyindustries.com
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