BATHROOMS, KITCHENS & WASHROOMS SUPPLEMENT 43 Commercial considerations
Anil Madan of Ideal Standard details the top factors that architects need to consider when designing and creating commercial washrooms
C
ommercial washroom design is often a tricky balance due to the many factors you need to weigh up with what the end-users will ultimately need. There are, however, some key themes which you should always pay close attention to for any washroom project. One of the biggest considerations in all commercial washrooms today is sustainability, especially as utility bills continue to rise and the focus on water conservation grows. Thankfully, water saving features can be quickly and easily incorporated across any washroom regardless of the setting. There are plenty of options. Whether it’s low-flow taps, dual flush toilets or modern changing room showers, the market is seeing a wave of sustainable innovation. Product innovations such as hygienic smart taps can significantly reduce the use of water with every wash. By dispensing a pre-programmed amount of water and soap with every use, it’s possible to save up to 85% on water and 80% on soap compared to traditional fittings. Touchless taps in general are a great sustainability choice for a variety of washrooms, especially when they’re in a public building, hotel, or office space, and are usually fitted with pre-programmed flow timers that offer reduced water usage. WCs have also seen water saving technology advance within them over the last decade. By opting for dual flush toilets, especially those with smaller volume cisterns, commercial properties can save huge amounts of water, particularly in high traffic environments. Older commercial toilets are likely to have up to 6 litres of water per flush, compared to some new dual flush toilets which use 4/2.6 litres with each use, while still achieving the desired end result.
Urinals can account for 20% of office water use with flushing continuing even when buildings are closed to the public or after office hours. More advanced products have programmable flushing routines, which restrict when the urinals flush and
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can greatly reduce the amount of water used. Waterless urinals are also a great choice for optimising sustainability.
Aesthetics & durability
Although sustainability is one of the most important factors to consider, ensuring your customers have a washroom that looks great is still a large part of creating an attractive office, hotel or restaurant. Opting for pieces that work in harmony with the wider design scheme will result in a more uniform space and a better experience for every visitor. For example, circular urinals are available with water-saving technology, and also come in waterless versions. For designers, the goal should be to create a relaxed space which guarantees personal privacy. This may call for a more diverse colour palette, a creative layout with more stalls, and potentially even the incorporation of music and fragrance. Specifying solutions that are reliable and durable is key to end-user satisfaction, regardless of the environment. A wide range of design options combined with ‘behind- the-wall’ technology can offer designers the ability to create striking washrooms which continue to perform.
Cleanliness is now at the forefront of
people’s minds, post-pandemic. Options such as touchless taps and hands-free flush plates give users peace of mind about cleanliness, with minimal direct contact. Easily maintainable soap dispensers and hand-dryers are more sought after than ever by commercial customers.
Products which reduce the load on cleaning teams include washbasins, showerheads and WCs with smooth lines and curves, lacking the nooks or crannies which are difficult to clean or easy to miss by staff. Opting for toilets with rimless pans also results in a more easily cleanable washroom without hard-to-reach areas, and special designs are available for low-flush options with maximum cleanliness.
Anil Madan is the non-residential marketing manager at Ideal Standard
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