concern. Yet poor odour management in shared or public bathrooms can have impact user confidence, perceptions of cleanliness, and the overall usability of a space. In hospitality, education, healthcare and even domestic settings, odour control is not just a courtesy, it’s a necessity. Why do bathrooms miss the mark? One major issue is that UK regulations offer little guidance on acceptable thresholds for bathroom acoustics or odour control. British Standard 8233 provides only a cursory mention of sanitary noise, and Building Regulations Approved Document E focuses primarily on the passage of sound between dwellings – not within them. When it comes to odour, regulations are even more limited. While ventilation requirements are specified in Part F of the Building Regulations, there is no broader strategy for managing odour beyond mechanical extraction – often leaving architects and developers to rely on ad hoc solutions. This lack of standardisation in both arenas makes it difficult to
enforce or even specify good acoustic and air quality performance. It also reduces accountability between stakeholders in the design and construction process. Technical solutions exist – but they’re underused There are, fortunately, a number of well-established technical solutions available. Acoustically optimised drainage systems, wall-hung toilets with concealed cisterns, and decoupled mounting elements can all reduce the transmission of noise through walls and floors. For odour, innovations such as air-admittance valves, odour- neutralising flush systems, and effective zoning of plumbing layouts can limit the spread of smells between rooms or floors. Likewise, dual-flush and silent-fill mechanisms reduce both noise and water waste. The challenge lies not in the lack of products, but in the lack
of systemic thinking. Without regulatory impetus or industry- wide benchmarks, these solutions are often value-engineered out of final builds or added too late to be effective. Learning from abroad Countries like Germany offer a useful contrast. Under acoustic standard DIN 4109, for example, sanitary noise must not exceed 30 dB(A), ensuring that product selection and installation are aligned from the outset. Similarly, some European countries require building services – like plumbing and ventilation – to meet performance benchmarks not only for efficiency, but for comfort. The UK has an opportunity to modernise its approach by setting measurable standards for internal noise and odour, and by encouraging interdisciplinary design at an earlier stage. Architects, M&E consultants, developers and manufacturers must collaborate to treat bathrooms not as afterthoughts, but as integral components of healthy, liveable spaces. Time for a shift As buildings become denser and living arrangements more compact, the tolerance for nuisance has reduced. Residents rightly expect a quiet, odour-free environment as standard – not a luxury. Designing out bathroom sound and smell is neither prohibitively expensive nor technically complex. What it requires is foresight, shared responsibility, and a commitment to human-centred design. As we move towards more sustainable, inclusive, and high- performing buildings, let’s not forget the bathroom –- it might be out of sight, but it should never be out of mind.
JM240
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