Advances in School Toilet Blocks

School Toilet Blocks always used to be forbidding places – a haunt of bullies with the waft of cigarette smoke and, more recently, a place where Mobile Phone Cameras are feared.

That has changed dramatically in recent year and School toilet blocks are now designed to prevent Antisocial Behaviour, save water and to discourage using the area as a hangout.

Here are some of the innovations that Commercial Washrooms routinely build into their School toilet Blocks:

Open plan

New School Toilet Blocks tend to open directly off the main Corridor without Doors! While this might seem to compromise the privacy of the student, it actually increases their security while maintaining privacy.

Pupils will be seen entering and leaving. When more than one student enters the Toilet block, they can be better monitored, preventing antisocial behaviour and privacy is maintained using floor-to-ceiling Cubicles.

Floor-to-Ceiling Cubicles

Floor-to-Ceiling Cubicles maintain the privacy that is lost by removing the entrance doors to the School Toilet Block.

They also prevent Mobile Phone cameras from being pushed underneath or above from adjoining cubicles and help prevent other forms of abusive behaviour.

Because floor-to-ceiling cubicles restrict airflow, individual Extractors are added to each Cubicle.

Ceiling Tiles

When I was at School, I distinctly remember students hiding a packet of cigarettes in the space above the ceiling tiles.

This is no longer possible as ceiling tiles are replaced by Plasterboard Ceilings or Ceiling Tile clips that prevent the tiles from being lifted and contraband being hidden.

Mirrors

We are increasingly asked NOT to add Mirrors in modern School Toilets. There are a number of reasons for this, including the reduction of time-wasting and the injury caused by broken mirrors.

CCTV

As privacy is maintained within cubicles, it is now possible to include CCTV cameras inside the School Toilet block, something that for obvious reasons hasn’t previously been possible. Any misbehaviour that happened in the Toilets tended to stay in the toilets.

Flood Warning!

Who remembers the last day of School? Some wag would bung the sinks up with toilet paper and leave the tap running, and chaos would ensue. Red-faced Janitors running back and forth with mops and buckets!

Using Sensor taps not only reduces touch points for better hygiene but as they sense movement, the flow is stopped when hands are removed so they cannot continually run. This prevents excessive water use and flooded floors.

Non-concussive taps are also an option – the top of these taps are pushed down to start water flow and will automatically shut off after a set period of time - usually several seconds. These taps are also referred to as push taps.

High abuse Range

Commercial Washrooms SGL Range of Toilet Cubicles are made from Solid Grade Laminate with Aluminium fixtures.

SGL is waterproof, flame-retardant, stain resistant, easy to clean, antibacterial, impact and scratch resistant - ideal for use in wet or dry areas and is particularly popular in Schools, where the potential for damage is higher.

How many Toilets does a School require?

In the UK (not including Scotland), Pupils under 5 years of age require 1 toilet for every 10 pupils. Pupils over 5 years of age require 1 toilet for every 20 pupils. Special schools require 1 toilet for every 10 pupils, regardless of age.

Where the majority of pupils are over 11: Washrooms with 1 toilet must contain at least 1 washbasin; Washrooms with 2 toilets must contain at least 2 washbasins; Washrooms with 3 or more toilets must have at least two thirds the number of washbasins as there are toilets.

In Scotland the School Toilet Requirements are slightly different:

• 2 toilets for every 15 pupils (up to a total of 60).
• 2 toilets for every additional 30 pupils (up to a total of 300 pupils).
• 2 toilets for every additional 60 pupils over 300 pupils.
• 4 wash hand basins for the first 30 pupils.
• 4 wash hand basins for the next 30 pupils.
• 2 wash hand basins for every additional 30 pupils up to a total of 300 pupils.
• 2 wash hand basins for every additional 60 pupils over 300 pupils.