Ocado, Hatfield Washrooms Refurbishment - Case Study

The online supermarket Ocado approached Commercial Washrooms to handle the redesign and installation of some washrooms at their picking and processing facility in Hatfield. The busy operation spans three floors and has a high footfall of staff on a daily basis. One set of washrooms in the facility had been out of action for some time due to damage. On assessing the washrooms, it was decided that the current layout could be improved upon and we began redesigning the area in a way to make best use of available space.

The male and female washrooms were accessed from a small entrance lobby, which no longer served an active purpose. As part of the reconfiguration, we removed this entrance lobby to create additional space in each washroom and remove the unnecessary bottleneck.

As with any warehouse, or industrial facility, durability was at the forefront of the specification, as was easy clean functionality. These new washrooms needed to work hard for Ocado and stand the test of time in this fast paced fulfilment centre.

Altro Whiterock was used to clad all the wall surfaces. This material is renowned for its strong hygienic credentials and can be wiped down and sanitised in a matter of seconds. An Altro Stronghold K30 vinyl flooring was also laid, creating a watertight and robust flooring system. This flooring was also coved up the side of the walls to aid mopping and deep cleans.

Within a new suspended ceiling we installed LED lighting which was controlled by a PIR sensor. This meant that the lights would only be activated when a user was in the room, but also removed the need to touch a light switch.

This hands-free activation was also used at the new solid surface Corian wash troughs where sensor taps were employed. These were further complemented by sensor activated Biodrier Eco hand dryers. With users no longer needing to physically touch these items, the spread of dirt and bacteria is significantly reduced and the overall hygiene of the facilities improved.

All mains services and waste pipes were contained within duct sets. This created an integrated plumbing system, keeping all the delicate pipework protected within a concealed void, making the washroom easier to clean, and less susceptible to vandalism.

Within each washroom we installed two toilet cubicles, which were made from solid grade laminate. This material is completely waterproof and will never swell or weaken from ingress moisture, making it one of the most durable options in the washroom environment.

Completed on budget and on time, the new washrooms have made a significant impact to Ocado’s Hatfield facility, giving employees access to more toilets and hand wash areas, in a more spacious setting.