Washroom Signage & Safety Measures

We all know it’s important to make sure your washrooms are clearly marked. It allows users to locate them easily and these visual symbols have become universal the world over. However, there are additional aids you can use throughout the setting in an attempt to help users visiting your washrooms that might not be as obvious. 

The high value of exit signs

There are many situations that can lead to a user being confused and isolated in your washrooms. Sufferers of Dementia and Alzheimer’s are a perfect case in point, but it’s worth also considering the needs of users who experience confusion from other medical conditions. When a user finds themselves momentarily lost within your wash space, a clear ‘exit’ sign can be a valuable visual aid and prevent panic. This is particularly important in washrooms that may have an unusual entranceway or corridor and its purpose is also useful in bars and clubs where users may become confused when inebriated.

Water at a safe temperature

It’s essential to ensure that the water coming from taps is at a safe temperature. Historically, you might have found the water from a hot tap unbearable, but today with the installation of TMV3 mixer valves, we’re able to control the temperature of flowing water before it leaves the tap. This is particularly useful in today’s modern washrooms as instead of separate hot and cold taps, most locations are opting for a single mixer tap that emits just one flow of warm water. Often this will be in the form of a sensor tap, which makes for great usability and aids easy cleaning of the washroom.

Preventing slips and falls & tackling self-harm

In prisons, hospitals and other institutional settings, there’s a need to plan for users harming themselves. Anti-ligature fittings are essential in this environment. These are regular washroom and shower fittings that have been designed so that you can’t hang a cord, rope or string from them. Mirrors will need to be made from an anti-shatter material so that shards can't be broken off and used with a sharp edge. We offer toilet seats that also benefit from being shatter-resistant, as well as toilet pans that are designed to not even need one.

Showerheads are an easy way to ensure anti-ligature. Their shape dictates that nobody will be able to connect a cord around them without it falling off.

The flooring in your washroom should have excellent anti-slip properties. This can be done with floor tiles that contain a grip-like surface, but more often than not it’s a large format vinyl flooring. Many options contain anti-slip properties that work in the wet with both bare feet and soled footwear. Upgrading and maintaining your flooring is one of the best safety measures to employ in this routinely damp, humid public space. 

Of course, no one knows your site's users better than you, and the requirements for one setting is going to vary greatly from the next. If you’d like to find out what safety measures might work for you or to talk about improving the usability of your washrooms, get in touch today on 01202 650900.