Restrooms: Clean, Safe and Comfortable
Restroom technology and design in today’s K-12 school
environment have several points of concern for school boards as well as those
who design and build them. These include the cost of materials and insuring
that the restroom is designed to conserve resources such as accessories and
supplies. In addition, the restroom, however mundane it may be in discussion,
is an integral part of that school’s community and total environment. Their
design and construction rely on good but affordable materials, and planners and
designers need to consider fixtures and products within them that will
ultimately support the ever-dwindling school budget.
There are several factors that must be weighed when
considering restroom technology and its use in new and renovated facilities,
explains Lynn Dunn, senior project manager for the Pennsylvania architecture
firm of BJAC. “As a general approach, BJAC typically interviews the facility’s
maintenance staff before specifying toilet fixtures, accessories and all other
building systems. Often times we find that maintenance staff want to deal with
only a single type of fixture or appliance, especially when they are in charge
of maintaining a series of buildings. Operational costs typically come into
consideration, but initial costs and maintenance requirements usually outweigh
the overall operational cost considerations.”
Cost Consideration
However, for Ralph Walker, a registered architect, and a
LEED-accredited professional for JCJ Architecture, in New York, cost is always
a concern for any school district. “A key component to cost in the design of
restrooms within the K-12 environment is materials used in the construction
process. Restroom technologies fall into two categories: low-tech materials and
high-tech fixtures,” says Walker. “Low-tech items are static materials like
flooring, countertops and bathroom partitions. As material science continues to
develop, the products that make up these elements of a bathroom continue to
become stronger, cleaner and more environmentally friendly. High-tech fixtures
use a combination of technologies to create an action in the restroom, such as
flushing a toilet, turning on a faucet, dispensing a paper towel or blowing air
to dry hands. These technologies use electronics, motors and sensors to achieve
a goal.”
Walker notes that for the low-tech materials, the solid
surface industry has really advanced the integrity of solid surface products,
creating a number of reasonably priced hygienic, durable products that are
ideal for countertops, toilet partitions and in some cases, even wall
coverings.
“There are a number of flooring manufacturers who are also
producing seamless floors that are durable, withstanding the high usage of a
restroom, and are also reasonably priced,” he says. “One of the key issues when
selecting a surface material is to minimize the number of joints or changes in
material,” says Walker. “This is because the joints between surfaces are the
hardest areas to clean and are often the first area to break or become damaged.
Creating a clean cove base from a single material at a floor-to-wall transition
makes the restrooms cleaner and healthier.”
Walker says the wall-mounted baby changing stations, that
are quickly becoming ubiquitous in public buildings around the country, are a
great example of a low-tech product that makes a big difference. This simple
product provides a safe, clean surface for a diaper to be changed and easily
folds to minimize the amount of space it uses. “While it may not seem obvious,
schools are a place where this type of fixture should be standard since parents
often visit with younger siblings.”
On the high-tech end of the spectrum, Walker cites a number
of excellent products that have changed the restroom environment. “Perhaps the
most important is the acceleration of ‘no touch’ products and fixtures,” he
says. “For products such as faucets, paper towel dispensers and hand dryers,
there are a variety of options that come equipped with sensor-activated
technology. These types of products reduce the direct human contact with the
fixture, that both reduces the spread of germs and wear and tear on the fixture
or product.”
Sustainability and Conservation
Designing and building a restroom should also consider
sustainability and conservation as important parts of any restroom project.
From a green and sustainability perspective, are there definite advantages, not
only those that are socially responsible, but economic and cost advantages to
designing restrooms environmentally and include such considerations as low
water consumption, conservations of towels and tissue supply, and other similar
measures. But are schools truly embracing this?
“It’s difficult to sell environmentally friendly products
that may offer a cost increase up front or in maintenance costs,” says Tom
Jones, senior project manager for Los Angeles, Calif.-based General Contracting
and Construction Management. “Most, if not all, manufacturers are making
fixtures that will save water, thus the pricing is on par with baseline
fixtures. Hand dryers that eliminate paper towels and lessen maintenance are
gaining in popularity again. All this being said, it boils down to the school
district and how far they are willing to go with this kind of technology. Low
maintenance and vandal resistance tend to be the determining factors in fixture
selection with the majority of districts.”
“Some schools embrace the idea of sustainability through the
specification of plumbing fixtures,” says Ralph Walker. “One client we are
currently working with is adjusting to high-efficiency toilets. They have
created a ‘water hammer’ noise problem in a newly constructed building, but
additional pressure reducing valves are being added to help with this issue.
Most clients are utilizing automatic hand dryers as the general public is
becoming more accepting of this technology and its ecological benefits.”
“Clean, safe and comfortable restrooms are part of the
foundation for a school community,” adds Ralph Walker. “If students are not
comfortable using the facilities they will not be comfortable at school in
general. The finishes and fixtures are only a part of the restroom environment
— appropriate levels of privacy, good lighting and clear signage all help to
make a restroom environment work.”
Jim Romeo is a freelance writer based in Chesapeake,
Va. He may be contacted through his website at www.JimRomeo.net.