Rethinking Commercial Restroom Design
Although we haven’t seen any studies yet that specifically indicate that public restrooms are COVID-19 transmission points, history has shown that other viruses have spread there. Thus, it’s no surprise that the pandemic has the commercial real estate and construction industries taking steps to revamp commercial bathrooms, in the hopes that at best they can prevent the spread of infection, and at the very least make occupants and visitors feel safe. In this post we cover features you may want to include in your brand new or renovated restroom.
Table of Contents
Innovative Commercial Restroom Improvements to Consider
If your bathrooms are outdated, now might be a great time to remodel and add some of the features below. If you are in the planning stages of a new build, take advantage of the opportunity to implement some of the components below to made your restrooms more “pandemic-proof”, or just more efficient in general.
1. Automatic Doors
- Touchless means less germs
2. Dedicated Entrances and Exits
- Improves flow of traffic and reduces close interaction
3. Centrally Located Sinks
- Reduces crowding
4. Floor-to-Ceiling Partitions
- Helps prevent germ transmission that can occur via air borne toilet plume that is expelled from flushes
5. Smart Toilets
- Auto-closing lids contain plume
6. Waterless Urinals
- No urinal plume, less costly, less splash-back
7. More/Higher Capacity Soap & Towel Dispensers
- Keeps up better with increased handwashing
8. Better Ventilation
- Filter out microbes, germs, & bacteria.
Featured Emerald Inc. Project Restrooms
Conclusion
In the end, it makes sense that, in the wake of COVID-19, we may see more restroom regulations in the coming years, including rules regarding how many restrooms and fixtures a building needs to have based on the number of people using the facility, and design requirements that aim to support social distancing. Ultimately, it’s clear that the restrooms of yesterday will not be sufficient for the future.
Emerald Inc. are experts in restroom design and construction who have been helping clients create their ideal bathroom since 1997. Reach out today via email or phone at 480-832-9808 to get the ball rolling on your construction project.
