Advances in School Toilet Blocks

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

That has changed dramatically in recent years, and School toilet blocks are now designed to prevent Antisocial Behaviour, save water, and 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 Washrooms

New School Toilet Blocks tend to open directly off the main Corridor without Doors! While this might seem to compromise students' privacy, 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. Privacy is maintained using floor-to-ceiling Cubicles.

Floor-to-Ceiling Toilet Cubicles

Floor-to-ceiling cubicles maintain the privacy 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.

Hiding Places Above 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 from being hidden.

Washroom Mirrors

We are increasingly asked NOT to add Mirrors in modern School Toilets. Several reasons include reduced time-wasting and the injury caused by broken mirrors. For the latter reason we sell a range of unbreakable mirrors designed for commercial toilet rooms.

CCTV in School Toilets

As privacy is maintained within cubicles, it is now possible to include CCTV cameras inside the School Toilet block, something that hasn’t previously been possible for obvious reasons. 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 with toilet paper and leave the tap running, and chaos would ensue. Red-faced Janitors running back and forth with mops and buckets!

Sensor taps reduce touch points for better hygiene. 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 is pushed down to start water flow, and they automatically shut off after a set period of time—usually several seconds. These taps are also referred to as push taps.

Vandal Resistant Toilet Cubicles

Commercial Washrooms SGL Range of School 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. It 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 one toilet for every 10 pupils, pupils over 5 years of age require one toilet for every 20 pupils, and special schools require one toilet for every 10 pupils, regardless of age.

Where the majority of pupils are over 11: Washrooms with one toilet must contain at least one washbasin; Washrooms with two toilets must contain at least two washbasins; Washrooms with three 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 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 following 30 pupils.
• 2 wash hand basins for every additional 30 pupils up to 300 pupils.
• 2 wash hand basins for every additional 60 pupils over 300 pupils.