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Settle Group is a social housing organisation based in Hertfordshire that we had previously carried out a shower room refurbishment for. Phase one works saw us upgrade their office meeting space into a new work showering area. A new facility that allowed staff to cycle into work and freshen up before starting their day and was met with high praise and enthusiasm. Following on from the successful phase one shower works we completed at Settle Group, we were awarded the work for the ground floor washrooms as phase two of their washroom improvement works.
With staff returning to the office after working from home, the organisation wanted to ensure their washrooms were efficient. Having recently developed the showering area, we were able to liberate space in the washrooms by removing the existing shower cubicles, increasing space for additional toilet cubicles.
Prior to works taking place, we provided CAD drawings and a full specification of the washroom refurbishment, so that the client could have a detailed understanding and breakdown of exactly what their new washrooms would look like and cost. We also provided a carefully planned programme of works and assigned a project manager to ensure the refurbishment was carried out to the highest possible standard, to time, and to budget.
To begin with, we stripped back the existing rooms. We also carried out structural alterations in order to remove a brick wall which allowed us to open the space up further. After this preliminary work, we set about installing an Altro Ensemble flooring in both rooms along with a new suspended ceiling that housed energy-saving LED lighting, complete with emergency battery packs in case of a power outage.
Following the Covid lockdowns, hygiene was of utmost importance, and so sensor activation was employed at every possible turn. The LED lighting was controlled via infrared sensors, so the lights would automatically turn on for a set period of time when a user entered the room. Meanwhile, sensor flush controls were fitted to both urinals and toilets, with sensor taps and hand dryers also being installed.
To make the room easy to clean and sanitise, full-height DUCT sets were used, creating a thin false wall where the mains services and cisterns can be concealed. This was then clad in solid grade laminate panels and back to wall toilets and new cubicles fitted against them. The cubicles were also built from solid grade laminate, a material chosen for its impressive durability and hygiene standards. As well as carrying antimicrobial properties, this material is completely impervious to water, and so will never swell or weaken from ingress water.
In the hand wash area, solid surface vanity tops with integrated, moulded washbasins were fitted. This removes the need for silicone joints between the washbasins and vanity top and delivers a finish that can be cleaned and sanitised swiftly and efficiently.
The hand dryers also carried HEPA filters to provide further protection against airborne bacteria. HEPA filters are highly efficient and can remove 99.97% of dust, pollen, mould, bacteria, and all airborne particles down to 0.3 microns.
In keeping with the corporate colours, the rooms were decorated using a durable commercial grade paint, while the sturdy existing entrance doors were wrapped in an architectural film to not only freshen them up but also protect them with a finish that carries antimicrobial properties and can be sanitised and wiped down more easily.
Completed on time and on budget, the new ground floor washrooms at Settle Group were welcomed with enthusiasm by the staff on their return to the offices.
