Durable Sports Changing Room Refurbishments

Local authorities are often responsible for the upkeep and renovation of very tired changing room facilities. When committing to renovations, measures need to be in place against accidental damage and vandalism. So how do we go about meeting those needs?

Tackling changing room vandalism

It’s a fact that public spaces, at times, endure the blight of vandalism. However, we can pre-empt these mindless acts and coupled with today's technology and advancements in washroom design, mitigate a lot of costly damage:

Conceal pipework where possible

By concealing pipework and other washroom services you inherently protect them from damage - accidental or otherwise. You can conceal pipework by choosing toilets, basins and urinals that have the waste outlet and feed pipes concealed within the unit. For exposed runs of pipework leading to units, they can be concealed within boxing, behind the cladding, or within ducting systems. 

From a maintenance perspective, these services can still be accessed from removable panels and often undergo much less deterioration than if left uncovered. But there’s an added bonus here too. Exposed pipework gathers dust, dirt and bacteria. By concealing them, you swiftly make your changing room easier to clean too.

Sensor taps & push taps

One of the best advantages of sensor taps is the fact they only emit water for a controlled period of time. This removes the risk of taps accidentally being left on and as such, reduces the risk of flooding significantly. In an ordinary washroom, this is helpful, but in a facility that could be left unattended for significant periods of time, this can be one of the best insurance measures you make. However, sensor taps carry with them some additional cost, but the same functionality can be achieved by using push taps, which again only allow water to flow for a short period of time.

Hand dryers vs hand towels

We can all remember seeing wet paper towels that had been thrown on the ceiling of the school toilet, and even today this can still be a regular occurrence. A simple answer to this problem is to install a durable hand dryer, which not only removes the supply of the offending material but means hand towel dispensers don't need to be kept topped up. For more information read our blog: Hand dryer or paper towels?

The virtues of stainless steel

Stainless steel washroom fixtures are used in publicly accessed washrooms throughout the world, and for good reason. The units won’t rust or stain and will never shatter or break on impact. From urinal troughs and washbasins to toilet pans and partitions, stainless steel is a solid, sensible and robust option. However, there are vandal resistant washroom fixtures that are made from other solid materials and boast similar durability and easy clean credentials. There are also many shatter-resistant fittings to be installed like toilet seat covers, or even modern designed toilets that don’t even require a toilet seat.

Removing ligature points is essential

A ligature point is anywhere a user could hang or tie a cord to cause harm to themselves. Anti-ligature fittings like coat hooks and showerheads can be found easily and have smart designs to ensure they not only do their job at removing ligature points but look aesthetically pleasing at the same time.

Invest in your flooring

Spikes, studs and other hard-bottomed shoes can be abrasive, especially when combined with soil from the fields, or grit from a running track. To say your sports ground changing room floor will take a beating is an understatement. While tiles have traditionally been the most popular option, today you will likely see rubberised safety flooring, which prevents users skidding all over the place in their football boots, but also carries anti-slip properties that work when the floor is wet. 

Include floor drains

From time to time you will need to deep clean your changing rooms and a full hose and scrub down will be essential. By including a floor drain in your changing and washrooms, you instantly have the means for water to escape and make this job very easy. This also makes cleaning up after a muddy rugby match considerably easier too.

Disabled access & RADAR locks

Disabled washrooms can be costly to install and you may be a little more concerned over vandalism or misuse in this room. RADAR locks are one of the best safety measures as they can only be opened by those certified to carry a RADAR key.

If you are including changing and shower facilities in this disabled access space, then you may want to consider full Doc-M shower packs, as well as full Doc-M toilet packs to ensure you meet the criteria for Building Regulations Document-M which is required in all new-build facilities.

Tough lockers that look good

Lockers are an essential bit of kit but do sometimes feel the brunt of excessive use. Metal doors can become bent easily, but our range of Probe Shockproof lockers are built with highly durable laminate doors that are moisture, heat and scratch resistant, but also can’t be bent or misshapen. Probe lockers also come in a huge range of custom colourways, meaning you can keep your school, town, or sports grounds colours running through the interior of your changing room.

If you would like further advice on durable refurbishment programs or help to design and to renovate your sports ground changing rooms, please get in touch on 01202 650900