Toilet partitions, a divider commonly placed inside a public restroom dividing the space into individual cubicles. Toilet partitions serve as the barrier between people that uses the bathroom. We usually have this in schools, malls, offices, and many other public places.
The History of Toilet Partitions
Toilet partitions were developed in the 16th century; it began to become a typical view in Europe and other civilized societies. Usually, toilets were remote to single rooms during this period. In the Victorian era and into the 19th century, builders started to group the toilets, and most are built in public places. In these early times, toilets were either clustered together or were placed in separate rooms.
Maintenance and keeping the nooks and corners of a toilet tidy was a big challenge in this kind of setup. In 1904, the great American architect and innovator, Frank Lloyd Wright, invented a creative way to make it easier to keep clean toilet enclosures, he designed the first toilet partitions hanging on the wall and also suspended toilet bowls and sinks.
Wright built wall hanging toilets inside the Larkin Administration Building in Buffalo, and ceiling-hung partitions laid on the floor. Mops and brooms were able to move under each nook and corner, and here started the toilet partitions that we use in public places these days.
Types of toilet partitions
Starting the time where toilet partitions were developed, it went a journey. These days, architects developed creative and innovative designs for the toilets. There are some common types of toilet partitions that are designed nowadays.
- Floor Mounted Toilet Partitions – it is commonly built with floor supporting pilasters. It can also be linked to the overhead or an intermediate bar connected to the adjacent walls.
- Ceiling Hung Toilet partitions – commonly hanging from a washroom ceiling and creating a clear gap between the partition and the floor. They are built to allow cleaners and maintenance workers the most access.
- Urinal Screens – it is a small partition that is either mounted on the floor, full height or wall that serves to separate the urinals of men.
Types of Materials used in Toilet partitions
The types of toilet partitions can also have different materials to be used; it mostly varies if one is looking for a budget-friendly divider, a partition that is highly customizable or easy to clean one. There are common types of materials for toilet partitions that can be chosen from.
- Metal or Stainless steel – it is a common choice amongst the business owners. It is a durable and economical type of material. We usually see these types of materials in the mall’s restrooms, and other businesses ventured public places.
- Plastic laminate – a type of material that is highly customizable, cost-effective, and goes in many various designs. Plastic laminate is commonly used in institutions, school facilities, and offices.
- Solid plastic – the simplest material to clean and repair but can be damaged more quickly than other materials. Solid plastic is durable and resistant, and it is good for the public restrooms in the park or anywhere toilets.
- Phenolic – a mixture of plastic laminate and solid plastic. Phenolic is also customizable on its outer layer and is waterproof. This is a good option between plastic or metals.
Things to Consider in Designing a Toilet partition
There are things that are needed to be taken consideration when making a layout design for your toilet. Toilet partitions design requires lots of moving parts, and there are several things we need to consider in advance if the design is worth setting up. When designing a toilet partition, the most significant factors include the number of customers, reliability, water savings, and serviceability. The initial operating costs should also be considered together with the standards, building codes, and materials.
- The number of people that are expected to use the toilet partition should be given the first consideration. Understanding the projected amount of demand or usage will help you decide how big the toilet is to be built, how many commercial bathroom stalls or urinals are to be needed, how many sinks or hand drying fixtures you’ll need.
- The durability should also be taken the second consideration. The longevity of the materials that are used in a toilet is an important factor. Materials that are not highly susceptible to damage from leaky pipes, scratches, graffiti, and other damages such as wood.
- The toilet’s serviceability, if there be any damages in water plumbing, for example, the toilet should be easily serviced. The pipes and wires should be located on areas that can easily be accessed if there are any problems, in walls, for example, is easily accessed when fixing.
- By understanding the project’s initial costs, it is easier to determine how it should be designed. The costs of the materials can be used or the fee of inspection. Ultimately, these initial costs will help define the budget for the project, which might dictate the toilet’s final layout. For example, adding more urinals and fewer toilets to the men’s roots might be more cost-effective.
- The initial costs of construction should be kept in mind, and the long-term running cost should be taken into consideration next. The cost of providing lighting and power, maintenance, repair costs (if there be any damage), and water can be included in the cost. By using high-quality materials, this cost can be lessened.
- The economic quality of fixtures includes! Cheap materials are often low in quality and may require regular maintenance or offer a low durability level. In comparison, the best materials usually have a higher initial cost but need less maintenance and repair attention.
- Knowing what the local codes and regulations are before starting designing a toilet partition. In terms of architecture, this would have a huge effect on what can and cannot be done. In the future, failure to follow the local building and occupancy codes could lead to rejected construction applications and possible legal issues.
Toilet partitions are a standard part of our industry, so it is important to know about it as much as possible.
