EXPLAINER / KNOW HOW
W
e have witnessed an enormous rise in requests for ‘gender neutral’ or ‘unisex’ washrooms. We work across a range of sectors – including commercial, healthcare and education – but the commercial sector has gravitated towards genderneutral facilities more so than any other. Progressive company cultures, coupled with limited space compared with schools or hospitals, for example, tend to be the reasons for their interest.
Space considerations
There is little requirement for additional space when retrofitting gender-neutral toilets, as you are removing the need for two separate spaces. However, you still need to provide enough toilet cubicles so it’s important to calculate how many toilets are required to accommodate all genders in one space or over multiple spaces. Calculating the number of conveniences in a workplace washroom depends on the size of the workforce. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the number of toilets and washbasins for mixed use in an office setting can be broken down as follows: Number of people at work
Number of toilets
Number of washbasins
6-25
2
2
51-75
4
4
1-5
26-50
PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK
76-100
1
3
5
1
3
5
When it comes to the provision of genderneutral toilets, be sure to take all of the following into consideration. Privacy: Toilets need to be separated using floor-to-ceiling cubicle walls, with a door that is lockable from the inside. Avoid urinals in gender-neutral washrooms as a courtesy to all users. Additionally, there is currently a decline in urinals in male-specific washrooms as urinals are notoriously unhygienic. They also lend themselves to unsociable behaviour among users. Hygiene and finishes: Regardless of gender, there are people who respect hygiene and others who are less inclined to clean up after themselves. Increased cleaning is a solution, but so too is your choice of interior finishing touches, which
G EN D ER-N EUT R A L TOI L ET S
Neutral zone Privacy and hygiene are core considerations for gender-neutral washrooms, says Jason Hubbard
practice for all facilities to replace manually operated flushes, lights, taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers with smart automated systems. Since Covid-19, the desire to reduce touchpoints in washrooms has become as much of a priority as the interior design itself. Remember to provide: Muted tones, beautiful lighting and automated technology (smart lighting, sensor flushes, taps, soap dispensers and intelligent hand dryers).
Take your employees on a journey
can improve hygiene and increase the It’s impossible to generalise how users of lifespan of the washroom. any organisation will adapt or react to the Hygienic cladding has been engineered introduction of gender-neutral washrooms. as an impervious, smooth surface that can The best solution is to involve your be moulded into corners to reduce joints workforce in the decision-making. In the where dirt and bacteria build up. The waterfirst instance, we recommend that the resistant surface is hardwearing and can employer informs staff about why they withstand tough cleaning products. Not only intend to retrofit gender-neutral facilities. does the wall surface optimise hygiene, it’s Then, follow up with a staff survey that quicker to install than standard tiles and asks the team about their preferences comes in any colour. It can even be printed and concerns. That way the employer can in a design of your choice. make an informed decision and Cap-and-cove non-slip vinyl address any issues based on their flooring is a good hard-wearing vinyl feedback before proceeding with floor with a slight curved cap-andthe design and fit-out. cove system around the outer edges Finally, we recommend so you can mop into the corners for a sharing the survey results with genuinely good clean. your fit-out contractor. An JASON Reduce touchpoints: This experienced contractor will be HUBBARD is isn’t specific to gender-neutral able to offer solutions that you director at JBH washrooms but it is increasingly best may not have considered. Refurbishments FACI L I TAT EM AG A ZI N E .CO M
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