Toilet & Washroom Regulations for Facilities Managers

Toilet facilities should be clean and welcoming no matter where they are located. From office buildings to shopping centres, facility managers are responsible for ensuring all toilets are kept sanitary and comply with the legal requirements for public toilets. In this guide, we delve into the key requirements for toilet facilities, including what laws apply to you and what the disabled toilet regulations are in the UK.

‍

Toilet Facility Regulations and Law
Key Legal Requirements for Public Toilets
Disable Toilet Regulations in the UK
How Many Toilets Should There Be?
Comply with the Legal Requirements for Public Toilets with Woosh

Toilet Facility Regulations and Law

As a facility manager, you should be aware of several different laws and regulations, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Health and Safety Executive Code of Practice, and, if you are in charge of a workplace, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

‍

These laws and regulations highlight the importance of keeping toilet facilities clean and sanitary and ensuring the washrooms have the appropriate equipment. The key legal requirements that you should be aware of are listed below.

What Happens If I Fail to Comply?

As these toilet rules and regulations are a legal requirement rather than a suggestion, failing to comply with them would be breaking the law. This can result in prosecution, leading to a fine or imprisonment, depending on the severity of the situation. Additionally, you may face adverse publicity if you are found to provide inadequate washrooms.

Key Legal Requirements for Public Toilets

The key factors to consider when ensuring your washrooms and toilet facilities comply with laws and regulations include:

‍

Each washroom must be adequately ventilated and lit.
All washrooms must be kept clean and orderly.
Each toilet facility must be located in an accessible location.
The washroom should have waterproof floors and walls to allow for easy cleaning.
Washroom facilities must have hot and cold running water.
An effective means of flushing the toilet.
Toilet paper should also be provided and maintained.
Soap must be provided and topped up regularly.
Washbasins should be large enough to wash your hands.
A method for drying hands should be provided, including hand dryers or paper towels.
Washing facilities should be located in the immediate vicinity of toilets.
There should be separate rooms for men and women unless the room can be secured from the inside and each convenience is inside that room.
A coat hook should be provided.
Sanitary bins should be available in the appropriate washrooms.
Special provisions should be provided to any workers with disabilities.
Toilet facilities should be located in an area that provides protection from the weather.
A regular cleaning and inspection routine should be in place to ensure a clean and sanitary washroom.
Facilities should be easy to maintain.
If any damage is to occur in the toilet facility, it should be repaired immediately.

Disable Toilet Regulations in the UK

As stated in regulations and laws such as the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, Building Regulations 2010: Document Part M, and Equality Act 2010, the provision of wheelchair-accessible toilets is a requirement in the UK.

‍

At least one wheelchair-accessible unisex toilet should be provided in a building. The minimum width of a disabled toilet is 1,200mm. Each disabled washroom should include a washbasin, toilet, and shower, where applicable, all with the appropriate adjustments to ensure they are suitable for the user's needs.

How Many Toilets Should There Be?

The number of toilets in a building depends on the number of potential users. This will differ depending on the type of building. For example, the number of male and female toilets in the workplace will differ from those in a shopping centre.

‍

The general toilet rules for an office space are:

‍

Female or Mixed Toilets: There will be one toilet for five people and two toilets for 25 people, increasing by one toilet for every 25 people.
Male Toilets: There will be one toilet and one urinal for every 15 people, with an additional urinal or toilet for every 15 people.

Customer Toilet Regulations in the UK

The number of toilets for a customer differs from the general rule above. The rules many shopping centres follow are:

‍

Female Toilets: One toilet for 500 people and an additional toilet for every 200 people.
Male Toilets: There should be one toilet for 500 people and one additional toilet for every 1,000 people. In terms of urinals, there should be two urinals for 500 males and one additional urinal for every 500 males.

‍

These toilets should comply with the key legal requirements for public toilets listed above to ensure compliance with the customer toilet laws in the UK.

Comply with the Legal Requirements for Public Toilets with Woosh

Ensure you adhere to the legal requirements for public toilets by choosing Woosh Washrooms. At Woosh, we have a range of washroom supplies to help you maintain your toilet facilities. From Sanitary Bins to Soap Dispensers and Hand Dryers, you can provide your washroom users with the supplies they need while also ensuring your compliance with toilet facility regulations and laws. Explore our range at Woosh today!

FAQs

What are the HSE guidelines for toilets?

The HSE guidelines state that all toilet facilities must be readily available, adequately ventilated and lit, and maintained and kept in an orderly fashion. Separate rooms for men and women should also be provided unless the toilet facility has a separate door that can be locked from the inside.

‍

The number of toilets in a facility varies depending on the type of property. For example, male and female toilets in the workplace should follow a ratio of:

‍

Female or Mixed Toilets: One toilet for five people and then two toilets for 25 people. The number of additional toilets will then increase by one toilet for every 25 people.
Male Toilets: One toilet and one urinal for every 15 people, with an additional urinal or toilet for every 15 people.

What is the legal requirement for toilets in the workplace in the UK?

It is a legal requirement for a workplace to have accessible toilets, even if they are temporary or on a building site. These toilet facilities should have running water, be kept sanitary, and be accessible to all.

Is it a legal requirement to have a customer toilet?

The laws surrounding customer toilets vary, but it is generally an unspoken rule in the hospitality industry to provide washrooms for customers. However, generally, if the food vendor has fewer than 10 seats or is a takeaway, they do not need to provide toilet facilities for customers.

How to Encourage Good Workplace Hygiene

Public Washrooms: A Survival Guide for Germophobes

Sanitary Bins: The Legal Requirements & Your Responsibilities

‍