by Phil Jagelski, Bradley Regional Sales Manager

The expression "times have changed" is an understatement when it comes to students of the new millennium and the school facilities needed to meet today's challenges. Restrooms and locker rooms of yesteryear were built in an area of the school that would provide easy access to plumbing, such as adjacent to the kitchen or boiler room, and the only other design consideration was to provide almost enough space to stand up to hundreds of students using the facilities.

        School facilities must now balance creating resilient and safe environments that are also welcoming. Furthermore, proper restroom and locker room planning must account for a multitude of issues from security and vandalism to traffic flow, ADA compliance and ease of maintenance.        

Restroom Design and Trends

Many school restrooms are now designed without doors, similar to public restrooms, and have wash stations located in the corridor outside the toilet facilities to allow maximum student supervision. In elementary schools, this cuts down on children playing in the sinks and proves to be an asset in middle and high schools for preventing vandalism, smoking and other problematic activities that can be hidden behind closed doors.

        Modular hand washing systems in washroom corridors are a space-saving solution, providing the familiar look of traditional wall-hung china lavs with added durability. New solid surface materials are available in a range of color options and can withstand tough treatment. Solid surfaces resist impact, stains and burns, and graffiti can be easily cleaned with everyday cleansers. In addition, a continuous bowl surface means easier cleaning than individual lavs, and soap can be confined within the bowl perimeter to keep the entire area cleaner.

        Group hand washing and the use of washfountains is another cost-effective option. Infrared controls either on lavs or washfountains are a great feature for schools because they offer hassle free water operation and the mechanicals are hidden inside the unit. Nothing can be easily broken or removed.

        As with new corporate and residential plans, current academic design takes traffic flow into account. Peak restroom usage between classes or after lunch requires that the design help to quickly move a high volume of students in and out. Proper placement of accessories in restrooms, and even locker rooms, has a significant impact on traffic flow. Moving the mirrors away from above sinks, for example, is an easy way to increase the number of students at the washing area and keep students moving toward the door.

        While state codes and ADA regulations have guidelines for the heights and number of fixtures, placement should be carefully evaluated. Using a doorway corner for a garbage receptacle may seem like a good space solution, however, it poses a safety issue if users drip water onto the floor to get across the room. Paper towel dispensers or drying units and trash containers should be conveniently located right next to the sink.

Choosing the Right Accessories

Whether as a result of boredom, defiance or anger, washroom and locker room facilities are often a primary target for vandals. Planning ahead and specifying products that can withstand abuse will save on replacement and maintenance costs. Although it may cost more initially to choose better, vandal-resistant products, repair costs will quickly end up costing more in no time.

        This means the best accessories for school facilities will be designed for the long term. Accessories should have top-notch features, such as full-length piano hinges and tumbler locks hidden on the inside of sanitary dispensers and combination units, to help prevent damage. In addition to the dispensers, another accessory to consider is the mirror. Rather than glass mirrors, schools should consider polished stainless steel or plastic reflective surfaces to reduce the potential of damage and injury from broken glass.

        Maintaining restroom supplies and keeping facilities neat, especially during peak times, can be problematic. One easy solution is to select high capacity paper towel and toilet tissue dispensers that require less filling. Another option is electric hand dryers, versus hand towel dispensers, to eliminate paper waste. Dryers can lower costs in high volume areas by as much as 90 percent. Although the initial cost of the dryers is higher than paper towel dispensers, they often pay for themselves within a few months. Moreover, reduced waste helps washrooms stay cleaner and encourages students to be more sanitary.

Innovative Lockers and Locker Rooms

New solid plastic lockers are becoming increasingly popular and have made their way to athletic rooms and locker rooms. Plastic lockers are ideal, because moist conditions will rust and corrode traditional metal units. Plastic lockers are available in a wide range of colors, never require painting and can be easily mounted.

        Security has a heightened level of importance for educators. While the numbers have actually dropped in the last few years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of students who carry a gun to school once or more a month is between eight and 10 percent. These staggering statistics have an impact on school design, right down to lockers.

        Lockers with clear doors, or cubby lockers without doors, are new storage options that have an added security benefit and can make locker inspections easier. Also, convenient cubby lockers can provide multiple tiered shelves for maximum capacity in small areas. These can be a useful solution for elementary schools where combination lockers are not necessary, or in areas that do not require locked storage.

        Another issue is that many schools are reducing the amount of space allocated for shower rooms because of a movement away from having as many physical education classes. As a result, it is becoming increasingly important to maximize every square foot. Solid plastic pedestal benches are an economic choice and are a good option for smaller areas. Unlike the old wood benches, these don't scratch and never require staining.

        Another twist on traditional lockers is the convenient locker bench. These unique benches have floor-height lockers built into them and can be effective storage for sports equipment and other items needing to be stowed away.

        The shower units themselves have evolved. Current column and multiple-head wall shower units are designed to serve many users in less space and at a lower cost than installing single showerheads. Only a single water supply is required.

        Balancing energy efficiency and temperature control have gotten much easier as a result of the latest technology. Thermostatic mixing valves and electronic metering valves on showers offer precise timing and reliability, and these units can be selected with the temperature control and anti-scald protection features most school codes require. If vandalism in shower areas is particularly problematic, special vandal-resistant showerheads are an easy solution. These will have a lower profile design and piping that is hidden from potential tampering.

        Now more than ever before, facility managers, architects and designers must ensure that restrooms and locker rooms can stand up to the challenges ahead. Each facility has unique needs, and product specifications should be done as early in the planning process as possible. Experts in products and accessories should be consulted to provide recommendations and innovative solutions for the ever-evolving needs of school restrooms and locker rooms.

Phil Jagelski is a regional sales manager at Bradley Corporation.

Reprinted with permission of School Planning & Management, P.O. Box 49699, Dayton, OH 45449 from School Planning & Management.