what is used to protect the walls in a commercial restroom

An expanse that gets a lot of foot traffic in whatsoever building, and ane which everyone eventually will see and utilize, the restroom is a disquisitional component of all commercial and industrial buildings. Typically thought of as only a functional space, the restroom has been transformed both by increased regulatory requirements for businesses (e.g., OSHA, ADA compliance, etc.) and by a shift to create more than comfortable, inviting spaces for occupants.

These shifts put unique pressures on managers of aging buildings that may have fallen backside the curve on restroom pattern, aesthetics and role.

Travis Kehl, facilities supervisor at Hendricks Commercial Properties in Beloit, Wis., manages about 22 unlike properties, about of which were congenital anywhere from 25-30 years agone. He says that well-nigh of the buildings' restrooms are located within tenants' suites, which ways the tenants are responsible for the budget and cleaning of those rooms. "Nosotros also take some common bathrooms," says Kehl, "all of which are updated and mod."

For example, most of Hendricks' backdrop feature restrooms that have forest frame cabinetry, decorative table legs, granite countertops, aged-statuary fixtures, loftier-stop lighting and assuming colour schemes. Situated in a region that has a rich history, the company has placed historical photos and artwork collages in some of its common hallways and bathrooms.

Knowing that workers are more satisfied when information technology's clear their employers care well-nigh them, Kehl says Hendricks puts actress effort into keeping its restrooms fresh and updated, regardless of the building's age. "Bathrooms are as important as the common hallways in a multi-tenant building, so nosotros really endeavour to keep upwards with the times and take them expect nice," says Kehl, "all in the name of attracting tenants that desire a comfortable, functional space for their employees."

OSHA's Restroom Requirements for Businesses

When adding new facilities or renovating existing restrooms in an older building, at that place are some important regulatory requirements to keep in listen. In regulating the availability of and workers' access to restroom facilities, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specific rules that must be followed. OSHA'southward documentation is extremely detailed and complex, but at a basic level the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) highlights these requirements:

• Toilet facilities must exist bachelor at every worksite.
• Companies with 15 or fewer employees are required to offer only i unisex bathroom and toilet with a locking door.
• For larger companies, the requirements are:
  • Two toilets for sixteen to 35 employees
  • Three toilets for 36 to 55 employees
  • Four toilets for 56 to 80 employees
  • Five toilets for 81 to 110 employees
  • Six toilets for 111 to 150 employees and
  • One additional toilet for every xl employees over 150.
• Employers must provide gender-segregated facilities for coed workforces over fifteen employees, with bathrooms designated as existence for male person or female utilise (unless they tin can exist occupied by no more than one person and tin be locked from the inside).
• Each toilet must be in a separate compartment, with a door, and must be separated from the next by partitions sufficiently high to ensure privacy.
• Hand-washing facilities must be provided and maintained in a sanitary condition. All restrooms must have running water, lather and either hand towels or air dryers.

ADA Compliance Counts

An of import consideration for all businesses and public spaces today, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has strict rules in place concerning the structure and renovation of restroom facilities. If you're running an older edifice where the restroom facilities haven't been recently updated, then you may need to revisit your restrooms to make sure they are up to code.

The consummate ADA guidelines are available hither. Co-ordinate to Buildings , the basic ADA guidelines that facilities managers should keep in listen for single-user restrooms are:

• There must be 30" X 48" admission to the sink (in other words, the door tin can't swing into this rectangle).
• The measurement starts from the indicate where users accept ix" vertical clearance for their feet and 27" vertical clearance for their knees.
• The center line of the toilet must be between 16" to 18" from the side wall.
• To allow a wheelchair to turn, there must be a clear circumvolve of at least threescore inches around the side wall and 56 inches from the rear wall.
• The toilet seat height must be 17-xix inches.

According to Kehl, information technology's important to factor both OHSA and ADA requirements into a restroom renovation in an older edifice, with the latter posing some of the bigger challenges for a upgrading an existing infinite. "You need at least one ADA stall (depending on how many tenants are on a flooring of the building) in every bathroom, and that tin can take up some extra room," he explains. This sometimes requires re-thinking how space is used, and whether or not the restroom redesign will require borrowing space from other private areas of the building. In a case like that, the restroom renovation project will require planning and timing around charter agreements as well.

Improving Comfort Levels

All older buildings will eventually have to go through some blazon of restroom renovation projection. Whether the purpose is modernization, comfort, functionality, compliance or a combination of all four, this is a facility area that requires ongoing attention and commitment.

Not but exercise restroom renovations help keep occupants comfy, simply they tin besides enhance property value, improve employee morale, and aid plant your visitor as i that cares about its employees, customers, and business partners.

Acquire more than about how to mitigate the risks of maintaining your aging edifice. Download the industry report: The Land of Aging Buildings: Today'south Building Direction Challenges.

The information provided on this folio does non, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only.

The information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes just and is based on data available as of the initial appointment of publication. No representation is made that the information or references are consummate or remain current. This article is not a substitute for review of current applicable authorities regulations, industry standards, or other standards specific to your business organization and/or activities and should not be construed every bit legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the applicable standards or consult with an attorney.

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Source: https://www.grainger.com/know-how/business-operations/building-maintenance/kh-know-the-requirements-for-restroom-renovations

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