blogger.com Accessible Design: The Importance of Bathroom Partitions in a Commercial Setting

Tuesday 6 October 2015

The Importance of Bathroom Partitions in a Commercial Setting

Have you ever wondered why public restrooms are partitioned off? If a survey were taken asking why partitions are necessary in public restrooms, the number one response would most likely be privacy. However, partitions accomplish so much more such as protecting the public from theft and injury as well as safeguarding public health. Who knew those metal and plastic walls were meant to accomplish so much.

Going to the bathroom is a very private activity. In a commercial restroom, partitions give people anonymity. Behind that closed door no one knows who the source of a sound or a smell is that, even though it’s totally natural, can also be totally embarrassing. That closed door and those walls protect your modesty from prying eyes and give you a place to compose yourself in stressful situations. In a way, those walls are a sanctuary.

Partitions also protect people from thieves who would swipe belongings while the owner is otherwise occupied. Having a private stall allows you to keep your property nearby, either on the hook on the door or at your feet where you can keep a watchful eye on it. They also provide a secure place to hide, with a lock on the door, if your physical safety is at risk. Again, providing a safe sanctuary.

Using restroom partitions to hide is just one way they may protect you from injury. Another way is in the limited space available in individual stalls. Should a person become ill, lose their balance or begin to fall for some reason, the confined space would allow them to slump against a partition wall rather than hit the floor or the toilet and sustaining more serious injury. The close proximity of the walls also allows them to be used to assist a person in sitting down and standing back up.

The sequestering effect of bathroom partitions also protects the health of the general public. This is accomplished with the use of anti-bacterial plastics such as HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) among others that limit the spread of illness. Germs and bacteria released through coughing, sneezing and other bodily functions are not only contained in a single stall, but also that they are transferred to a  partition surface on which they will die before they can be spread to other people. 

Bathroom partitions in commercial settings protect the health, safety and privacy of clients, customers and visitors. To learn more about the importance of restroom partitions in El Cajon, visit this website.

1 comment:

  1. Well these sure are things I never considered about a public bathroom partition! I guess they are all very true though. While privacy would definitely be my main concern, its good to know this design serves many other purposes as well. One thing I don't prefer though, is very closely assembled partitions that make it difficult to get in and out of the stall.

    Giovanni @ Coastal Contract Hardware

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