A park district has approved funding for the construction of a new public bathroom. The building is in an ideal spot and the staff is ready for the next stage.
The contractor then begins to look over the site. The proposed site has drainage problems. The utility connections are further away than what was expected. The delivery vehicle may have difficulty to reach installation areas, and building configurations may not meet the requirements of the space.
Image credit: romtec.com
None of these issues necessarily mean that the project can’t proceed. This can result in redesigns, extra expenses and construction delays. For public agencies and developers bathroom projects, it is more manageable when the site’s conditions affect the construction choice from the start.
The whole picture is not evident in a construction drawing
Before selecting prefabricated park restroom buildings The project team should be aware of the property’s capacity to allow for. The installation can be affected by the terrain’s slope water drainage, utilities and construction accessibility.
A restroom in the playground, for instance it may require to be connected to the existing infrastructure of water and sewer. If the current infrastructure isn’t available, or if it’s expensive to build new connections, then a different sanitation procedure could be required.
The foundation of the building and its placement must also account for the applicable codes, accessibility requirements as well as site-specific restrictions. A typical building layout might look suitable on paper but will require major changes once these aspects are considered.
Urban Projects have their own construction restrictions
Installing sidewalk restrooms involves more than just finding space to build a small structure. On sidewalks that are public it is common to find underground utilities, pedestrian trails as well as street furniture and entrances nearby. Coordinating construction work with local authorities is important.
A bathroom located too close to a utility corridor could cause difficulties with foundation or excavation work. Accessibility adds another consideration. The entrance and surrounding approach should be constructed to meet applicable requirements, not merely fit within the available footprint.
Romtec provides the option of customizing ADA single-user toilet units with options for the installation of doors and sinks. These design choices allow the project team to address physical constraints of the site, while creating a plan for the practical use of public restrooms.
Do you have no sewer Connection? You don’t have a sewer connection? Think about Alternatives
Remote recreation sites pose a distinct infrastructure problem. The trailhead could be many miles from the closest sewer and makes flushing toilets a non-sensical option.
In appropriate locations, vault toilets provide a waterless alternative. Instead of transferring wastewater through a sewer system vault toilets collect the waste into storage vaults that need to be regularly maintained.
But choosing vault toilets won’t be enough to remove the need for site planning. The project will still require suitable terrain, safe access for servicing equipment, adequate ventilation, and conformity with applicable environmental regulations.
Romtec creates water-free vault bathrooms that use Sweet-Smelling Technologies (SST) which is a method designed to control odors via ventilation. For properties that are located in remote locations, selecting the sanitation system at an early stage can prevent costly changes to the structure later.
Construction coordination begins before delivery
Prefabricated construction is often misinterpreted as a product that is pre-decided by its manufacturer. In actuality, preparation of the site, foundation requirements, utility connections, accessibility, and local approvals are still required to be coordinated. Romtec takes on these projects with customizable building kits as well as design assistance, rather than relying solely on the standard, fixed-in-shape structures.
The company works closely with landscaping architects, project managers and contractors in order to match the specifications of construction to site requirements. This approach is particularly beneficial when a bathroom must match a specific architectural style or accommodate peculiar property conditions.
A successful project begins with Better Questions
Before approving the purchase of a restroom, owners should establish how the bathroom will receive utilities, how construction equipment will be able to access the location, and what approvals are needed.
They must also determine if the selected sanitation system is appropriate for the expected number of visitors and whether it is possible to install the facility without major changes to surrounding infrastructure.
They may be less exciting than choosing exterior finishes or architectural details however, they could affect more project costs and timeframes.
A successful public restroom construction isn’t simply one that delivers a building on time. It’s one where the building infrastructure, site infrastructure as well as the construction process and the intended usage have been thought of together. The finished bathroom is more efficient if these decisions are made in advance.