Anil Madan, Non-Residential Marketing Manager for Ideal Standard UK and Armitage Shanks, explores the key performance criteria architects and specifiers should consider when designing commercial washrooms.

Simplified specification
A robust specification process is key to any project. However, when it comes to commercial washrooms, choosing solutions that work together and fit into wider design aesthetics help to not only create a more uniform space, but also ensure a better experience for every visitor.

One way to ensure a cohesive design and streamlined specification process is to opt for a manufacturer or supplier that offers a complete, comprehensive washroom solution, providing a single point of contact and reducing the likelihood of issues by offering one neat package.

From design to installation, Singular by Ideal Standard and Armitage Shanks does just this, creating a complete end-to-end journey for specifiers with an infinite combination of award-winning products and solutions to choose from. This means everything that’s needed – from ceramics to mixers, and even showers – is all accounted for.

In addition, with Singular, specifiers can also take advantage of both manufacturers’ considerable expertise through the new Solutions Sector Books, which encompass all the knowledge and insight needed to design the perfect washroom, no matter the sector.

Focusing on sustainability
An important area of focus for all architects and specifiers is sustainability, and there are plenty of stylish options to choose from when it comes to combating rising costs. Whether it’s low-flow taps, dual-flush toilets or more efficient showers, the number of sustainable products available is only increasing.

Products like Ideal Standard’s hygienic smart tap Intellimix, for example, can significantly reduce the use of water with every wash. Designed to release a pre-set, controllable, amount of water and soap with every use, these touchless taps have the ability to save up to 85 per cent on water and 80 per cent on soap compared to traditional fittings.

Additionally, urinals can be great places to save on water, with water-saving technology installed in the latest urinals, like Armitage Shanks’ Sphero. Products that use accurate timers to minimise water waste can also make an impact, potentially saving high-traffic areas like stadiums up to 50,000 litres a year.

Water-saving technology in WCs has also advanced greatly in recent years, with dual flush toilets becoming the new normal. WCs with smaller volume cisterns can reduce water usage from 6 litres of water per flush all the way down to 4/2.6 litres with each use, while still offering a hygienic end result.

With the demands on the sustainability of buildings only increasing with new regulations and legislation, the pressures on specifiers and designers to create environmentally-friendly buildings will only grow, and the washroom is a key factor in meeting these goals.

Creating a hygienic space
Equally important is cleanliness of washrooms, which needs to be a central pillar for any project. Touchless technology is an area of the market that is already well established, but when this is coupled with easily maintainable soap dispensers and hand-dryers, the job for ongoing maintenance and hygiene assurances is much easier. When a washroom is designed and specified with hygiene in mind from the outset, it puts any commercial space on the right footing.

Architects and specifiers should also consider products that lessen the pressure on end-users and cleaning teams. Washbasins, showerheads, and WCs that have smooth lines and curves should be your first port of call, as they won’t have many nooks or crannies that are difficult to clean or easy to miss by staff. Opting for toilets with rimless pans is a sure-fire way to ensure an easy-to-clean washroom.

At Ideal Standard, many of our WCs feature our unique AquaBlade technology. Working at even low-flush volumes, AquaBlade’s innovative water distribution system means that it cleans 100 per cent of the bowl, every time.

Ultimately, when it comes to commercial washrooms, there’s a lot to consider, but getting specification correct can be key to meeting end-users’ expectations, creating sustainable spaces and securing end-user confidence.

Contact Details
To find out more about Ideal Standard’s commercial washroom offering, please visit the website.