A park district has approved the funding of a new public restroom. The location has been selected and the building appears to be suitable and the team is ready to go forward.
Image credit: romtec.com
Then the contractor begins reviewing the location. The drainage issue is an issue at the proposed site. There are more utility connections than anticipated. Delivery vehicles may face difficulties reaching the installation site, and the construction configuration might not match the available space.
These issues don’t necessarily suggest that the project cannot continue. However, they can lead to redesigns, additional costs, and delays in construction. For developers and public agencies, a restroom project becomes much easier to manage when the site’s conditions affect the construction selection from the beginning.
The whole picture isn’t evident in a construction drawing
Before selecting prefabricated park restroom buildings, project teams should understand what the surrounding property can accommodate. Installation can be affected by the slope of the property or drainage, the utility, as well as construction accessibility.
If a bathroom is being planned close to a playground area it could be necessary to connect the restroom with existing sewer and water infrastructure. If the current infrastructure is not available, or it would be expensive to build new connections, then a different sanitation method may be required.
It is important to consider the site’s specific conditions and any relevant regulations. A typical building layout might appear attractive on paper but require significant changes once these factors are taken into consideration.
Urban Projects are subject to their own limitations in terms of construction
To install sidewalk restrooms, you need more than a space that is compact. On sidewalks that are public there are usually underground utilities, pedestrian walkways as well as street furniture and entrances nearby. Cooperation with local authorities can be required for construction activities.
If a toilet is too close to a utility line, it might cause excavation or foundation problems. Accessibility of the bathroom is a further consideration. The entrance and its surrounding access have to be designed in accordance with any applicable requirements, not only conform to the existing footprint.
Romtec offers custom-designed ADA focused restrooms for single users, with options for the placement of sink and door. These design choices allow teams working on projects to consider physical constraints of the site, while designing for practical public use.
There is no sewer Connection? Do you not have a sewer connection? Alternatives
Remote recreation areas pose different infrastructure challenge. The nearest sewer connection may be miles away making flush toilets not practical.
If placed in the correct areas, vault toilets could be a great alternative to using water. Instead of transferring wastewater through a sewer system vault toilets collect the waste into storage vaults that need to be maintained regularly.
However, choosing vault toilets doesn’t completely remove the need for site planning. The project still needs suitable conditions for the ground, secure access to servicing equipment, adequate ventilation, and conformity with relevant environmental regulations.
Romtec’s Sweet-Smelling technology (SST) is used to design waterless vault toilets. It helps to control stinks through ventilation. If you live in remote areas, choosing the sanitation system earlier will help avoid costly modifications to the building design later.
Construction Coordination starts before Delivery
The most popular misconception about prefabricated constructions is that most projects are designed by the manufacturers. In reality coordination is still necessary to prepare the site, utilities connections access, local approvals and accessibility. Romtec approaches these projects through flexible building kits that can be customized and design assistance instead of relying solely on the standard, fixed-in-shape structures.
The company works together with landscape architects, contractors, and project managers to align building specifications and site specifics. This technique is particularly helpful when bathrooms must conform to a specific style of architecture or meet peculiar property conditions.
By asking better questions, you develop a better plan
Before approving a purchase for a bathroom the owners must establish how the facility will receive the power, what equipment will be able to access the facility and what authorizations will be required.
They must also be aware of whether the sanitation system they choose to install is suited to the expected number of visitors, and whether it can be installed without major modifications to the surrounding infrastructure.
These issues may not be as interesting than choosing exterior finishes or architectural details however, they could affect more the cost of the project and its scheduling.
The public restroom projects which are successful don’t only provide the facility in time. It’s one where the building, site infrastructure and construction process as well as the purpose for which it is intended to be together. Making early decisions will ensure that the final restroom is able to serve the community more effectively.