Office restrooms are under new scrutiny as employees return to the workplace and building owners look for ways to improve hygiene, conserve water, and reduce maintenance costs.
For one large office building preparing to renovate 30 restrooms, the project quickly became more than a cosmetic upgrade. It became an opportunity to improve day-to-day operations throughout the entire facility.
To help guide the project, the facility manager consulted Klaus Reichardt, CEO and Founder of Waterless Co., Inc., a marketer of waterless urinals and other restroom products.
"Large restroom renovations are not just about new fixtures," says Reichardt. "Each decision affects water use, maintenance, user satisfaction, and how easily the restrooms can be serviced for years to come."
His recommendations include:
Standardization. Using the same commercial-grade toilets, faucets, urinals, dispensers, and accessories wherever possible simplifies purchasing, reduces spare-parts inventory, and helps maintenance teams work more efficiently.
Durability. "A fixture may cost less upfront, but if replacement parts are difficult to obtain, those savings can disappear quickly," he says.
Water efficiency. Today's toilets and urinals use a fraction of the water they did just a generation ago. "But for maximum water savings, waterless urinals remain the most effective option because they eliminate flush water altogether," Reichardt says.
Touch-free technology. Sensor-operated faucets, soap dispensers, and flush valves can improve hygiene while helping control water use. However, reliability is essential. Reichardt recommends specifying sensor-operated systems with manual overrides, so a failed battery or sensor does not render a restroom unusable.
Finishes. Performance—not appearance alone—should drive material selection. Chrome-plated plumbing trim, stainless-steel accessories, and solid laminate partitions typically provide superior resistance to moisture, graffiti, and harsh cleaning chemicals.
Accessibility. Ensure that fixture clearances, grab-bar placement, fixture heights, reach ranges, and door swings comply with accessibility requirements before products are ordered and installation begins.
Maintenance access. Fixtures should be installed to provide easy access to shutoff valves, adequate floor drainage, and protection of trap seals. In low-use restrooms, non-evaporating trap seal primers can help prevent floor-drain odors.
Reichardt's final recommendation may be the most valuable: build one full-scale restroom mock-up before ordering fixtures for all 30 locations. Testing faucet splash, sensor performance, accessibility, dispenser placement, and cleaning access in a single restroom can prevent costly mistakes from being repeated throughout the building.
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About Waterless Co., Inc.
Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Vista, California, Waterless Co., Inc. manufactures waterless urinals and restroom products that help facilities reduce water consumption, lower operating costs, and simplify maintenance. Its products are installed in commercial, institutional, educational, and government facilities worldwide. www.waterless.com
