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How Many Toilets Do You Need?

 

So, what is the total number of toilets you need for your school or workplace?

According to the regulations from New Zealand Building Code Clause G1 Personal Hygiene, ‘sanitary fixtures shall be provided in sufficient number and be appropriate for the people who are intended to use them.’

So, the total number of toilets required by the law depends on the purpose of the building and the number of people who are going to use them. Let’s dig deeper now and see the regulations for different intended toilet uses.

 

 

five happy children doing art crafts
How Many Toilets Should a School Have?

 

cheerful woman holding a white cup while working
How Many Toilets Should There Be in a Workplace?

 

two women carrying shopping bags and using escalator
How Many Toilets Are Required in a Commercial Building?

 


How Many Toilets Should a School Have?

New Zealand Government doesn’t set strict law regulations for the number of toilets required in schools, but a kind of guidelines for school washrooms:

  • 1 toilet and washbasin for every 10 students under the age of 5 (pre-school),
  • 1 toilet and washbasin per 20 students aged 5-11 (primary school),
  • 1 toilet and washbasin per 20 students aged over 11 (secondary school).

However, according to health and safety legislative requirements for schools, students should be provided with toilets of 7sqm or larger near their classrooms, with the access to a wash-hand basin with a hot and cold water supply in schools where there are more than 61 students.

colourful tiles in male toilet room Image from: Flickr by Ironchefbalara


Here are the general requirements for the exact number of toilets according to the number of students:

Female

1 – 101 wc
11 – 502
51 – 9033
> 90Add 1 per 60

Male

1 – 101 wc
11 – 502
51 – 1103
> 110Add 1 per 70

Disabled facilities

1 – 3001 wc
> 3002

And here’s the allowed ratio for male toilets combining urinals and WC pans, where every compartment must have a separate door:

WC pansUrinals
1 – 101 wc1 – 1501 ur
11 – 602151 – 5502
61 – 1203> 500add 1 per 450
> 120add 1 per 80  

The following are general requirements for wash-hand basins stating that every unit must be provided with a supply of warm water, soap dispensers, toilet paper dispensers, as well as adequate hand-drying equipment.

black blockquote icon The study, by researchers from Otago University and Public Health South, concluded that “a significant number of New Zealand children do not currently have access to high-quality hygiene facilities at school”.

(Source: schoolnews.co.nz)

Changing and shower areas are necessary only for secondary schools mainly where children attend PE classes.

For more detailed information on other school washroom requirements in New Zealand, check our School Washroom Guide.

How Many Toilets Should There Be in a Workplace?

According to the Guidelines for the Provision of Facilities and General Safety and Health in Commercial & Industrial Premises, every employer should provide enough male and female sanitary conveniences based on the number of employees. The minimum requirements are:

  • 1 toilet per 15 or fewer employed females,
  • 2 toilets for up to 20 employed females and 1 additional toilet for each additional 20 employees,
  • 1 toilet per 20 or fewer males,
  • 2 toilets for up to 30 employed males and 1 in addition for additional 30 male employees,
  • 1 urinal for up to 15 males,
  • 2 urinals for 15 to 30 males and plus 1 for each 30 male employers in addition.

Adequate conveniently accessible washing facilities, hot water supplies and other washroom hygiene necessities go without saying.

How many toilets do you need per employee?

Number of female employeesNumber of toiletsNumber of male employeesNumber of toiletsNumber of urinals
1-1511-2011 for 1-15 employers
16-20221-3022 for 16-30 employers
21-40331-6033 for 31-60 employers
41-60461-9044 for 61-90 employers
61-80591-12055 for 91-120 employers

If there are no more than 15 employees in your company, separate washrooms for men and women are not mandatory. Providing your employees with access to one unisex washroom with a locking door would suffice in that case.

 
earth coloured inspired male toilet room Image from: pixabay by myjanitors

How Many Toilets Are Required in a Commercial Building?

A commercial building is any building with a business purpose such as amusement parks, shopping centres, libraries, transport terminals and other similar places. We’ve already addressed workplaces, but let’s see how many toilets other commercial buildings should have.

Generally speaking, the minimum requirement for washroom facilities is one toilet and one washbasin per 15 women and men in restaurants, nightclubs, coffee bars, tea rooms and the like.

The following requirements are in compliance with the New Zealand Building Code document:

How many female toilets do you need in a restaurant?

Number of womenNumber of necessary WC pansNumber of womenNumber of necessary washbasins
1 – 1511 – 1201
16 – 902121 – 3802
91 – 1703>380Add 1 per 290
>170Add 1 per 100

How many male toilets do you need in a restaurant?

Number of menNumber of necessary WC pansNumber of menNumber of necessary urinalsNumber of menNumber of necessary washbasins
1 – 1511 – 10011 – 701
16 – 802101 – 340271 – 2502
>80Add 1 per 100341 – 6003>250Add 1 per 200
>600Add 1 per 280

Here are the NZ requirements for sports venues such as swimming pools, gyms, sports stadiums and other places of active recreation.

How many female toilets do you need in sports venues?

Number of womenNumber of necessary WC pansNumber of womenNumber of necessary washbasins
1 – 1011 – 701
11 – 60271 – 2302
61 – 1203231 – 4003
>120Add 1 per 70>400Add 1 per 170

How many male toilets do you need in sports venues?

Number of menNumber of necessary WC pansNumber of menNumber of necessary urinalsNumber of menNumber of necessary washbasins
1 – 2511 – 5011 – 501
26 – 130251 – 180251 – 1802
131 – 2703181 – 3203>180Add 1 per 140
>270Add 1 per 150>320Add 1 per 150

The recommendations for entertainment venues such as theatres, cinemas, concert halls and others are as follows in the table below.

How many female toilets do you need in entertainment venues?

Number of womenNumber of necessary WC pansNumber of womenNumber of necessary washbasins
1 – 1011 – 801
11 – 50281 – 2502
>50Add 1 per 60251 – 4303
>430Add 1 per 200

How many male toilets do you need in entertainment venues?

Number of menNumber of necessary WC pansNumber of menNumber of necessary urinalsNumber of menNumber of necessary washbasins
1 – 1511 – 8011 – 651
16 – 80281 – 290266 – 2202
>80Add 1 per 100>290Add 1 per 230>220Add 1 per 170

As far as shopping centres, amusement parks, libraries and transport terminals are concerned, here are the washroom basic requirements.

How many female toilets do you need in shopping centres?

Number of womenNumber of necessary WC pansNumber of womenNumber of necessary washbasins
1 – 5011 – 3501
51 – 2402351 – 11502
241 – 4803>1150Add 1 per 850
481 – 7504
>750Add 1 per 250

How many male toilets do you need in shopping centres?

Number of menNumber of necessary WC pansNumber of menNumber of necessary urinalsNumber of menNumber of necessary washbasins
1 – 1511 – 8011 – 651
16 – 80281 – 290266 – 2202
>80Add 1 per 100>290Add 1 per 230>220Add 1 per 170

The requirements for the number of WC pans, urinals and washbasins for people with disabilities differ. Check the full compliance document for more details.

Bear in mind that proper washroom hygiene says much more about your business than the number of facilities. Don’t let your neglected washroom spoil your business impression. Contact Alsco experts without hesitation should you need any help or advice.

Photo: Bushboard

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