Sanitary facilities
1 Ensure that suitable sanitary provision is made for the quantity of people anticipated to attend the event, and that thought is given to location, access, and type of facilities, lighting and signage.
2 Pinpoint toilets so that people are sheltered from bad weather and trip risks. The floors, ramps and steps of the units ought to be steady and of a non-slip surface. You should also protect connecting pipe work to avoid damage and spills.
3 Toilets must be visible, lit, Plumbers in Rockville Centre and clearly signed from all parts of the event. The areas and, where appropriate, the individual units, should be sufficiently lit at night and in the day, if required. The Chartered Institute of Building Services recommends a minimum lighting level of 100 lux for general toilet areas (200 lux for wheelchair-accessible toilets).
Maintenance
4 Frequently ensure the maintenance, repair and service of toilets using aptly experienced workers during the event to ensure that they are kept safe, fresh and hygienic. Toilets need to be provided with toilet paper, in a holder or dispenser at all times. Preparations ought to be made for the rapid clearance of any blockages.
Location
5 Where available, provide toilets at varied locations around the venue rather than concentrating in one small zone, to reduce crowding and queuing complications. Consider placing toilets at areas of high interest or congregation such as, bars, main stages, camping areas etc.
Attention should be given to access requirements for servicing and emptying. This may include the need for temporary roadways and dedicated access routes, subject to the layout of the site.
Type
6 Where portable toilets are necessary, a calculation must be made of the suitability of each of the obtainable forms of portable unit, for the nature and duration of the event being organised.
Consider the estimated greatest usage of any toilet units and the time taken for tanks to fill. Rapid and constant use of any toilet can cause the bowls to become unsanitary and prone to blockages.
7 Temporary mains units can be used if a sewer, drain, septic tank, or cesspool is accessible, provided a suitable water supply and adequate water pressure are available. Provision must be made for servicing vehicles and safe access.
8 Single self-contained units are useful and easily re-locatable during events but are limited to a maximum number of uses before requiring servicing/emptying.
9 Wherever non-mains units are used, provision for safe and hygienic waste removal must be arranged with holding tank facilities if required. Advice should be sought from the Environment Agency or Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.
Numbers
10 For events licensed for public entertainment, the numbers and location of toilets should be agreed with the local authority. Alternatively advice can be sought from toilet hire companies.
11 In all situations, the sanitary facilities will be subject to the nature of the event, the audience profile, and the type of location. To estimate sanitary provision requires knowing the audience size and then estimating the projected male to female ratio. If there is inadequate information to evaluate this ratio, a split of male to female 50:50 should be presumed.
12 Think through the following when calculating the minimum provision for sanitary services:
- the length of the event
- perceived audience food and fluid intake;
- adequate provision during intervals and breaks in performance
- requirements for event-related temporary campsites
- provision of suitable facilities for children, elderly or infirm people attending who may take longer to use a facility
- Weather conditions and temperature.
13 The knowledge of a capable consultant or responsible contractor could prove irreplaceable when determining numbers of sanitary services.
Washing facilities
14 Where possible, provide hand-washing facilities in the ratio of one per five toilets with no less than one hand-washing facility per ten toilets. Provide suitable hand-drying facilities. If paper towels are supplied, arrange for regular disposal and restocking.
15 Where warm water hand-washing facilities are available, provide adequate supplies of suitable soap. Antiseptic hand wipes or bactericidal soap should be available when warm water is not.
16 On sites where hand-washing facilities are supplied in the open air, consider the organization of the facility to ensure that the close ground does not become waterlogged leading to localised flooding.
