Planning and operating school WCs and sanitary facilities

Many pupils try to avoid using the toilet facilities at school – and for good reason. Broken fittings and unhygienic conditions are typical in many schools. A recent survey from the German Children’s Fund reveals that only 44% of pupils are satisfied with the state of the facilities at school – and the figure is even lower in some parts of Germany. Yet building new sanitary facilities or renovating existing facilities is challenging: alongside a tight budget and timeframe, schools also have to consider hygiene, protection against vandalism, accessibility and sustainability. To offer long-lasting facilities that are pleasant to use, high-quality, well-designed sanitary equipment is therefore essential.

What’s important: key requirements for sanitary equipment in schools

School sanitary facilities see very heavy use, so the requirements for planning, fit-out and operation are especially demanding. Alongside hygiene and functionality, facility design also plays an important role here. Key requirements are presented below.

Our Top 6 general requirements for school facilities

• Protection against vandalism: School toilets tend to be targeted by vandalism more often – and damaged fittings are a common occurrence.
• Drinking water hygiene: Schools regularly experience long periods of downtime (holidays, weekends) in which drinking water can stagnate in the piping – which in turn can promote the spread of Legionella.
• Easy to clean and low-maintenance: Thorough cleaning must be quick and simple to achieve: this ensures high standards of hygiene over the long term.
• Environmental awareness: As high rates of water consumption and water wastage eat into budgets and harm the environment, sustainable solutions are now increasingly important.
• Accessibility: Pupils with reduced mobility must also be provided with suitable sanitary facilities. Steps must also be taken to ensure effective protection against scald and burn injuries.
• Atmosphere: Bright, friendly and functional WCs and washrooms promote well-being and respectful use of the facilities.

Specific requirements

WC facilities: Toilets, urinals and operating panels in schools need to be both hygienic and resistant to vandalism.

Wash basin taps: Self-closing taps or sensor-controlled models are often used in schools with the aim of reducing the unnecessary consumption of water. This saves resources while also improving both safety and user hygiene.

Classrooms: Hand wash basins with a single tap – typically only cold water – can often be found in classrooms. These sinks are used for general hand hygiene, such as washing hands after using chalk.

Kitchens: Kitchens used for home economics lessons must have taps that are both user-friendly and safe. School canteen kitchens need an especially hygienic and robust fit-out that is suitable for continuous use.

Showers: The showers provided next to changing rooms in school sports centres normally feature shower heads with an automatic water stop. This prevents situations where the water is left running – even deliberately. Drinking water hygiene is also especially important in shower facilities. If the drinking water installation becomes contaminated with Legionella because of a lack of (frequent) use, these bacteria can be spread – and potentially inhaled – with the aerosols created during showering, which creates a serious health hazard for school pupils and athletes.

More about the requirements for sanitary equipment in sports centres.

Improving drinking water quality in schools with the SWS Water Management System

To maintain drinking water hygiene in larger buildings with many tapping points – such as schools – the use of a water management system is recommended. The SCHELL SWS Water Management System can connect to any electronic fitting via a wireless or wired network. Once integrated, SWS enables the automated, time-/temperature-controlled execution of stagnation flushes – which is ideal for preventing high concentrations of Legionella. Stagnation flushes executed by SWS are also significantly more resource-friendly and efficient than manual flushing, as less water is used and no additional personnel resources need to be deployed.

Practical: the SMART.SWS cloud solution gives building owners and facility managers global remote access to the SWS systems in their properties, including all of the fittings and sensors. Users gain online, round-the-clock access to all relevant operating data, plus control of fitting parameters and stagnation flushes. This cuts personnel costs while ensuring that local service callouts can be planned predictively and more efficiently.

SCHELL goes back to school: case studies

New-build or renovation projects for sanitary facilities on school premises are challenging: hygiene, protection against vandalism and sustainability are decisive factors here – as are rapid and cost-effective completion. This high-quality sanitary equipment is a worthwhile investment, however: not only in pupil health but also in the environment and the future of our educational institutions.

For some practical examples of renovations and fit-outs for school WCs and sanitary facilities, take a look at our case studies below: