A park district approves funds for an open-air restroom. The restroom is located in a good location and the team is prepared for the next step.
The contractor begins to look over the site. The chosen location has drainage issues. There are more utility connections than expected. Delivery vehicles could have trouble reaching the location of the installation and the building layout may not be compatible with the available space.
Image credit: romtec.com
None of these issues necessarily means the project cannot proceed. They can, however, cause redesigns, and more costs, as well as construction delays. Developers and public agencies can manage bathroom projects more efficiently if site’s conditions are taken into consideration at the beginning.
The entire picture cannot be evident in a construction drawing
Before deciding on the prefabricated restroom facilities to be used in parks, the project team should know what the surrounding property is capable of accommodating. The slope of the location soil condition and drainage, as well as access to construction facilities and utilities, can all affect the design.
If a bathroom is being planned close to a play area it could be necessary to connect the bathroom with existing water and sewer lines. If the existing infrastructure is not in place or if it is expensive to upgrade those connections, a new sanitation system may be needed.
In addition to the applicable codes and accessibility requirements, site-specific conditions must be considered when deciding the foundation and the location of a structure. A conventional building layout may appear appealing on paper, however it requires significant modifications once these details are considered.
Urban Projects Have Their Own Construction Constraints
To install sidewalk restrooms, you need more than a space that is compact. On sidewalks, there are typically underground infrastructure, pedestrian routes, and street furniture. Coordination of construction activities with local authorities is required.
If a bathroom is too close to a utility line, it can cause foundation issues or excavation. Accessibility is a further consideration. The entrance and its surrounding route must be in compliance with the requirements of all relevant regulations.
Romtec offers customizable ADA-focused single-user restroom units, including the option of a sink and door placement. Project teams can plan for public use as well as addressing physical restrictions.
No Sewer Connection? No sewer connection? Consider Alternatives
Remote recreation sites face different infrastructure problems. The nearest sewer line may be many miles away, making flush toilets not efficient.
In appropriate locations, vault toilets provide a waterless alternative. Instead of transferring wastewater through a sewer system, these facilities store the waste in storage vaults that need to be regularly maintained.
The decision to install vault toilets doesn’t remove the need for design and planning of the site. The project must be built in suitable surface conditions, accessibility to the equipment for servicing safely as well as adequate ventilation, and respect for environmental regulations.
Romtec designs vault toilets with waterless design that incorporate Sweet-Smelling Technology (SST) that is intended to manage smells via ventilation. If you live in remote areas, choosing the sanitation system earlier will help avoid costly modifications to the building’s design later.
The coordination of construction begins prior to delivery.
The most common misconception regarding prefabricated structures is that most construction decisions are made by the manufacturer. In actuality there are a lot of things to coordinate, including the preparation of the site and foundation requirements accessibility, utilities connections as well as local approvals. Romtec approaches these projects through customizable building kits and design assistance instead of relying on fixed, one-size-fits-all structures.
The company works closely with landscape contractors and architects to ensure that specifications for construction match with specific site specifications. This is particularly helpful when a bathroom has to match an existing architectural style or adapt to unique properties.
A Successful Project Begins With Better Questions
Before approving a purchase for a bathroom the owners must establish how the facility will receive utility services, how construction equipment will be able to access the location, and what approvals will be required.
It is essential to determine whether the system chosen for sanitation is able to handle the expected number of visitors as well as if the structure can still be installed without major infrastructure modifications.
The above questions might not seem as important than choosing architectural or exterior finishes yet they can have greater impact on project costs and the timetable.
A successful public restroom construction doesn’t just mean that you can deliver an establishment on time. The site, the building infrastructure, the construction process, and its purpose are all taken into consideration. The final bathroom is more efficient if these decisions are made in advance.