ADVICE & OPINION
APRIL 2022 21
FMJ.CO.UK
FM CLINIC
to ensure people feel at
ease, particularly in the
washroom.
Although touchless
technology in washrooms
isn’t anything particularly
new, it now seems like
the perfect time to look at
installing more products
that o§ er a hands-free
experience. Not only do
they bring added levels of
hygiene for end-users, but
some can also help reduce
water wastage, leading
to a more sustainable and cost-e§ ective system for facilities
managers and bill payers.
When you think about an end-user’s experience in a
washroom setting, there aren’t many places where touchless
products can’t be installed – with taps, soap
dispensers, flushplates and hand drying
systems all available in options which
don’t require physical contact.
Creating a touchless washroom
is a great way to reassure endusers
that your organisation
is taking steps to curb the
spread of bacteria and germs.
There are also several new
innovations that take hygiene
control to the next level.
Occupant comfort isn’t just
about hygiene, however. As our
society continues to progress
to become more inclusive and
accessible for everyone, our future
washrooms will need to reflect this shiž .
Modern o§ ices need to o§ er spaces that suit
the needs of all end-users, regardless of gender, age or
mobility. This may mean incorporating a higher number of
gender-neutral spaces and cubicles, or catering to those with
increased concerns around privacy.
Accessibility is important in every o§ ice, and facilities
managers may want to try and exceed the minimum legislative
requirements when it comes to creating more inclusive
washrooms.
The last two years have led us all to re-evaluate our
relationships with workplaces, public spaces and commercial
buildings, and arguably, there’s no place that’s happened more
than within the washroom.
As our society starts to find a new normal, it’s vital that
facilities managers listen to the changing needs of end-users
and teams using these spaces every day. Addressing inclusivity,
accessibility and hygiene is key over the next few years and will
ensure a space is fit for purpose.
THE WASHROOM HYGIENE PROFESSIONAL’S
VIEW
ANNA KÖNIGSON KOOPMANS, MARKETING DIRECTOR,
COMMERCIAL SEGMENT, ESSITY PROFESSIONAL HYGIENE
Essity’s Gothenburg o§ ices have been equipped with podbased
unisex toilets for
decades, so I am able to
speak from experience.
These types of
washrooms
generally
work well.
Queuing
for the
ladies’ is
no longer
an issue
when
people of
all genders
can use any cubicle. The fact that cleaners are not
obliged to close down the entire facility to carry out
their job means there is always washroom availability,
which is another advantage. And pod-based toilets o§ er more
privacy than communal facilities, which means users feel more
comfortable when freshening up.
There is a theory, too, that people are more likely to leave
their pod-based toilet in a sanitary condition than if they were
in a communal facility. When exiting a “pod” there is no hiding
place from whoever is waiting to use it. As a result, people
are arguably less likely to leave behind a messy loo if there’s a
Anil Madan
Anna Königson
Koopmans
Occupant comfort isn’t just
about hygiene, however. As our
society continues to progress to
become more inclusive and
accessible for everyone, our future
washrooms will need to reflect
this shift.”
Anil Madan
/
