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Setting the standard for standardising school washrooms
 When someone says ‘school toilets’, it conjures up unattractive images of vandalism and bullying along with memories of poor hygiene, invasion of privacy and general insecurity. Challenging ingrained perceptions that these negative connotations can be overcome with an informed approach to modern school washroom design is a difficult task in itself. To implement such a concept nationwide must therefore be beyond the boundaries of complexity, and entering the all too familiar world of unrealism in construction objectives? Not necessarily.
In the recession fuelled scrabble to find work, and drive the economy, it is easy to lose sight of what can simplify the delivery of the BSF programme; standardisation.
“With the huge increases in funding associated with this programme, there is considerable scope for using standardised specifications, layouts and dimensions to speed up design and construction, reduce whole-life costs and deliver consistently high quality and better value school buildings.”
From ‘Standards, Specifications, Layouts & Dimensions 3 - Toilets in Schools’ (SSLD-3) Department for Education and Skills’
Grant Westfield Ltd has been heavily involved in the development of SSLD-3, and as such is primed to partner with other suppliers and manufacturers to ensure school washroom re-modelling is simplified by offering reliable integrated systems that conform to DDA and Doc M regulations.
Grant Westfield’s washroom package for schools is designed to ensure student privacy with floor to ceiling, personal space cubicles, and to prevent bullying with open, mixed wash-stations allowing a higher level of supervision. Anti-vandal materials and designs can be incorporated into the cubicles, wall panelling and vanity areas.
Any budget concerns can be immediately alleviated with the range of materials available to meet differing requirements and applications. Furthermore, with a standard specification for the washroom and rationalisation of the supply chain to ensure economies of scale, any repair and maintenance required can be supplied quickly from stock at low cost. As well as cost-savings through standardisation, Grant Westfield offers waterless urinal duct modules, saving an average of £400 per urinal per year.
The concept of standardisation and cost-saving, whilst appealing to the local authority, may concern head-teachers and architects, looking to create identity within the school. The range of colours available from Grant Westfield allow any institutional colours to be represented, whilst the possibility of student involvement in digitally produced, off-site built laminate wall duct modules, invite creativity to a traditionally under-stated interior.
For more information
Grant Westfield Ltd
Stand 709, BSEC Exhibition
Tel: 0131 337 6262
Web: www.grantwestfield.co.uk
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