The coronavirus pandemic has made a permanent mark on the perception, functionality, and design of commercial restrooms. While cleanliness has always been a goal in designing restrooms, the pandemic has increased the need and expectation for creating hygienic, sterile, and safer environments. Therefore, hygiene is the new gold standard in restrooms since Covid-19 has remarked the whole world in 2019.
Cleanliness and hygiene are major drivers of today’s restroom trends as the public is more concerned about contracting coronavirus and other disease-causing organisms rather than toilet plume germs caused by flushing.
Other post-pandemic restroom must-haves include improved user convenience, comfort, and safety. Thus, here are the 5 post-pandemic restroom design trends of today’s key.
Touchless restroom fixtures
All-in-one handwashing systems
Hygienic sink materials and technologies
Modified layouts
Top-fill multi-feed soap systems for sinks
#1 Touchless restroom fixtures
Recent research in 2021 shows that the majority of populations want touchless fixtures installed in public restrooms so they can avoid touching the levers, handles, and other surfaces that the number of other people is touching. About 70% will more than likely return to a business with touchless fixtures in its restrooms.
Besides that, touchless fixtures could enhance accuracy and power consumption also eliminate false activations via sensing. Since nowadays the technology has become better, there are many metered touch-free faucets with multiple low-flow options to match water savings preferences and multiple run time options to fit the application.
#2 All-in-one handwashing systems
Handwashing fixtures designed with soap, faucet, and dryer all in one unit can help to contain water inside the basin. These all-in-one handwashing designs making handwashing more accessible, personal, and hygienic for each user.
Washroom clutter is another point for facility owners. All-in-one handwashing fixtures eliminate the need for specifying separate fixtures on the countertop and/or walls, which can create a disjointed and clunky appearance.
#3 Hygienic sink materials and technologies
Using smooth and nonporous materials with seamless cast-formed construction like solid surface and natural quartz help prevent bacteria, mold, and delamination accumulation. These materials are also durable, sustainable, nonporous, and easy to clean and repair.
Washbasins nowadays are now being engineered with self-cleaning functionality to stop germs and bacteria growth in the fixture between uses.
#4 Modified layouts
Covid-19 has triggered a new emphasis on modified layout and individual containment in restroom spaces to cut down on germ exposure. Therefore, features like occupancy monitors and fully enclosed restroom partitions are becoming popular for restrooms with multi-user. Washbasins also come with new designs with increased space between the hand washing areas to allow for social distancing. More facilities are installing sinks just outside the restrooms and within hallways. Restroom layout designs like adding S-curved, automated doors, widening doorways are also gaining traction.
#5 Top-fill multi-feed soap systems for sinks
While restrooms are being held to a higher standard of hygiene and functionality these days, there are many technologies and products available to meet these growing demands and enhance these public spaces for all whilst focus on making maintenance more efficient.
For example, frequent and messy soap filling is a significant maintenance pain point in facilities. New models of soap dispensers are now touch-free featuring a smart sensor system to display low soap and battery, making the maintenance more predictable and efficient. Newer multi-feed models are also designed more ergonomic and are easier to fill. Handwashing systems are also being designed with larger soap dispensers to cut down on the amount of refills required.