Research shows that many children experience anxiety when it comes to using a school bathroom, which can at worse result in avoidance behaviours. It's therefore important to consider some underlying factors to create a space that not only offers a sense of security but also factors in the hygiene, functionality and durability requirements for the space.
1. Durability
The design chosen for school bathrooms impacts the health and safety of the facilities' students. It also has a bearing on the longevity of the hardware, as poor-quality materials lead to premature wear and tear, causing additional replacement costs. School bathrooms are prone to damage, so it's important to choose hardware that can withstand rough use while being able to maintain its aesthetic appeal. Metlam Australia's design team have factored these concerns into the design of their Toilet Partition Hardware, ensuring that it is manufactured using the highest quality materials. Metlam Australia's lock and indicator sets have been designed with excess usage in mind as the tongues of the locksets are designed to sheer with extensive treatment of cubicle doors, protecting the cubicle frontal, which is far more expensive to replace if damaged. This design feature makes Metlam Australia's locksets a perfect choice for a school environment.
2. Safety
Studies show that a student's biggest worry is about being interrupted or exposed while using the toilet because they can’t always tell if it is securely locked. To help them feel more secure, choose locks with indicators that have a large coloured display on the outside of the cubicle, which is obviously green when vacant and obviously red when engaged. Metlam Australia's newest additions to the lock set range, the Sera and Moda lock sets have indicators that have large eyelets on the indicators which allow for a clearer view. In addition to this concern is that others will look over or up under toilet partition walls and doors, so consider specifying toilet cubicles with walls and doors that go all the way to the floor and are high enough to prevent overlooking. Adjustable cubicle legs can also work to alleviate these concerns.
In the event of an emergency, easy access to the occupant is vital, so lift-off hinges are an essential design element. Lift-off means exactly that; the door can be lifted off its hinges allowing access to the occupant.
3. Hygiene
School bathrooms are subject to heavy foot traffic and tend to get dirty very quickly. That is why it is important to maintain regular cleaning and maintenance schedules to ensure they stay clean and hygienic. The best place to start, however, is to ensure that you install school toilet cubicles and other elements designed to promote easy cleaning and good hygiene. Consider a material with an antimicrobial property.
Antimicrobial Technology describes the collective knowledge, expertise, and methods of using additives to create products that are permanently protected against microbes. Antimicrobial is used to describe substances that demonstrate the ability to reduce the presence of microbes, such as bacteria and mould. Antimicrobial treated products contain fewer microbes on the surface which minimises material degradation and ultimately extends the life of the product.
Metlam Australia has a range of products that are perfect for the school environment. Talk to our friendly customer service team today on 1300 Metlam.
