Re-entry means that many tenants are wondering about hygiene and safety measures being put in place in their buildings. One topic of conversation has been touchless washrooms. Low-touch or no-touch bathrooms are an effective way of converting a usually high-touch space to a space with almost no touchpoints. With tenant demand for the low-touch or no-touch bathrooms, here are a few things you should know.

Why Covert?

Re-entry has meant a lot of changes for properties. Tenants looking to build their re-entry strategies are looking to their buildings and considering the risks involved with bring back their staff. Creating a low-touch or no-touch bathroom is one way to create a more comfortable and hygienic environment for tenants considering re-entry.

Account manager with Rubbermaid Commercial products Dusty Muck said many of his clients are completing conversions they began years ago.

“It’s one of those scenarios where people who did not have a touch-free washroom are looking back at re-entry and how to keep their tenants safe and it’s almost become a pre-requisite for a lot of the tenants for them to want to re-enter the building,” Muck said.

Low-touch and no-touch washrooms are also an economic and environmentally conscious choice. No-touch systems often mean lower water usage and lower water waste. With some buildings operating at a lower occupancy that usual, this means installation will be easier to complete.

What is included?

A complete touchless bathroom would include a soap dispenser, urinal, toilet, towel dispenser and sink. Many buildings have one or more of these components already and would only need a few more installations to completely convert.

“It can be done rather quickly so that the only point of touch is literally the door going in and out,” Muck said.

The conversion can also be done quickly whether it is done by an experienced engineer or not. Muck said that most engineers can install a touchless faucet in about an hour. This makes it a quick retrofit that properties can use if they have tenants planning to re-enter soon.

“Honestly, it’s really quick, to install a one-shot soap dispenser only takes, to the un-trained person, twenty minutes,” Muck said.

What’s next?

While doing a complete retrofit or finishing a conversion is a start, there may be more change to come in the mission to make public spaces touchless. Many professionals are considering automatic doors to provide an even more touchless experience. One thing Muck said he knows is that he does not think this concept is going away any time soon.

“I would literally say the importance of having a touch-free washroom is as important as having hand sanitizer throughout the entire building,” Muck said.

Touchless or low-touch bathrooms are just one more step in the world of re-entry. There will more innovations and changes to come in the mission of making healthy, safe workspaces for tenants.

Sources:

https://chainstoreage.com/survey-covid-19-accelerates-consumer-demand-touchless-fixtures-restrooms

https://hydrotekintl.com/touchless-restrooms/#:~:text=Modern%20Convenience,unconscious%20message%20to%20the%20users.