Materials
Materials used should be durable and resistant to vandalism and neglect. Applied
finishes such as paint should be avoided. For all wall finishes, it shall be of materials
which are impervious, durable such as ceramic tiles and phenolic panels etc which
can facilitate cleaning and resource conservation (such as minimising the use of
water and cleaning agents). This also applies to floors, which shall be constructed
of waterproof non-slip surfaces like ceramic tiles, natural stone, homogeneous tiles,
terrazzo or other impervious materials, so as to facilitate cleaning and resource
conservation. Non-slip flooring will help to ensure the safety of preschoolers.
Examples of good materials: -
(a) Floor
Non-slip ceramic tiles, natural stone, homogeneous tiles, terrazzo.
(b) Wall
Ceramic tiles, natural stone, homogeneous tiles, stainless steel, enamelled
steel panels, glass block, aluminium panels, phenolic cladding.
(c) Ceiling
Mineral fibre board, fibrous plaster board, Aluminium panels or strips
Carefully selected and durable materials reduce the need for maintenance and
prevent misuse. It is highly desirable that painted finishes are avoided, together with
any materials, which are affected by moisture or corrosion (e.g. woodchip products
and ferrous metals).
Floor finishes are available in a wide variety of materials. When selecting a finish, it
is important to note that the material supports the image being presented. The
finishes must be sufficiently durable to withstand the anticipated traffic levels and the
toilet-cleaning frequency should also be sufficient to keep the floor looking well maintained and clean.
Non-slip homogeneous tiles are often selected because they are durable and are
relatively easy to clean. The walls should be tiled, allowing the cleaning attendants
to sponge down the walls and floors thoroughly with little difficulty. Another
alternative is to use ceramic tiles or wall cladding.
Wall and floor tiles of large surface areas are encouraged for easy maintenance.
The tile size should be at least 100mm by 200mm. Alternatively, any of the panels
listed above could also be installed at the walls.
Walls within 610mm of urinals and water closets should have a smooth, hard, nonabsorbent
surface to a height of 1219mm above the floor, and except for structural
elements, the type of materials used in such walls should be resistant to moisture.
Building codes would need to be considered. All toilets should have moisture
impervious cleanable surface regardless of building code requirements.
The most common type of ceiling finishes includes calcium silicate board and
suspended ceiling tiles. If there is piping above the ceiling, for example, suspended
tiles will permit easy access for maintenance and are more easily repaired in the
event of spot damage. Calcium silicate board may be better suited for applications
where access above the ceiling is not required. When the time comes for renewal of
ceiling finishes, it is far less expensive to repaint calcium silicate board than to
replace ceiling tile.
Use colours to brighten the toilet, create interest, and produce a conducive
environment.
Colour, achieved with materials and lighting, is one of the vital ingredients in creating
ambience. It can be part of the tile or stone finishes, or added to the applied finishes
such as the enamelling on steel or aluminium. If paint is to be used, it should be
restricted to areas that are out of reach, e.g. ceilings.