Protecting Against Vandalism

Vandalism and heavy use and abuse are a fact of life in school washrooms, as is the continuing need for on-going maintenance, equipment replacement and periodic renovation. School facility managers are challenged to keep washrooms clean, attractive and functional while also dealing with the pressures of ever-tightening capital and operating budgets.

It is reasonable to expect heavy-traffic school washroom facilities to require high levels of maintenance. Unfortunately, senseless vandalism and abuse are another matter. Vandalism is difficult to police since perpetrators operate within the confines of the washroom and, for the most part, out of sight; not to mention the damage done in toilet compartments behind closed doors.

Therefore, selection of vandal-resistant equipment is the facility manager's first line of defense in dealing with the costs associated with abusive washroom patrons.

Application-specific decisions School washrooms cannot be categorized into a single specification; there are many types-pre-school, elementary, middle, high school and universities. Further, campuses include both staff and student facilities, locker and shower rooms adjacent to gymnasiums, and washrooms serving sports arenas and auditoriums. Each area has different requirements.

Prior to considering washroom accessory and toilet-partition selections for renovation or new construction, review several factors for each environment: -User profile(s) and behavior patterns. -Extent of vandal-related use and abuse. -Maintenance and product replacement history. -Equipment life-cycle and maintenance cost analysis. -Traffic flow and usage factors. Washroom accessory and toilet-partition manufacturers design, engineer and fabricate products using a variety of materials, and offer various warranty terms. The goal is to find appropriate models that meet specific application criteria, at appropriate life-cycle prices.