ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

With Interclean Amsterdam just around the corner and the Paris Olympics due to take place this summer, what are the challenges involved when equipping the large, busy washrooms of an exhibition hall or stadium? ECJ poses the question.

THE BIGGER THE WASHROOM, the greater the cleaning and maintenance task. And the busier the washroom, the harder it is to stay on top of product run-outs and cleaning crises. This is a general rule of thumb in conference halls and sports stadiums where traffic peaks are hard to predict and where queues are liable to form at any moment.

So how can these facilities be configured and equipped to ensure they operate efficiently and seamlessly at all times?

Large, busy washrooms pose multiple service challenges according to Essity’s communications director Jenny Turner. “It can be difficult to manage the variable traffic and ensure the dispensers are kept well stocked at all times – while not replacing the products too soon,” she said. “The refill status of the dispensers needs to be tracked and the washrooms should be kept clean even when busy in order to ensure that venues such as the RAI in Amsterdam - home to the Interclean Amsterdam show - remain welcoming places to visit.”

Cleaners might struggle to keep up to speed with dispenser status when the washrooms are particularly crowded, Turner adds. “Staff members must be able to enter the washroom and refill the dispensers swiftly during these periods.”

Empty dispensers could result in a negative experience for visitors. “They could also lead to complaints – and these will spread quickly via social media.

“FMs don’t like receiving complaints because it reflects on their work, while visitors will gain a poor impression of a venue where the washrooms are not kept well equipped,” Turner points out. “And if one washroom runs out of paper, people will use the others instead and this could lead to queues.”

She believes digital systems providing information on dispenser status and traffic levels can ease the cleaner’s burden. Essity’s Tork Vision Cleaning uses people-counters and connected dispensers to provide data on cleaning requirements via a smartphone, tablet or computer.

All washroom dispensers must be strategically placed to improve traffic flow, says Turner. “Paper towels speed up traffic compared with air dryers because they can be dispensed very quickly,” she adds.

The washroom experience is crucial in any high footfall environment, says Kimberly-Clark’s integrated marketing manager Nicola Jones. “Large numbers of visitors will be able to use a well-maintained, easy-to-use washroom swiftly and then quickly return to where they want to be – in the bar, the retail counter or at the event itself,” she said.

“And that’s good news for venue operators because the longer people spend in washroom queues, the less time they will have in the paid-for facilities.”

Visitors who have a poor washroom experience are less likely to linger or return in the future, she adds. “A washroom can have a major impact on a person’s enjoyment of an event, while word-of-mouth reports could quickly damage a venue’s reputation and hinder repeat visits.”

Many people

Washroom systems in a busy venue need to be able to accommodate large numbers of people at once, according to Jones. “Paper hand towels allow for fast and effective drying because users can quickly take out a towel and dry their hands as they move on,” she said. “And automatic touchless dispenser systems allow visitors to flow through a washroom more swiftly.”

Visitors to an exhibition or stadium are likely to be unfamiliar with the washroom layout, she says. “Dispensers therefore need to be easy to use, suitable for everyone and offer clear visual cues.”

Washrooms in larger venues must also be designed to ensure a smooth flow and accommodate heavy traffic in a short space of time. “Any queues that develop could spill outside and create safety issues and congestion,” adds Jones.

Robust and reliable

“Queues can also form if there are insufficient cubicles or hand-washing stations. And the placement of hand drying facilities away from the sink will help with the movement of visitors through the washroom.”

New from Kimberly-Clark is the Icon range of touchless hand towel, soap and toilet paper dispensers which are described as being intuitive and jam-free.

Washroom systems for stadiums and exhibition halls must be durable, robust and reliable to withstand high footfall according to Hylab product manager Joshua Edwardes. “The dispenser arrangement in each washroom also needs to be customised to suit the volume of visitors and their likely usage habits,” he said.

“All dispensers should be ergonomic, intuitive, easy to use and quick to operate to keep queues to a minimum and provide a seamless and convenient user experience. And the positioning of the dispenser has an impact too - for example, paper dispensers should be placed away from sinks to allow ample space for people to use them while others are washing their hands.”

Multiple waste bins can help to reduce the need for continuous cleaning in busy washrooms where hygiene issues are likely to occur, Edwardes said. “These can be wall-mounted and slimline in design to save space in high-traffic areas.”

“Dispensers with transparent windows will allow for the easy monitoring of consumable levels and ensure efficient maintenance, while front covers that are moulded around the window will eliminate dirt traps and enhance cleanliness.”

The size, style and shape of dispensers and pumps can help to facilitate the constant supply of soap and paper, he says. “Soap dispensers with a touch-free mechanism not only reduce the risk of cross-contamination - they are also quick and hassle-free to operate,” he said.

Features such as toilet roll dispensers with a sliding mechanism will ensure that a second roll is accessible after the first one is depleted, says Edwardes. “And dispensers that can hold both a jumbo roll and a stub roll will save time and money since the dispenser will need to be refilled less often.”

Hylab’s Myriad range of dispensers are available in touch-free options and can accommodate interleaved toilet tissue, jumbo rolls and interleaved hand towels.

Keeping dispensers well stocked at all times is critical in a busy washroom, says GOJO’s managing director Chris Wakefield. “If a soap or sanitiser dispenser is allowed to run out, users will not have the opportunity to clean their hands which will increase the risk of germs being transferred around the building,” he said.

Touch-free technology ensures a steady flow throughout the washroom, he adds. “This will help to prevent congestion or queues,” said Wakefield. “Additionally, all units should be durable, easy to clean and quick to refill, while dispensers with windows will enable operatives to easily check stock levels and replenish them accordingly.”

GOJO’s Purell ES8 dispenser has an integrated battery for touch-free dispensing and a refill design that enables operatives to monitor product levels at a glance.

Foul odours

High footfall and continuous usage are the main challenges facing any large, busy washroom according to Vectair System’s vice president of marketing Chelsey Schwartz. “Frequent cleaning will be required to provide high levels of hygiene - but It can be hard to ensure there are sufficient facilities to accommodate everyone during peak times,” she said.

Where there are large crowds using a washroom the fixtures and equipment can sometimes become misused or damaged – whether this is intentional or accidental, she adds. “High footfall can also lead to long queues and wait times which can frustrate customers and cause them to miss part of an event,” she said.

“And the rapid depletion of essential supplies such as soap can make for an unpleasant experience. Meanwhile, maintenance issues from frequent use can result in wear and tear and lead to systems malfunctioning or failing to work altogether.”

Hygiene issues that may arise from increased usage include unclean surfaces, foul odours and unsanitary conditions, Schwartz says. “Addressing these issues requires proactive management, frequent washroom inspections and adequate staffing levels, while innovative product solutions can go a long way to improve busy washroom environments.”

She says unpleasant washroom odours must be controlled and neutralised. “Poor airflow or inadequate ventilation systems can trap unpleasant odours inside the washroom rather than allowing them to dissipate. And many older buildings suffer from damp and humid conditions which can provide an ideal environment for odour-causing bacteria to thrive.”

According to Schwartz, incorporating sensors for taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers can help to enhance efficiency and hygiene. “Also, programmable dispensers work well during busier periods when footfall is high,” she said.

Feminine hygiene units must be large and strong enough to meet high traffic demands and prevent them from overflowing, she said. “If a busy washroom is to be run successfully it requires a combination of smart design, good facilities management, the use of technological solutions and strategic planning.”

Keep stocks up

Vectair’s battery-powered Vibe Pro aircare dispenser is programmable and can be set according to a venue’s preferences. Its patented Intensity Plus Event technology provides a targeted boost of fragrance at the busiest part of the day.

So what are manufacturers’ top tips for equipping a high-traffic washroom? “Busy venues require durable products that aren’t easily broken,” says Schwartz. “So all products should be robust, hard-wearing and equipped with anti-vandalism features such as locks to prevent damage.”

Systems should be easy to operate, appropriately sized and kept well-stocked to keep queues to a minimum, according to Hylab’s Joshua Edwardes. “Jumbo-sized products are a good option for busy washrooms to ensure a sufficient supply, while dispensers that allow for quick and hassle-free cartridge changes will ease the replenishment process,” he said.

And Kimberly-Clark’s Nicola Jones advocates the use of touchless dispensing systems. “They allow more people to move quickly and easily through the washroom with minimal touchpoints.”