To think that building regulations for ladies loos should be changed?

[Anquin]

This is a constant source of disgust for me, and yesterday it happened again in a very “naice” garden centre. The new toilets have been open for only a short time, but have been built to existing regulations, which stipulate that there should be a 300mm space each side of the toilet bowl and the side of the cubicle.
Which would be fine, except that they then stick a sanitary bin in that space - meaning that when someone can’t fit their used towel in, it’s sticking out close to my backside when I sit down - uuurrrggghh!
Why can’t they change the regs to allow for a bigger space between the loo bowl and the wall, if the intention is to take some of that space up with a bin?
WDYT?

Agreed. Or think they should go over to the danish style plastic bags which dont take up much space.

Yes it is a constant problem. Also when doors open inwards it can be very hard to get into the cubical. Especially without touching the toilet with your legs.

I often think if you were older or less mobile this must be even more difficult.

Yep it's gross. We need more female architects

Yes! I often bemoan that the designers must all be male, otherwise they'd know to offset the toilets by a small amount to fit in the sanitary disposal unit.

Yup it’s even worse once you add a shopping bag and a small child in too!

I have a aquantence who tangential involved in the specification of a new children’s hospital in our city, even there this was a problem designed it! Ahhrg.

I wish they would make it law that they have an equal number of toilets everywhere. Ie men have lots of urinals and the same amount of cubicles where as we just have cubicles, it's not fair we should have the same number of total toilets!

By the time I got to 5-6 months pregnant, my bump size and SPD meant that I didn't have enough space to shut the door on many cubicals without risking damage to my pelvis by straddling the toilet and had to start using disabled toilets (by that point, the support bars were handy for getting up/ down anyway.

YY to there being insufficient space for the bin. At only a size 10 derriere, I can still be dangerously close to some bins as the space is so tight.

There needs to be more toilets anyway. Women take longer and are more likely to have children with them. Rarely is there a men's queue to rival a ladies'.

As an architect myself I could not agree more, I've thought this many times! I've never designed a public building to that detail so have never managed to have the discussion.

The utter ignorance about what women need in a public loo is one of those tiny things that disproportionately irritates me every time I have to use one. It’s not that difficult to know about the relevant biological processes ffs!

Sometimes there seems to be one cubicle which opens outwards, usually at the end of the row - I've no idea why this is, but it makes life a lot easier. Why can't they all open outwards where there's room? I agree about needing more space for sanitary bins, but also for shopping and children - tiny cubicles are a nightmare. Any architect advice there?

They should have slidey/roller doors that open and roll into and around the cubicle inside. Does that make sense or is it only in my mind! Then you wouldn't be opening out into the waiting bit and risking hitting someone, you could have the door slightly open to see a buggy and it would make it easier for getting in and out. You could then place the sanitary bin nearer the other side of the opening so that it wasn't by your legs.

Or having nowhere to put your bag. No coat hook, no shelf etc. I do not want to put my bag on a pissy floor thanks.

They’re ridiculously tiny. Car spaces have been widened to accommodate cars. Why not loos to actually accommodate women? Building regs only changed when it affects men imo.

This is also about the design of sani bins. I think they shouldn't be so long and could be a bit higher.

Good point re design. Why isn’t bloody James Dyson redesigning the sani bin?! It’s as prevalent an object as the hand dryer.

Yes! Our work toilets had a ‘refurb’ - the sanitary bin is wedged in the corner and you cannot avoid your upper thigh being wedged against it. Irritates the life out of me!

Yanbu.
Sanitary bins and not enough strong hooks for bags and coats are a nightmare.
I've had a lot of rants about this, hopefully dd will be an architect.

See also windows in toilets. Our work toilets are all on an outside wall but there's no windows. It gets stuffy and smelly .

Yes why do ALL the doors open inwards - it isn't as if there is an actual issue with them opening outwards...if the door is properly fitted without spaces then they should open outwards.

Agree totally.

Who wants their flesh resting on dirty plastic covered in residue of stranger's menstrual blood and god knows what else?

James dyson probably isn't on it because he hasn't experienced the problem enough, if at all

Agreed i’m small and my DD is only 4 but to get in and out of a cubicle I often have to shove my DD down the side of the toilet and we sort of climb over each other to get out of the door. Then there’s usually at least 3 metres to go to reach the sink - just move the doors back a bit - drives me nuts.
I think only skinny single men design toilets.

Always think back of door would be more convenient as you swap sitting down facing the door.

I think only skinny single men design toilets.

Only men design most shop counters as well. No where to rest a bag.

Boots the chemist I'm looking at you.

I work on a planning committee and this is a very valid point! I will make sure I mention it when we have plans before us thankyou so much OP X

Strongly agree. I'm a size 8 and still end up balancing one one bum cheek to wee, so I can lean away from the smelly tampon bin.

And that's after doing an awkward sideways shimmy around the door, which only opens six inches before it hits the toilet.

All this while bellowing "Don't. Touch. ANYTHING." to DS(3).