When you’re building or renovating a commercial bathroom, you might be asking yourself, “What is a toilet partition?” Whether you’re a large company interested in several new partitions, or a small business owner wanting a small installation, you should know what you’re investing in.
Luckily, Toilet Partitions has extensive experience designing and engineering bathroom partitions. We’ll tell you all about what they are, their purpose, and which materials are right for you.
Toilet Partition Component Parts
Fundamentally, a toilet partition is a public restroom installation designed to serve multiple guests, while still maintaining privacy.
As you can see in the above image, partitions contain individual pieces. The number of partitions and materials you’ll need will depend on your restroom design and the number of bathroom stalls.
Typically, though, all toilet stalls will have similar parts. A door and hinges are essential, and depending on the configuration of your restroom stalls, most partition systems will also have vertical supports. These supports are known as pilasters or styles, divider panels, and partition hardware.
Here are the main parts of a toilet partition in more detail:
- Headrail: This is the aluminum bar above your head as you walk through the door. It increases the strength of the overall system.
- Hardware: The primary pieces of hardware consist of screws, latches, locks, brackets, hooks for purses or jackets, door stops, and hinges. These pieces attach to panels, doors, and pilasters.
- Panels: These pieces serve as the actual “dividers” separating the compartments from each other. Panels provide privacy within the toilet stalls.
- Doors: The door allows guests to enter each toilet stall and must have a functional lock. There are doors and panels of different sizes depending on the design you choose. Some provide more privacy than others.
- Pilasters: These are the vertical supports (columns) that attach to the door and panels. They help attach the partition to the wall and ensure all components have structure and stability.
- Pilasters Shoes: These are pieces of hardware that anchor the pilasters to the floor.
Why Toilet Partitions
As your business grows, you’ll find that it’s essential to provide more bathroom space for guests, while also ensuring privacy and comfort. When you install new toilet partitions, you’re providing commercial bathrooms that work for your guests. Plus, a high-quality bathroom partition will also reflect positively on your brand.
Here are the top reasons to go with a toilet partition:
1. Privacy
The word partition means “divided into parts.” By separating a bathroom using partitions, you’re enclosing the toilet area and forming an individual stall. It’s all about utilizing the space while also providing privacy to the occupants.
To balance privacy, aesthetic appeal, and cost-effectiveness, there are two major types of toilet partitions you can choose from. These are:
- Standard Height Partition. The standard toilet partition is the most common in the United States. This type has a large gap on the bottom, usually 12″ in length. There are also sightlines at the edges of the door. This type is much easier to clean, but offers less overall privacy.
- Full-Height Partition. This type of partition (sometimes called European) is more private than the standard. There’s barely any gap on the bottom or the sides of the door. European-style partitions are floor-to-ceiling partitions that connect and secure to the hardware. While very private, they require more maintenance.
2. Hygiene
Partitions help maintain cleanliness and hygiene in public restrooms. They prevent the spread of pathogens and improve overall sanitation by reducing the likelihood of contact with unsanitary surfaces.
This improved hygiene standard is often necessary for complying with building and health codes, along with other regulations (e.g. ADA Compliance).
Plus, partitions also minimize the spread of odors in the bathroom, allowing guests to do their business without the aromatic assault you’d find in a portapotty.
3. Space Utilization
All businesses have a limited amount of space to work with, and this is especially true for their public restrooms. Instead of wasting space on a single bathroom that can only serve one guest at a time, toilet partitions are a much better use of that space.
By dividing the area into individual compartments, you can accommodate more fixtures, optimizing the use of available space.
Toilet Partition Configuration Styles
Depending on foot traffic and the available space, you can configure your bathroom partitions in different ways. A small bathroom can feature one, two, or three restroom stalls, including one that’s accessible for disabled individuals. On the other hand, a larger restroom might have ten or more partitions.
Men’s and women’s restrooms also differ, as men’s restrooms will have one or more urinals present with privacy screens.
Here are the typical configuration styles you will find in restroom partitions:
- Standard: The most common stall style found in public and commercial restrooms. This stall is 36 inches wide and 60 inches deep and includes panels, pilasters, and doors that may or may not be floor to ceiling.
- ADA/Handicap: This stall adheres to the US ADA regulations, to ensure handicapped traffic can use restrooms without any issues.
- Alcove: Typically 60 inches wide and 60 inches deep, this stall is larger than the others in a restroom. Placed in the corner, it usually goes from wall to wall. An alcove stall can be an ADA-accessible stall, but will only be one if it meets regulations.
- In-Corner: This stall sits in the corner of a restroom, but is the same size as a standard stall.
- Between Walls: This stall sits between two walls.
Mounting Styles
When deciding on a toilet partition configuration, another option you have is mounting style. Here are the four most common choices:
- Overhead-braced mounting: This is the most popular mounting style due to its sturdiness and easy installation. It’s also a highly affordable option.
- Floor-anchored mounting: If your restroom has a low ceiling, this style is ideal for providing structure without sacrificing space.
- Floor-to-ceiling mounting: This is the strongest mounting style option for ceilings that are eight feet or less.
- Ceiling-hung mounting: This is a more expensive option, but can be worth the cost if you’re interested in easier maintenance.
Bathroom Stall Materials
When it comes to toilet partitions, there are five common materials fabricated by a handful of top-quality manufacturers across the United States. Each material type will have different price points, colors, and warranties.
Below you can click on each material to get a more detailed description:
- Powder Coated Steel
made from steel with a powder coating, these partitions are known for their color durability and anti-rust features. The coating is created through the electromagnetic baking of enamel powder finish onto steel panels. - Plastic Laminate
These plastic partitions feature particleboard sandwiched between layers of plastic laminate. They’re strongly bonded using resin at 1,000 pounds per square inch of pressure. - Solid Plastic
Solid plastic partitions are made out of non-porous high-density polyethylene, which makes them highly durable and resilient. Solid plastic is waterproof and will not absorb unpleasant odors. Therefore, there are never any issues with mold or mildew. - Stainless Steel:
These low maintenance bathroom partitions are made out of mostly recycled materials. The brushed finish provides a beautiful and luxurious appearance that lasts for many years. - Compact Laminate (Phenolic):
These partitions, otherwise known as phenolic bathroom partitions, are extremely strong and lightweight. This is achieved through many layers of resin-infused kraft paper undergoing a tremendous amount of pressure. The result is solid phenolic material.
Don’t Forget Toilet Partition Accessories
Every business is different, and when designing your bathroom, you should always be aware of your clientele and their needs.
For your convenience, here are some common bathroom accessories:
- Toilet paper dispenser one for each stall
- Seat cover dispensers one for each stall
- Sanitary napkin disposals for women’s, co-ed, and family restrooms
- Hooks for jackets, purses, and shopping bags
- Laptop holders especially in airports and schools
- Folding shelves for shopping malls, hotels, and airports
Toilet Partition Manufacturers
Choosing the right bathroom partition is all about going with the top manufacturers. Even though there are many manufacturers out there, only a handful pass our test. At Toilet Partitions, we’ve done business with just about every manufacturer and have hand-selected only the very best.
Shop Toilet Partitions Today
If you’re ready to install a modern, comfortable, highly functional toilet partition, look no further than Toilet Partitions. Our bathroom partitions have stellar reviews, with options that can please any business owner.
From powder coated steel to solid plastic, we have a wide variety of partitions to choose from. Plus, with an easy quoting process and free shipping, you’ll save time when you choose to install our partitions.
So, if you’re interested in updating your old partitions, or installing new ones, you can get started on our website, or contact us at 833-759-0176. Our entire team at ToiletPartitions.com is here to help you and ensure quality customer service, whether you have one bathroom or 500.