A commercial toilet that works is one that users do not think about. They go in, it is clean, there is enough space, the doors lock properly, and they leave. When commercial toilet design goes wrong — not enough cubicles, poor layout, wrong materials — it becomes the thing users notice and complain about. Getting it right requires more planning than most people expect. This guide covers the key decisions in commercial toilet design from layout and cubicle numbers through to materials and accessibility.

Key takeaways

  • Cubicle numbers are set by Building Bulletin 103 (schools) and British Standard BS 6465 for most other commercial buildings. Specifying too few is a legal and practical problem.
  • Accessible provision under Approved Document M is not optional — at least one accessible cubicle is required in every commercial toilet, with specific dimensions for turning circle, transfer space, grab rails and door width.
  • Material choice determines how long the installation lasts and how easy it is to maintain. Solid grade laminate is the standard for cubicle panels in wet environments; solid surface for vanity tops where hygiene is a priority.
  • IPS panels behind sanitaryware conceal pipework, eliminate grout lines, and give maintenance access without breaking walls.
  • Layout decisions — single or multi-cubicle, male/female/gender-neutral, accessible position — should be made before any specification work begins.
  • Engaging one supplier for survey, design, manufacture and installation removes the coordination gaps where commercial toilet design projects most often go wrong.

What is commercial toilet design?

What is commercial toilet design

Commercial toilet design is the planning, specification and installation of toilet facilities in buildings that are not residential — offices, schools, leisure centres, healthcare facilities, public buildings, retail premises and hospitality venues. It covers everything from the number and type of cubicles and the position of the accessible facility through to the materials used for panels, vanity tops and wall surfaces, and the ventilation and lighting that make the space functional.

Good commercial toilets design is largely invisible. It functions without drawing attention to itself. Poor design creates queues, maintenance problems, hygiene failures and complaints — and it is usually more expensive to fix after the fact than to get right at the outset.

BRAC Projects manufactures and installs bespoke commercial toilet cubicles and washroom systems for offices, schools, healthcare facilities, leisure centres and public buildings across the UK. This guide draws on that experience to cover the key decisions in a commercial toilet design project.

Step 1: Establish how many cubicles you need

The number of cubicles required in a commercial toilet is not a matter of preference — it is set by standards that differ depending on the type of building.

Offices and workplaces — the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 set minimum sanitary provision for workplaces. For mixed-gender facilities, the standard is broadly one WC for every 25 people up to 100, with additional provision above that. Separate male and female provision follows different ratios set out in BS 6465-1:2006 (Sanitary installations — Code of practice for the design of sanitary facilities).

Schools — Building Bulletin 103 (BB103) sets out sanitary provision requirements for mainstream schools in England, specifying ratios of WCs and washbasins per pupil for different age groups and genders.

Public buildings and leisure facilities — BS 6465 applies as a guide, with the specific provision depending on the type of venue and peak occupancy.

Healthcare — NHS guidance on healthcare premises design (Health Building Notes) sets sanitary provision requirements for clinical and non-clinical areas.

Under-provision is a compliance issue and a practical problem. Always confirm the required number of cubicles against the applicable standard for the building type before starting the design.

Step 2: Decide on the layout — male, female or gender-neutral

The decision between separate male/female facilities and gender-neutral provision affects the layout of the entire washroom. Gender-neutral commercial toilet design uses individual fully-enclosed cubicles shared between all users, with a shared handwashing area.

Gender-neutral facilities are increasingly common in new-build and refurbishment projects — schools, offices, leisure facilities and public buildings all increasingly specify them. The design requirement for gender-neutral facilities is complete visual privacy for each cubicle, which means full height toilet cubicles with no gaps above or below the door, rather than standard-height cubicles.

Our Forest School Horsham case study shows how gender-neutral facilities were installed for a school switching to co-educational teaching — floor-to-ceiling cubicles, solid grade laminate, delivered in six weeks.

Where separate male and female facilities are retained, the layout decision involves the position and size of each set of facilities relative to the building plan, the shared or separate entrance arrangements, and the provision of accessible facilities within each zone.

Step 3: Position the accessible cubicle correctly

Every commercial toilet must include at least one accessible cubicle. Approved Document M sets the minimum requirements, and BS 8300-2:2018 sets best practice beyond the legal minimum.

The accessible cubicle must have:

  • Turning circle of 1,500mm diameter clear of all obstructions inside the cubicle
  • Transfer space of minimum 750mm clear to one side of the WC pan (left-hand or right-hand transfer — ideally both where space allows)
  • Door clear opening width of minimum 775mm
  • Grab rails at the correct heights and positions — a horizontal drop-down rail to the transfer side, a vertical rail on the rear wall and the cistern or IPS panel side
  • Door that opens outward or slides, so a fallen user does not block the door
  • Emergency release on the lock, operable from outside

The position of the accessible cubicle in the layout matters. It should be closest to the entrance, on level access from the main circulation route, and — in a multi-cubicle facility — not at the furthest end of the row from the door.

Bespoke manufacture is the reliable route to hitting accessible dimensions exactly. Catalogue-size cubicles frequently require compromise on one or more of the dimensions above.

Step 4: Plan the cubicle layout

Once the number of cubicles and the accessible position are confirmed, the cubicle layout can be planned. Key decisions at this stage:

Single row or back-to-back. A single row of cubicles against one wall with washbasins on the opposite wall is the simplest layout and the easiest to clean. Back-to-back cubicles (two rows sharing a central IPS duct panel wall) are more space-efficient in larger washrooms but require careful coordination of the service runs.

Door swing direction. Cubicle doors typically open inward in standard height systems and outward in accessible cubicles. In a narrow corridor, inward-opening doors need enough internal depth to clear the WC pan when the door opens. Standard commercial cubicle depth of 1,500mm is the minimum for inward-opening doors.

Pilaster and panel arrangement. Each cubicle consists of a front pilaster (the floor-fixed post that carries the door), two side panels and a door. The arrangement determines the clear internal dimensions of the cubicle. In a bespoke system, these are manufactured to the exact dimensions of the specific washroom — recovering floor space that standard-size systems waste.

IPS panel wall position. Where IPS and duct panelling is specified behind the sanitaryware, its depth affects the available floor area for the cubicles and the basin area. Typically 150–200mm of floor depth is used by the IPS framework.

Step 5: Specify the right materials

Material specification for commercial toilet design is the decision that most directly determines how long the installation lasts and how easy it is to maintain.

Cubicle panels: Solid grade laminate (SGL) is the standard specification for commercial toilet cubicle panels in any wet or high-traffic environment. It is solid all the way through — no absorbent MDF or chipboard core — making it fully waterproof and resistant to cleaning chemicals. Standard laminate on MDF looks identical when new and costs less, but it swells and fails in wet environments within five to eight years.

Vanity tops: Solid surface (Corian, Hanex) for front-of-house and healthcare settings where a seamless, hygienic finish is the priority. Solid grade laminate for schools, leisure and back-of-house commercial settings where cost and durability are the primary considerations.

Wall surfaces behind sanitaryware: IPS panel systems in solid grade laminate replace tiling behind toilets, urinals and washbasins. They conceal pipework behind an accessible, cleanable surface with no grout lines — significantly reducing maintenance overhead compared to tiled finishes.

Hardware: Stainless steel (grade 304 minimum, grade 316 in wet or coastal environments) for all ironmongery — locks, hinges, overhead beams. Chrome-plated zinc corrodes in washroom conditions within two to three years.

Step 6: Consider ventilation and lighting

Ventilation and lighting are outside the cubicle specification but directly affect the experience of the commercial toilet.

Ventilation in a commercial toilet must meet Part F of the Building Regulations — minimum extract rates of 15 litres per second for an intermittent fan or 6 litres per second continuous. In a refurbishment where the ventilation cannot be upgraded, this constrains what materials can be used: better ventilation allows more material choices; poor ventilation accelerates moisture damage to any material.

Lighting affects both the functionality and the perceived quality of the commercial toilet. A well-lit washroom with consistent illumination at the vanity and in each cubicle (where separate lighting is provided) is significantly more pleasant than one lit only from the corridor. In a commercial context, LED lighting with a reasonable colour rendering index (CRI 80+) and at least 200 lux at the vanity surface is a sensible minimum specification.

Common commercial toilet design mistakes

Under-specifying cubicle numbers. The most common and most disruptive error. Queues at peak times signal that the original design was inadequate. Always calculate against the applicable standard for the building type.

Wrong material for the environment. Standard laminate in a wet washroom will fail in five years. The upfront cost saving is not a saving once replacement is factored in.

Accessible cubicle positioned incorrectly. An accessible cubicle at the far end of a row, past seven standard cubicles, does not meet the spirit of Approved Document M even if the internal dimensions are correct.

Specifying standard height where full height is needed. In gender-neutral facilities, privacy facilities for sensitive environments, and single-cubicle installations, full height is almost always the right choice. The cost premium for one or two cubicles is minimal.

Split supply chain. When the surveyor, manufacturer and installer are different companies, there is no single point of accountability. Defects fall between contractors. Bespoke commercial toilet design benefits from one supplier managing the full scope.

Case studies

Millennium Bridge House, London — 38 washroom areas refurbished in a fully occupied multi-tenanted office building while remaining open. Executive cubicles and solid surface vanity units throughout. See the Millennium Bridge House case study.

North Lancing School, West Sussex — washroom upgrade for a 420-pupil primary school. Durasein solid surface wash troughs replaced individual basins, reducing water use. Polyrey solid grade laminate cubicles and IPS duct sets. See the North Lancing School case study.

Newhaven Ferry Terminal — full washroom and reception refurbishment for a facility handling 21 crossings per week, with coastal environment and accessibility requirements. See the Newhaven Ferry Terminal case study.

Frequently asked questions

How many toilet cubicles do I need for my office?

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and BS 6465-1 set minimum provision for commercial workplaces. As a guide: for mixed facilities, one WC per 25 people up to 100 is a common starting point. Separate male and female facilities follow different ratios. Always confirm against the applicable standard and the building’s peak occupancy figure.

What is the minimum size for a commercial toilet cubicle?

A standard commercial toilet cubicle is typically 800mm wide and 1,500mm deep — the minimum for an inward-opening door with a standard WC pan. An accessible cubicle requires a larger footprint: the turning circle requirement of 1,500mm diameter and transfer space of 750mm to one side of the WC typically result in a cubicle of at least 1,500mm × 2,200mm.

Does every commercial toilet need an accessible cubicle?

Yes. Approved Document M requires accessible sanitary provision in all commercial buildings. At least one cubicle must meet the accessible dimensions and hardware requirements. The Equality Act 2010 also requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments to ensure facilities are accessible.

What is the best material for commercial toilet cubicle panels?

Solid grade laminate (SGL) is the standard specification for commercial toilet cubicle panels in wet environments. It is solid throughout with no absorbent core, making it fully waterproof and resistant to commercial cleaning products. Standard laminate on MDF or chipboard is not appropriate for wet environments — the core absorbs moisture and fails within five to eight years.

What is IPS panelling in a commercial toilet?

IPS (Integrated Panel Systems) are panel systems that conceal the cisterns, pipework and service connections behind toilets and urinals behind a flat, continuous panel surface. They replace traditional tiling with a surface that is easier to clean (no grout lines), non-destructively accessible for maintenance, and consistent in appearance with the rest of the washroom specification.

Can a commercial toilet be refurbished while the building remains occupied?

Yes. Phased installation — taking one area at a time while maintaining access to remaining facilities — allows commercial toilet refurbishment in occupied buildings. BRAC Projects regularly delivers refurbishments in occupied offices, schools and healthcare facilities. See our Millennium Bridge House case study for an example of 38 washroom areas refurbished in a fully occupied London office building.

Planning your commercial toilet design project

Good commercial toilet design starts with the right questions: how many people, what standard applies, is gender-neutral provision required, where does the accessible cubicle go, and what materials will the environment demand over a fifteen-year service life. Getting those questions answered before specifying anything else avoids the most common and most expensive mistakes.

BRAC Projects surveys, designs, manufactures and installs bespoke commercial toilet cubicles, IPS panels and complete washroom systems for offices, schools, healthcare facilities, leisure centres and public buildings across the UK. To discuss a project, explore our washrooms and toilet cubicles service or get in touch.