Public Restroom Etiquette and Legal Requirements

When using a public restroom, there are certain laws that one must abide by to ensure the cleanliness of each restroom. Here is an overview of the few rules to keep in mind when using a public restroom.

Restroom Partitions

• The current international plumbing code mandates a partition between each urinal. The partitions should be high enough to prevent eye contact and urine splashes, and to ensure privacy for each person.

Land in Hot Water

• Certain municipal codes require hot water in the bathroom, so if you ever use a public restroom be sure that hot water is installed and working properly.

Hand Dryers ADA Depth Requirements

• We've all seen these ridiculously loud hand dryers hanging on the wall in a public bathroom. But did you know that the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) installed a law that these dryers cannot be more than 4 inches from the wall? A visually impaired person is in danger of bumping into the dryer if the length is more than 4 inches.

Electricity Requirements

• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health mandates the following precautions before installing or servicing electric hand dryers or other public restroom electrical equipment:

  -Observe all OSHA regulations.
  -Identify and label all potentially hazardous energy sources and de-energize them before beginning work.