Provision of toilets in commercial premises

open to the public

The City Council has adopted a standard for the provision of sanitary accommodation in
places to which the public resort which are either:
(i)
(ii)

New premises, or
premises undergoing conversion or alteration.

The scale of facilities you need to provide depends on the use of the premises. The most
common uses are summarised in the tables in this guide. For any other uses, please
contact the Commercial Health Section of the Environment and Street Scene Division,
Canterbury City Council.

Facilities for disabled people must be provided in new or altered premises. You should
also provide facilities for the disabled in other premises where this is reasonable or
practicable.

Separate toilets and wash basins should be provided for each sex and for disabled
persons.

Facilities for staff should only be used by them, especially in premises where food is
handled.

Where toilets are used by females, suitable means for disposing of sanitary dressings
should be provided.

Toilets must not open directly into rooms where food is handled and must be
separated by a lobby or other room.

You should consult the Planning and Building Control Divisions of the City Council about
the technical side of installing the sanitary accommodation. They will also advise you
about any permissions you may need.
You may also need to speak to other agencies or consider other matters depending on
your circumstances. Please see the notes to the tables for more information.
If you feel that you have a justified reason why you cannot comply with the standards
outlined in this guidance, then you can apply in writing to the Head of Environment and
Street Scene for a waiver. You must apply before any work starts and your application may
be refused.
If you would like to speak to someone about these standards then please contact the
Commercial Health Section of the Environment and Street Scene Division, Canterbury City
Council on 01227 862 206.
Commercial Health Section
Environment and Street Scene
Canterbury City Council
Military Road
CANTERBURY
CT1 1YW
Phone: 01227 862 206

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 - Restaurants, Cafes, Canteens and Catering Premises (Non-Liquor-Licensed

Premises)
Table 2 - Buildings used for Public Entertainment or Similar (Non-Liquor-Licensed Premises)
Table 3 - Public Houses and Licensed Bars
Table 4 - Places of Work
Table 5 - Hotels
Table 6 - Residential Homes and Nursing Homes for Elderly People Table 7 - Outdoor Music
and Similar Events

Table 1 - Restaurants, cafes, canteens and catering premises

(non-liquor licensed premises)
Appliances

For Male Customers

1 per 100 up to 400 males plus 1 for
every additional 250 (or part of 250)
males

WC

For Female Customers

2 per 50 up to 200 females plus
1 for every additional 100 ) or
part of 100) females
-

Urinal

1 per 50 males

Wash basin

1 per WC and plus 1 per 5 (or part of 5)

urinals.

Cleaners sink

Adequate provision should be made for cleaning facilities including at least

one cleaners sink

1 per WC

Note 1:

In the absence of more reliable information you should assume that 50% of the
customers will be male and 50% female.

Note 2:

For the provision of toilets for staff, see Table 4 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and
Welfare) Regulations 1992.

Note 3:

For establishments with licensed bars see also Table 3.

Table 2 - Buildings used for public entertainment or similar

(non-liquor licensed premises)
Appliances

Males
In single-screen cinemas, theatres,
concert halls and similar premises
without licensed bars:

WC

1 for up to 250 males plus 1 for

every additional 500 (or part of 500)
males.

Females
In single-screen cinemas,
theatres, concert halls and similar
premises without licensed bars:
2 for up to 40 females
3 for 41 to 70 females
4 for 71 to 100 females
plus 1 for every additional 40 (or
part of 40) females.

In single-screen cinemas, theatres,

concert halls and similar premises
without licensed bars:
Urinal
2 for up to 100 males plus 1 for
every additional 80 (or part of 80)
males.

Wash Basins

1 per WC plus 1 per 5 (or part of 5) 1, plus 1 per 2 (or part of 2) WCs.
urinals.

Cleaners Sink

Adequate provision should be made for cleaning facilities including at least

one cleaners sink.

Note 1:

In the absence of more reliable information you should assume that 50% of the
audience will be male and 50% female.

Note 2:

In cinema-multiplexes and similar premises where the use of facilities will be spread
through the opening hours, the level of provision should normally be based upon
75% of total capacity. You should also assume equal proportions of male and
female customers. (For single-screen cinemas 100% occupancy is assumed.)

Note 3:

Where buildings for public entertainment or similar have licensed bars,

facilities should also be provided in accordance with Table 3, based upon
the capacity of the bar(s) and assuming equal proportions of male and
female customers.

Note 4:

For the provision of toilets for staff, see Table 4 and the Workplace (Health,
Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

Table 3 - Public Houses and Licensed Bars

Appliances

WC

Urinal

For male customers

For female customers

1 for up to 150 males plus 1 for every

additional 150 (or part of 150) males.

1 for up to 12 females plus 1 to 13

to 30 females plus 1 for every
additional 25 (or part of 25)
females.

2 for up to 75 males plus 1 for every

additional 75 (or part of 75) males.

Wash basins

1 per WC and in addition1 per 5 (or part 1 per 2 WCs.

of 5) urinals.

Cleaners sink

Adequate provision should be made for cleaning facilities including at least

one cleaners sink.

Note 1:

For premises which are used for public entertainment or similar, the occupancy for the
licensed areas will be the maximum licensed number (this will be shown on any
licence). In other circumstances, the occupancy should be calculated at the rate of
four persons per 3m2 of effective drinking area.

Note 2:

In public houses you may assume a ratio of 75% male customers to 25% female
customers. In many other situations a ratio of 50% male to 50% female may be
appropriate.

Note 3:

For the provision of toilets for staff, see Table 4 and the Workplace (Health,
Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

Table 4 - Places of Work

Sanitary appliances for any group of staff
Number of persons at
work

Number of WCs

Number of Wash Basins

1 to 5

6 to 25

26 to 50

51 to 75

76 to 100

Above 100

One additional WC and washing station for every 25 (or part of

25) persons.

Alternative scale of provision of sanitary appliances for use by male staff only
Number of WCs

Number of Urinals

1 to15

16 to 30

31 to 45

46 to 60

61 to 75

76 to 90

91 to 100

Number of males at work

Above 100

One additional WC for every 50 (or part of 50) males plus at

least one additional urinal for every one extra WC.

Note 1:

You should also see the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

Note 2:

Where work activities result in the heavy soiling of hands and forearms, wash basins
should be provided for the staff as follows:
(a)
(b)

One wash basin per 10 (or part of 10) people at work up to 50 people
For more than 50 people, one additional wash basin for every further 20 (or part of
20) people

Note 3:

Where sanitary conveniences provided for staff are also used by the public, the numbers
given in table 4 should be increased, by at least one, for each sex so that staff can use
the facilities without undue delay.

Note 4:

In certain situations where security necessitates separate provision for visitors, this
should be sited in or adjacent to the public area.

Table 5 - Hotels
Type of accommodation
Hotel with en-suite
accommodation

Hotels and guest

houses
without en-suite
accommodation

Appliances/Facilities

Number required

Remarks

1 per residential guest

bedroom

Containing:
bath/shower,
WC and
wash basin

Staff bathroom

1 per 9 residential staff

Containing:
bath/shower,
WC and
wash basin

Bucket/cleaners Sink

1 per 30 bedrooms

At least 1 on
every floor

WC

1 per 9 guests

Wash basin

1 per bedroom

En-suite

Bathroom

Bucket/cleaners sink
Tourist Hostels

1 per 9 guests

Containing:
bath/shower,
wash
basin and
additional WC

1 per floor

WC

1 per 9 guests

Wash basin

1 per bedroom or 1 for

every 9 guests in a
dormitory

Bathroom

1 per 9 guests

Cleaners sink

1 per floor

Containing:
bath/ shower,
wash
basin
and
additional WC

Note 1:

For the provision of toilets for staff, see Table 4 and the Workplace
(Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

Note 2:

For provision of facilities for premises used for public entertainment,

restaurants and licensed bars see Tables 2, 1 and 3 respectively.

Table 6 - Residential Homes and Nursing Homes for Elderly People

Type of
accommodation

Residents

Number
recommended

Appliances

Remarks

An adequate wash basin

is also required

WC

1 per 4 persons

Bath

1 per 10 persons

Wash Basin

1 to each bedsitting
room

WC

At least 1 for staff

See Table 4 for Places of

Work

Wash Basin

In WC compartment

WC

Wash Basin

Kitchen

Sink

As appropriate

Cleaners Room

Cleaners Sink

In each cleaners room

Other

Bed pan
cleaning/disposal

As appropriate

Service area

In each medical room,

hairdressing, chiropodist,
non-residential staff toilets

Staff

Visitors

Wash Basin

In WC compartment

NOTE 1:

You should contact The National Care Standards Commission (East Kent) on 01233
619330 for further information

NOTE 2:

Where en-suite facilities are provided, toilets for visitors and staff should also be provided.

NOTE 3:

For the provision of toilets for staff_ see Table 4 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and
Welfare) Regulations 1992.

Sitz baths with hand showers (not fixed overhead) and/or shower units suitable
for use by residents in wheelchairs or sani-chairs may be suitable alternatives.

Table 7 - Outdoor Music And Similar Events

For events with a gate opening time of
6 hours or more
Male

Female

1 WC per 500 males,

plus 1 urinal per 150
males

1 WC per 100
females

1 wash basin per 5 (or part of 5) WCs plus 1

per 5 (or part of 5) urinals
Note 1

For events with a gate opening time of

less than 6 hours
Male
1 WC per 600 males,
plus 1 urinal per 175
males

Female
1 WC per 120 females

1 wash basin per 5 (or part of 5) WCs

For the provision of toilets for staff, see Table 4 and the Workplace (Health, Safety
and Welfare) Regulations 1992.