The First Facility Management Blog

According to a study conducted last September, one third of the men who use public rest rooms don’t wash their hands before leaving. Women were more hygienically conscientious, with only 12% failing to wash after using the facilities.

These results are contrary to a Harris Interactive Study, where 92% of participants claimed to wash after using the rest room. “But researchers for the American Society for Microbiology found that only 77% actually do, when it comes to public restrooms. That’s a 6% decline from a similar study in 2005.” (Associated Press, 9/17/2007.)

Hand washing is widely believed to be one of the most effective ways to combat against the spread of infectious diseases. And high traffic public rest rooms are thought to be virtual germ incubators.

The findings of the survey, co-sponsored by the Soap and Detergent Association, were released to a meeting of infectious disease scientists on Monday, September 17, 2007. The findings were based on a study of 6,000 participants in four large cities around the country.

Details from the study (from the Associated Press, 9/17/07):
• Atlanta’s Turner Field baseball stadium had the biggest hand washing gender gap. Only 57% of guys there washed up, compared to 95% of women.

• New York was Second City to Chicago in cleanliness. In rest rooms at the Windy City’s Shedd Aquarium and Museum of Science and Industry, 81% of men and women combined washed their hands, compared to 79% at the Big Apple’s Penn and Grand Central train stations.

• At San Francisco’s Ferry Terminal Farmers Market, 62.5% of men lathered up. Women did better, with 84%.

Thanks to TFM “Tricks of the Trade” Columnist Jim Elledge for providing this story.

A new survey asked approximately 700 facility managers, jansan manufacturers, distributors, and building service contractors their thoughts on rest room odors.

What was most notable about the responses was how strongly the respondents feel regarding odor issues. For instance, when asked if an odor present in a rest room made them more concerned about germs, nearly 85% vociferously said yes.

The survey was conducted by AlturaSolutions Communications for Waterless Co LLC. About 700 people were invited to take the online survey with more than 100 completing it. The survey was conducted in mid-January 2008 and has a confidence rating of 95%.*

Some noteworthy results from the survey include:

• Seventy-one percent believe rest room odors are a sign of improper
cleaning.

• Conversely, no odor or a fresh smelling rest room is a sign of a well-maintained rest room, say 81% of the respondents.

• Sixty-six percent indicated that an unpleasant rest room odor would deter them from returning to a restaurant or store and 47% said they would tell a manager or “someone in authority” about the odor.

• Sixty-eight percent said that a pine odor does not mean clean when it comes to rest rooms.

Some of the questions focused on where odors are most typically found, for instance in what types of facilities.

Restaurants were at the top of the list, with 53% indicating this is where they most commonly notice malodors in public places. This was followed by large public places, such as airports, sports stadiums, and convention centers. At the bottom of the list were libraries and “where I work.”

About half of the respondents believe rest room odors come from floors; twenty-five percent said odors come from toilets and urinals, and a small percentage indicate odors come from sink and floor drains.

“In fact, many rest room odors are the result of sewer gasses coming up through the drain,” says Klaus Reichardt, managing partner of Waterless Co LLC. “This happens when the water in the drain’s u-tube or trap evaporates.”

* This means that even if more people took the survey, it is a 95% certainty that the responses would be about the same.

Kimberly-Clark Professional Video Contest Is Out Of This World

After boldly going where no health and hygiene company had gone before with its launch of the first electronic touchless bath tissue dispenser, Kimberly-Clark Professional is now set to enter alien territory.

And this time the public is invited to travel along, through a contest being announced today at www.aliendroppings.com.

To enter, contestants must first view a quirky two-part video of a hapless earthling’s encounter with a superior life form inside a men’s room stall. The brief vignettes depict what happens when an alien competes with a human for access to a new restroom technology.

The contest challenge is to watch both videos and create a three-minute script treatment for the duo’s close encounter of the third time. The grand prize winner will have their video produced and will also receive a SONY HD video camera. Additional prizes will be awarded for first and second place. Full contest rules and prize information are available at www.aliendroppings.com.

The first video installment is available now. The second will materialize in late November. Contest entries must be received by January 31, 2008.

Under its WaterSense program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks to enhance the market for water-efficient products and services by building a national brand for water efficiency.

With the release on October 1 of a final WaterSense specification for bathroom faucets, consumers will soon be able to identify high-performance, water efficient sink faucets. The specification will enable buyers to identify products that use about 30% less water than conventional models. The EPA expects to begin certifying faucets by 2008.

This specification applies to bathroom sink faucets or aerators intended for private use, such as in residences or in private restrooms in hotels and hospitals. It does not apply to metering faucets (those that dispense a pre-determined volume of water or operate in the “on” position for a predetermined period of time); bathroom sink faucets intended for public use (those found in office buildings, restaurants, airports, and stadium restrooms, etc.); and residential kitchen sink faucets.

“EPA’s WaterSense program just made it easier for consumers and communities to save money, energy, and water one tap at a time,” said assistant administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. “Water efficiency is the wave of the future and WaterSense bathroom faucets will turn a trickle into a stream of savings without sacrificing performance.” The WaterSense program was established in 2006.

In order to earn the WaterSense label, faucets must be independently tested and certified by a licensed certifying body to meet EPA’s water efficiency and performance criteria. To meet the criteria, faucets and accessories such as aerators cannot flow at a rate of more than 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm), or less than 0.8 gpm. Working with stakeholders, EPA chose a rate that ensures both water savings and that the faucet flow rate will continue to meet the needs of the user.

WaterSense labeled faucets not only save water, but the have the added benefit of saving energy used to treat, pump, and heat water. According to EPA, letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours.

Consumers can currently find the WaterSense label on more than 60 high efficiency toilets. WaterSense labeled toilets use 20% less water than standard models and are independently tested and certified to perform as well as or better than their market counterparts. Working with EPA, retailers are starting to feature WaterSense labeled toilets in their plumbing sections, and bathroom sink faucets should be close behind in 2008.

For more information and a list of WaterSense labeled plumbing products, visit www.epa.gov/watersense/specs/faucet_final.htm

TOTO, a manufacturer of high performance products for the bath space, has placed a wide white bar across the “happy bottoms” on its “Clean is Happy” billboard in New York’s Times Square — in effect, “clothing” the bottoms by removing any hint of their anatomical features.

The decision to alter the billboard content was motivated by the company’s business objectives for the “Clean is Happy” campaign. As company representatives point out, an effective outdoor advertising billboard’s sole purpose is to create consumer awareness for the product being marketed. When a billboard’s content or theme creates a situation whereby its primary marketing aim — in this case, advertising the Washlet and raising U.S. consumer awareness of this unique personal cleansing system — becomes secondary to distractions that draw attention away from the company’s business goals, it’s time to change the advertising.

The “happy bottoms” billboard is an element in TOTO’s new Washlet integrated marketing campaign, which is designed to challenge the status quo in bathroom habits and personal hygiene in the US by encouraging people to make their backsides happy and wash with water after using the restroom. The campaign’s central concept combines the part of the body the Washlet is designed to cleanse with the universal icon for happiness, a smile.

“Our thought-provoking ‘Clean is Happy’ billboard is not intended to offend. Its nude ‘happy bottoms’ graphic is a visual tool used to convey the idea that when people feel clean, they are confident, more comfortable, and, yes, happier,” said Lenora Campos, public relations manager.

TOTO will maintain the original nude “happy bottoms” creative content in online advertising, marketing collateral, billboards along West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip as well as an element on its new Web site devoted to the Washlet.

Many facilities take pride in the modern conveniences and aesthetic features offered in their restrooms. Officials in the city of Chongqing in southwestern China are proud of a new public restroom containing more than 1,000 toilets. They’re even submitting an application to Guiness World Records to be listed as the largest public restroom in the world.

And, the 32,000 square foot public restroom facility offers more than white porcelain fixtures. In fact, the variety of toilet facilities may be a tourist attraction unto itself. The structure features an Egyptian-style facade. Soft music plays throughout. There is even a group of open air stalls for visitors to enjoy.

Adding to the flair of the facility, a number of the urinals are fashioned in unusual shapes and motifs. One style is a crocodile mouth as seen in the photo.

Perhaps looking to build a cottage industry around the facility, the state-run China Central Television station reported earlier this week that there are plans to build a supermarket nearby, which will sell toilet-related items.

Kimberly-Clark Professional is introducing an automatic dispenser, which can give facilities control over how much tissue is dispensed each time. Greg Bluestein of the Associated Press writes:

Richard Thorne grins as he waves his hand under a toilet paper dispenser in a women’s restroom. The machine spits five sheets of tissue into his grasp.

A year in the works, the electronic tissue dispenser is being rolled out to the masses by Kimberly-Clark Professional as it seeks to capture more of the $1 billion away-from-home toilet paper market. The company believes most people will be satisfied with five sheets — and use 20 percent less toilet paper.

“Most people will take the amount given,” says Thorne. Waxing philosophical, he adds, “People generally in life will take what you give them.”

Kimberly-Clark turned to focus groups and years of internal research to determine just how much is right.

Americans typically use twice as much toilet paper as Europeans — as much as an arm’s length each pull, Thorne says. The company decided the best length is about 20 inches — or precisely five standard toilet paper squares, though the machine can also be adjusted to churn out 16 inches or 24 inches, depending on the demand.

Read the rest of the article…

Imagine, if you wanted to take five minutes out during a busy schedule, being able to escape to a beautiful retreat where you can sit back, relax and freshen up in a luxurious setting…

Welcome to WC1, the world’s first ever multi million-dollar ladies only ultra-luxurious powder room, loo, and retail retreat, designed and dedicated to providing a first class convenience for discerning women looking to relax, revitalize, and indulge. A revival of the old Victorian powder room concept, this glamorous boutique haven, found on London’s Oxford Street (address: 439-441 OXFORD STREET, LONDON W1), has been created with impeccable cleanliness and the pursuit of beauty in mind.

Now, women of all ages can escape from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s busiest high street and enjoy five star facilities and discreet and attentive service in a stunning environment. In addition, products are available for purchase from high end beauty brands such as Aromatherapy Associates as well as WC1’s own ‘Rescue’ range of emergency products.

Whether shopping, polishing up after work or simply taking five minutes to relax between meetings, WC1 provides all that a woman needs to transform herself from the inside out at any time of day.

Unlike anything ever seen before, this sleek urban sanctuary features a luxurious powder room with deep seating, large mirrors and considerate lighting. Ambient lounge music creates a relaxing atmosphere while fresh flowers add a dash of sweetness to the air. In addition, there are oversized, air-conditioned loo cubicles big enough to change comfortably from a suit to an evening dress. Sterilized and sealed after every visit, each cubicle also comes equipped with soft white towels and premium soaps and hand creams.

The ultimate powder room destination, WC1 celebrates the requirements of women everywhere, providing her with a home from home environment and enabling her to polish and preen to perfection in the way she is naturally accustomed – total, unadulterated luxury!

WC1 costs £5 (appx. $10) per visit (with £2/$4 redeemable on product purchases over £10/$20 for a limited period). Opening hours are from 8am until 9pm from Monday to Saturday and from 12 noon until 6pm on Sunday.

Facility managers may now take advantage of a free evaluation sheet to determine if waterless urinal systems will help them save money, along with water. Developed by Waterless Co. of Vista, CA, the evaluation sheet asks facility managers a series of simple questions, such as:

How many males populate the facility?
Number of urinals in the facility?
Hours of operation?
Amount of water used per urinal, per flush?
Local water and sewer rates per 1,000 gallons?

Most urinals use between one and three gallons of water, depending on whether they were manufactured before or after 1992. Studies also indicate that each male in a facility uses a urinal about three times per day.

“The facility’s total cost of water is on the water bill,” says Klaus Reichardt, managing partner of Waterless Co. “This evaluation sheet lets facility managers know approximately how much they are spending just to provide potable water for urinals.”

According to Reichardt, the evaluation sheet, which is available in either manual or electronic spreadsheet form, also allows facility managers, who have already installed waterless urinal systems, to compare their maintenance costs to a conventional urinal.

“These costs do not apply to cleaning the urinal,” informs Reichardt, “since cleaning a conventional and waterless urinal are very similar. What it compares is the typical annual repair and plumbing costs of a conventional urinal and the annual costs for trap cylinders and other products necessary to maintain a waterless system.”

Although some assumptions must be made, Reichardt says most facility managers find the evaluation sheet provides a workable picture of how much money conventional urinals are costing them. “In some facilities, they may find a waterless system will not save them enough money to warrant their installation,” he says, “but others may find that waterless systems will save them considerable sums annually.”

For more information on the evaluation sheet or to receive a free copy, contact watersavings@waterless.com.

First there was “Pimp My Cubicle” and now Roto-Rooter, the largest provider of plumbing and drain-cleaning services in the United States and Canada is taking that one step beyond with its “Pimped Out John”–the grand prize in the company’s sweepstakes held from January 24, 2007 (Thomas Crapper Day*), through April 2, 2007. The lucky winner will be crowned on National Plumber’s Day, April 25, 2007.

In recognition of this event, Roto-Rooter has created what it considers to be the ultimate toilet. The companyy has developed a customized, one-of-a-kind throne; a truly “Pimped Out John.” But customers won’t find it in stores. Only one lucky person will win this gleaming monument to personal convenience by entering Roto-Rooter’s online “Pimped Out John,” sweepstakes. Anyone can enter to win at www.rotorooter.com.

Roto-Rooter’s “Pimped Out John” is outfitted with every feature a modern king or queen could want in a bathroom throne, and underneath all of the trappings is a superb Kohler Cimarron’ toilet. This amazing commode is fully loaded with the following “luxury enhancements”:
* Philips 20-inch flat panel LCD TV
* Xbox 360 gaming system
* Philips DVD player with Star Wars DVD
* Gateway” EMachine laptop computer with fully articulated robot arm
* iPod with stereo docking station equipped with toilet paper dispenser
* Roto-Rooter “emergency” button
* Tivo digital video recorder (DVR)
* Avanti refrigerator with beer tap, stocked with drinks and snacks
* Magazine rack
* Bike pedal exercise system
* Electric cup warmer / cooler

“The bathroom is the perfect place for your very own throne. It shouldn’t always be regarded as the room of last resort,” contends Steven Pollyea, Roto-Rooter vice president of marketing. “We hope that with the ‘Pimped out John,’ young people especially, will have a good laugh and think of Roto-Rooter when they need high quality plumbing and drain service.”

Roto-Rooter technicians will even come to your home to install the Pimped Out John!

*About Thomas Crapper Day
Thomas Crapper was a well-known inventor and plumber and a pioneer in the advancement of indoor plumbing. He was most known for inventing the “Disconnecting Trap,” which became essential to indoor plumbing. This was a great leap forward in the campaign against disease. Crapper held nine patents, four for improvements to drains, three for water closets, one for manhole covers and the last for pipe joints. Every patent application for plumbing-related products filed by Crapper made it through the process, and actual patents were granted. Crapper did not invent the toilet but his employee, Albert Giblin, invented the “Silent Valveless Water Waste Preventer” (No. 814), a symphonic discharge system that allowed a toilet to flush effectively when the cistern was only half full. The device was patented in 1898. Crapper bought the patent rights and was the first to market the modern toilet. Crapper died on January 27, 1910.