Good clean fun on days out
June 1st 2009

Equipping the washrooms at a large outdoor summer event can be a major challenge. SCA Tissue Europe looks at issues such as high traffic, interval 'bottlenecks' and coping with unruly visitors

Outdoor events such as sports matches, festivals and open-air concerts can be an enjoyable aspect of the summer.Not always so enjoyable is a visit to the washroom at such events.

The sheer volume of traffic using the toilets during the interval or half-time can be a major challenge for organisers.At some rock festivals the toilet facilities are so rudimentary that even the basics such as toilet paper and handwashing facilities are absent.

A survey commissioned by SCA Tissue Europe revealed that 75% of people were unhappy with the standards of toilets at large open-air events.Around 27% of respondents shunned the washrooms at peak times such as intermissions, while 44% avoided going to the toilet at all.The study, which questioned nearly 1,000 people, also revealed that 20% of respondents deliberately limited their fluid intake at such occasions.This could lead to health issues – particularly in hot summer weather when dehydration is a risk –while having a major impact on the organisers' bar sales and soft drink profits into the bargain.

So it makes sense from a health and economic point of view to make stadium washrooms pleasant to use in difficult and overcrowded circumstances.

Securing supplies Lockable systems are required in such environments where loo roll pilferage is likely to be high.The lockable Tork Elevation dispenser for jumbo rolls is a suitable high volume system ensuring a continuous supply.

Another good system designed to avoid the problem of loo paper running out is the Tork Compact Auto Shift.The dispenser holds two tightly-wound 100m rolls of toilet paper representing the equivalent of around eight conventional toilet rolls.

When the first roll has been used up, the second roll automatically shifts into position and the janitor can drop a new roll into the top of the dispenser during the next maintenance check. Another benefit of this system is that it is sufficiently compact to fit into smaller washroom cubicles.

Fresh fingers When it comes to hand washing, spectators at concerts and matches will want to complete the task as quickly as possible so that they can rejoin the crowd for the rest of the event.This means a fast, efficient system is required.They may also pay a visit to the burger bar or hotdog stand on the way back to their place, so hygiene is important since festival foods tend to be eaten with the fingers.

Where efficiency and hygiene are both crucial, SCA believes disposable hand towels are the best solution.They take only a few seconds to dry the hands compared with 50-60 seconds for some warm air dryers.When faced with a queue,many people will leave without drying their hands – and damp hands provide an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply.

64% of people questioned in our open-air event survey said they preferred paper towels in stadium washrooms compared with 28% who liked warm air dryers and 5% who preferred textile towels.

The three hand drying options of Tork Advanced hand towel rolls, Tork Advanced zigzag fold towels and Tork Advanced flushable towels are all suitable for stadiums and festivals.

With the 2012 Olympics looming, stadium organisers should take account of the fact that good quality washroom facilities can have a positive impact on their guests' experience – and potentially, on their own profits. Please contact the company for more information.

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