When providing commercial or corporate washrooms to employees, it’s important to know that you have all the information you need to ensure that you comply with sanitary requirements.
One of the most commonly asked questions we get asked here at Interfix is “How many toilets should my workplace provide?”
The answer to that question is dependent on various factors, including the type of establishment, the type and number of people the toilets are provided for, and their gender.
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 includes an Approved Code of Practice and guidelines that gives advice on what to do in order to comply with the law. This applies to most workplaces; the exceptions being construction work or construction sites, workplaces that are on or in a ship and mines.
The following tables shows the number of sanitary facilities needed.
No. of people at work means the maximum number likely to be in the workplace at any one time.
Workplaces
Number of toilets and washbasins for mixed use, or women only:
| No. of people at work | No. of toilets | No. of washbasins |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | 1 | 1 |
| 6-25 | 2 | 2 |
| 26-50 | 3 | 3 |
| 51-75 | 4 | 4 |
| 76-100 | 5 | 5 |
| Over 100 | + 1 toilet for every 25 (or part thereof) people | + 1 toilet for every 25 (or part thereof) people |
As a guideline, we recommend for every toilet, there are 3/4 the number of basins. So for example, if you have 100 toilets, you should provide 75 basins.
Toilets used by men only:
| No. of men at work | No. of toilets | No. of urinals |
|---|---|---|
| 1-15 | 1 | 1 |
| 16-30 | 2 | 1 |
| 31-45 | 2 | 2 |
| 46-60 | 3 | 2 |
| 61-75 | 3 | 3 |
| 76-90 | 4 | 3 |
| 91-100 | 4 | 4 |
| Over 100 | + 1 toilet for every 50 (or part thereof) men | + at least 1 additional urinal for every 1 additional toilet |
Notes:
For dirty work which results in the heavy soiling of the face, hands and forearms, the number of washbasins should be increased to one for every 10 people at work (or part thereof) up to 50 people, and one extra for every additional 20 people (or part thereof).
