Resources

Find published information on toilet design. Our resource bank includes guidance, standards, regulation, toolkits, websites and research. Resources can be filtered by type or subject area, using the keywords shown.

We love hearing about other resources that you have found useful! Please send us details via this form.

The RCA is not responsible for the content of external websites.

An outdoor space, between two single-story buildings at right angles. The far building has many doors with toilet symbols. The side building has storage, for the play equipment that fills the space. There are trees and seating, as well as plants on the building roofs. A sign on the right says 'Engaged'

Engaged: a toilet on every high street (final report)

Author/s:: Gail Ramster, Jo-Anne Bichard, Madelaine Dowd, Indira Knight, Rosanna Traina, Maurizio Mucciola
Summary:: Engaged ran as a design research project by Royal College of Art and PiM.Studio Architects. Its aim is to think about the reuse of vacant high street units as toilets (plus commercial or community space), and to grow the idea. This report shares a few key areas that we've uncovered, that have the most potential to pursue, and where we have evidence to support future, focused studies to really fix the problems.
File:: Engaged_Final_Report.pdf 2.44 MB
Publication date:: 2023
Keywods:: Built Environment Design Inclusion Public Toilets
Type:: Report

Partial image of some comments each in different handwriting, saying: clear mirror; gender-neutral; needle exchange; more space for women; changing tables in all genders bathrooms' keep open past 8pm!' accessible for children, toddlers and neurodiverse.

Engaged: On-the-Ground Engagement and Co-design report

Author/s:: Madelaine Dowd, Indira Knight, Gail Ramster, Jo-Anne Bichard, Maurizio Mucciola
Summary:: Engaged: On-the-Ground project worked with a London Community to find what an inclusive public toilet would look like in their neighbourhood. This report shares the findings from this engagement and co-design activity, in the Hackney Central area.
File:: On-the-Ground-DLR-Report.pdf 7.26 MB
Publication date:: 2022
Keywods:: Built Environment Design Experiences Inclusion Public Toilets
Type:: Report

Photograph of a toilet block with a sketch of an ajoining cafe overlaid. People sit at tables outside the cafe and toilets.

Engaged: Pre-feasibility Study

Author/s:: Madelaine Dowd, Maurizio Mucciola, Rosanna Traina, Indira Knight, Gail Ramster, Jo-Anne Bichard
Summary:: This Pre-feasibility report includes findings from the Regeneration workshop, expert interviews and literature review of government guidance, as well as design principles and typologies for the Engaged concept that proposes public toilets sharing space with local businesses as part of high street regeneration.
File:: Engaged-Pre-Feasibility-Report.pdf 11.53 MB
Publication date:: 2022
Keywods:: Built Environment Design Layout Location Management Public Toilets
Type:: Report

Public Toilets in Managed Stations

Author/s:: Network Rail
Summary:: The Design Guidance for Public Toilets in Managed Stations is intended to promote a common design approach based on the principle of ‘putting passengers first’ across Network Rail's Managed Stations portfolio.
Web link:: Go to resource
Publication date:: 2020
Keywods:: Design Public Toilets Transport
Type:: Design Guide Standards and Guidance

What is the risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 from the use of public toilets?

Author/s:: Stephanie J. Dancer, Yuguo Li, Alwyn Hart, Julian W. Tang, Davey L. Jones
Summary:: This narrative review examines the evidence suggestive of transmission risk through use of public toilets and concludes that such a risk cannot be lightly disregarded. A range of mitigating actions are suggested for both users of public toilets and those that are responsible for their design, maintenance and management.
Web link:: Go to resource
Publication date:: 2021
Keywods:: Covid-19 Design Maintenance Public Health
Type:: Academic Paper

Image of Front page of Guide, orange background, toilet roll with 'Don't Panic' written on the last piece

Publicly Accessible Toilets after COVID-19

Author/s:: Imran Nazerali, Gail Ramster, Jo-Anne Bichard
Summary:: In this update to Publicly Accessible Toilets: An Inclusive Design Guide, we show how future toilets can be designed to be more hygienic, and also more accessible and inclusive, as a critical part of public health infrastructure.
Web link:: Go to resource
Publication date:: 2021
Keywods:: Covid-19 Design Inclusion Public Toilets
Type:: Design Guide

Improving Public Access to Better Quality Toilets: A Strategic Guide

Author/s:: Department for Communities and Local Government
Summary:: This strategic guide reviews the evidence and sets out ways in which local authorities and their partners can secure improvements to public toilets. By arguing the case for public toilets, removing barriers to provision, and sharing good approaches and practice, it aims to encourage local authorities and the business community to review the importance of provision.DCLG
Web link:: Go to resource
Publication date:: 2008
Keywods:: Design Public Toilets
Type:: Standards and Guidance

Changing Places: The Practical Guide

Author/s:: Changing Places Consortium
Summary:: This guide aims to provide readers with the practical guidance on the design and management of a Changing Places toilet, as well as an understanding of why they are needed and who is likely to benefit from them.
Web link:: Go to resource
Keywods:: Changing Places Design Disability
Type:: Design Guide

Public In-Conveniences

Author/s:: Susan Cunningham
Summary:: Public In-Conveniences is a brief and easy-to-use guide for organisations which have a special interest in the provision of “away from home” toilets.
Web link:: Go to resource
Publication date:: 2015
Keywods:: Design Public Toilets
Type:: Design Guide