A guide to toilet partitions

If there’s one ultra-tough but seriously underappreciated item in any public building, it has to be the humble toilet partition.

Unglamorous yet essential, the quality and design of toilet partitions is central to the overall success of washroom design, especially its contribution to hygiene, infection control and user experiences.

At their best, great toilet partitions afford excellent privacy and accessibility, ease of cleaning and maintenance, and a feeling of luxury, whether we’re in a boutique hotel or a hospital clinic.  At their worst, you don’t need us to tell you – we’ve all experienced the ‘ick’ factor of a run-down, unhygienic public washroom.

Because people demand high standards from this highly functional space, toilet partitions have evolved significantly in recent decades.  Today, building owners and managers can select from a range of materials, styles and finishes to create washrooms that look stunning and also work hard to meet the demands of even the busiest environments.

If you’re planning a washroom upgrade, you might be wondering what type of partition is best for your setting – so to help you choose, we’ve compiled a quick guide!

Phenolic partitions

Phenolic is a resin-based material that’s part of the thermoset plastics family.  It’s made by soaking layers of kraft paper in a special resin.  The layers are sandwiched together and placed under intense heat and pressure, which triggers a process called polymerization – transforming them into a solid, highly durable substrate.

Along with plastic, phenolic is one of the most durable materials a washroom partition can be made of.  It’s fully waterproof and suitable for hosing down, and it won’t rust, rot or delaminate.  It’s highly resistant to impact, scratching, fading, peeling and vandalism, making it ideal for high traffic, public spaces.

The key advantage of phenolic over plastic partitions is its flame retardant properties – unlike plastic, it doesn’t require any special coatings or treatments to make it fire safe.  It’s also durable enough to withstand the demands of clinical disinfection protocols.  However, unlike HDPE, phenolic cannot be recycled.

Benefits at a glance:

• Highly durable
• Waterproof
• Easy-clean
• Fire retardant

Plastic partitions (HDPE)

Plastic washroom partitions are typically made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) which is part of the thermoplastics family.  It’s made by heating petroleum, and passing the resulting material through a number of moulds until it hardens into strong plastic.

Like phenolic, HDPE partitions are extremely durable and capable of withstanding a high level of everyday wear and tear, including clinical disinfection and instances of vandalism.  They’re non-porous and immune to rot, rust, moisture, scratching, peeling, fading and delamination, and come in a wide range of colours.  A key advantage of HDPE is that this material is naturally resistant to mould and mildew, though it may not satisfy fire regulations in some facilities without the addition of extra coatings.  HDPE can also be recycled at the end of its life.

Benefits at a glance

• Highly durable
• Waterproof
• Easy-clean
• Sustainable

Powder-Coated Metal Partitions

A fantastic option when you need to combine economy with durable performance, powder-coated metal is a hardwearing solution for toilet partitions.  Unlike a painted finish, the resin-based powder coating is applied electrostatically as a very fine, free-flowing powder and then cured under heat or UV light.  The resulting finish has the appearance of paint but is much more hardwearing, and resistant to moisture, rust, chipping and flaking.

Powder coated partitions are lightweight and strong for easy installation, and are available in a wide range of colours.  They are easy to clean, and are also the most fire-resistant partition option on the market.  Being made from metal, these partitions are also fully recyclable and an excellent choice for the sustainability-conscious.

Benefits at a glance:

• Lightweight yet durable
• Readily available
• Fire resistant
• Affordable

Stainless Steel

With its gleaming good looks and practical performance, stainless steel is a classic choice for washroom partitions that also comes at an attractive price point.  Along with powder-coated steel partitions, these are among the most fire-resistant partition options available, offering excellent heat resistance as well as anti-rust properties.

More often associated with utilitarian spaces such as staff washrooms, stainless steel can also be used to great effect in public-facing spaces, delivering a crisp, clean aesthetic that performs year after year.  Enhanced privacy options can elevate this tried and trusted material into something truly aspirational, while delivering all the long-term durability and hygiene required in clinical environments.  It’s also fully recyclable.

Benefits at a glance:

• Highly durable
• Affordable
• Fire resistant
• Stylish

Enhanced privacy partitions

Enhanced privacy toilet partitions are increasingly in demand across North America, inspired by a similar trend in the public sector restrooms of Europe’s health and hospitality sectors.  Enhanced privacy partitions can be made from any of the materials specified above – they differ purely in terms of their design.

Enhanced privacy partitions offer increased dignity for the user because they extend well above head height, with only a small gap between the bottom of the partition and the floor.  In some cases, cubicles may extend all the way from floor to ceiling for an almost completely enclosed space.

As well as the practicalities of enhanced privacy, this cubicle style delivers a modern and sleek aesthetic.  Concealed hinges and door latches further add to the seamless design which, as well as boosting user perceptions of quality and hygiene in the washroom, can make partitions and the washroom as a whole much easier to keep clean.

Benefits at a glance

• Increased privacy
• Easier cleaning
• Sleek appearance

We’ve got decades of expertise in washroom fitouts and a wide range of options to suit almost any public facility.  For further information on what we do here at Belroc, get in touch!