Across the UK, passengers rely on the toilet facilities found in transit hubs such as airports, train stations and bus terminals.
Also known as public washrooms, designing toilets for public spaces including transport hubs can look very different from the typical home bathroom renovation.
With demands such as high footfalls, diverse user needs and the potential for vandalism, transport hub washrooms need to offer excellent resilience. Not only is a good washroom experience important for passenger experience, but it can also have a knock-on effect on the reputation of the transport hub itself, including at a stakeholder level.
Inspired Washrooms installs toilet facilities in airports and other transport hubs across the UK.
Learn from our experts about how we approach any design brief involving transport hub washrooms to help ensure the success of your project.
Built To Withstand Constant Use
In 2025, Heathrow Airport handled a record 85.5 million passengers. Here at Inspired Washrooms, we of course don’t have the exact figures on the number of toilet visits this resulted in, but we can only imagine it was ‘a lot’!
Even if your airport, train station or bus terminal only handles a tiny fraction of Heathrow’s passenger numbers, it is a certainty that most passengers will need to use the toilet at some point while passing through your transport hub.
To withstand heavy use, both in terms of daily passenger numbers and over the longer term, washrooms must be built to be durable. This requires that every surface, fixture and fitting is specified to withstand continuous heavy use without deteriorating in appearance or function.
For example, stainless steel or solid-grade laminate (SGL) cubicle systems offer suitable material choices. That’s because both materials resist impact, moisture, graffiti and repeated cleaning with industrial grade products.
Compliant With Health And Safety
Washroom facilities in UK public transport hubs must be designed and installed in full compliance with health and safety legislation, as well as technical standards that together govern everything from structural safety through to hygiene, accessibility and fire protection.
As you can appreciate, it’s not possible to detail every health and safety requirement for a UK washroom within one blog post.
However, some of the main areas that apply include The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and Building Regulations (Part M, Part H, Part F & Part L).
In terms of tangible design features, the slip resistance of floors is always a huge area of concern. In high-footfall, perpetually wet environments like washrooms, the floor material must meet certain conditions to reduce the chances of slips and trips. In particular, the slip resistance of floor finishes must meet the requirements of BS 8300 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Some other aspects which might not come to mind at first include designing water systems in accordance with the Approved Code of Practice for Legionella control under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. This looks at areas such as thermostatic mixing valves, appropriate water temperatures and a documented written scheme of examination.
Electrical installations must also meet the requirements of BS 7671, and all fittings within wet zones must carry the appropriate IP ratings for their location.
Vandal Resistance
Unfortunately, ‘heavy use’ can also mean ‘misuse’. As a result, we recommend that all sanitaryware designed to be installed in public toilets prioritises vandal resistance alongside aesthetics.
The likes of exposed pipework, standard domestic grade fittings and fragile ceramic accessories are unsuitable for washrooms in public settings like transport hubs.
Instead, back-to-wall or concealed cistern systems with stainless steel flush plates eliminate exposed components that may be vulnerable to damage or misuse.
Layouts Designed To Reduce Queues
If you have ever visited an airport, train station or bus terminal in the UK, something you’ll fully appreciate is that these are very busy spaces. When there is the matter of meeting transport connections to factor in, it means that the washrooms must provide enough facilities to keep queue numbers to a minimum.
For this reason, designing a washroom for a transport hub requires the design to factor in layout and flow management.
Ensuring there are enough toilets involves looking at anticipated peak footfall figures, rather than going on the minimum building regulation ratios. Getting the number of toilets right is also crucial for preventing bottlenecks during busy departure periods.
Toilet entrances should be designed without doors, using angled or staggered privacy screens to improve throughput significantly. Reducing unnecessary doors can also limit spread of bacteria associated with high touch points like toilet door handles.
Pod-style or linear cubicle arrangements can also allow cleaning staff to service individual units without disrupting the entire facility, which is essential in venues that cannot afford scheduled closures.
Compliant With Accessibility Laws
Under the Equality Act 2010, washroom accessibility is a legal requirement.
Transport hubs attract a particularly diverse user base, including elderly travellers, passengers with mobility impairments, families with young children and wheelchair users. This means properly specified ambulant and wheelchair-accessible cubicles with compliant turning circles, correctly positioned grab rails and emergency call systems are essential.
Changing Places facilities are increasingly expected in major transport hubs and are now a requirement in certain new-build public buildings over a specified floor area threshold under Building Regulations Part M. They go beyond standard accessible toilets to include adult-sized changing benches and hoists.
Beyond the main fixtures and fittings, other aspects like signage can also go a long way in improving accessibility. Signage should incorporate both visual and tactile elements to support users with visual impairments.
Hygienic Toilet Facilities
Skytrax recently revealed its list of the cleanest airports in the world. Unfortunately, no airports in the UK made the top 10 list.
What we know about airport toilets is that there is a high risk of surface contamination, especially if the airport handles international passengers or high passenger volumes. Issues can range from the spread of common colds and viruses to more serious contagious diseases.
Beyond improving cleaning schedules, the approach to hygiene infrastructure in airports, as well as train and bus stations, can make all the difference. This includes minimising contact points throughout the user journey. Sensor-operated taps, soap dispensers, hand dryers and flush mechanisms can reduce cross-contamination, which in turn can improve the overall cleanliness of the space.
Ensuring A Pleasant Environment For Passengers
Travelling in itself can be a stressful experience. So it’s important that when passengers do go to use the toilet in an airport, train station or bus terminal, the facilities feel safe and comfortable.
Ventilation and odour control are often underestimated at the design stage of a washroom refurbishment. But in busy transport hubs, these aspects are fundamental to user experience and the facility's reputation.
Mechanical extraction systems should not only be used in public toilets, but they should also be sized correctly for the volume and occupancy of the space. Doing so can go a long way in maintaining good air quality continuously.
Additionally, the approach to lighting is important for the passenger experience. The specification should balance energy efficiency with the practical need for bright, even illumination that eliminates shadows. This is both for user comfort and to deter antisocial behaviour.
Key Considerations Before You Go Ahead With Refurbishing Toilets In An Airport Or Train Station
As leading installers of airport toilets and similar transport hubs across the UK, there are additional factors we know are important to the installation itself.
Beyond design considerations, we also like to work closely with operations or station managers to minimise passenger disruption. We ensure that any refurbishment of toilets or other washroom facilities is carefully sequenced around service running times, passenger flow patterns and the operational requirements of the hub.
Any required client sign-offs or access arrangements are also typically a prerequisite before work can commence.
If you are considering updating your transport hub toilets and want to run through any of these details with us, our team would be happy to do so.
Overall, it’s essential that the installation of your new toilets runs smoothly, especially by avoiding common problems that can impact passenger experience and even the reputation of your transport hub.
Get A Free Quote For Airport, Train Station Or Bus Station Toilet Installation
At Inspired Washrooms, we regularly work with those involved in the installation of toilets within transport hubs. This includes professionals such as facilities managers, station managers and procurement managers.
If you are in search of a washroom contractor to refurbish your current toilet facilities or to increase capacity by installing new facilities, Inspired Washrooms can help.
We've been entrusted with installing public washroom facilities across the UK, including for airport washrooms and similar transit hubs.
Let us know how we can help by giving us a call on 0115 811 4242.
Or, please send us a message to enquire about starting a project and we’ll be in touch shortly.