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As the cost of restoring restrooms rises, facility managers are turning to pl
Boredom, anger, revenge, defiance-whatever the motivation, vandalism is a growing problem in the U.S., and restrooms are often an easy target Whether in schools, shopping malls or correctional facil. ities, plumbing fixtures can be subject to abuse much greater than the normal wear-and-tear of everyday use.
Most facility managers must deal with the aftermath rently pay out millions of dollars each year to repair buildings and replace vandalized equipment-and the numbers are increasing. In Federal and State correctional facilities, where damaging plumbing fixtures is a common pastime, the rising number of inmates has compounded the vandalism problem-nearly two million people were incarcerated in the United States as of
As the amount of time and money spent to restore vandalized restrooms rises, facility managers have begun to realize that this recurring, expensive headache can best be cured with preventive measures. Advances in plumbing technology have led to an entire generation of vandal-resistant plumbing fixtures and electronic control systems. These types of products, combined with an innovative restroom design, can be extremely effective in deterring would-be vandals.
Design Strategies
Experienced facility managers put considerable thought into the physical layout of their restrooms for various reasons. "Maintenance is my number one concern when it comes to restroom design. Preventing vandalism is right up there, too," says Dennis Eash, director of facilities for School District 46 in Grayslake, IL.
Careful planning up front, explains Eash, saves on maintenance time and expense down the road--especially in prohibiting vandalism. Plumbing engineers know as well as architects and facility owners that vandalism prevention is a key consideration in school restroom design. Building trash containers, soap dispensers and towel dispensers into the wall helps discourage abuse, as does using wall-mounted hand dryers with tamper-resistant screws. Many schools are even opting to leave restroom doors off completely.
Other design options that can help discourage vandalism include using 15-minute motion sensors instead of light switches, applying protective coatings to restroom walls, and using ceramic tile or epoxy concrete block materials from floor to ceiling.
In correctional facilities,...