Are you designing or re-qualifying a bus terminal or a public parking lot and you are looking for high quality public toilets?
Whether it is an urban terminal, a transport interchange hub or a car park serving public, commercial or transport areas, at SANO2, as a brand of Prefabbricati Santerno dedicated to next-generation public toilets, we know how to support you in the designing and selecting the right solution for your specific context.
These places are used every day by people who are departing, arriving or just staying for a while before going on with their journey and the presence of reliable public toilets represents a concrete and immediate need, capable of influencing the perception of the site and overall quality of the infrastructure.
A GUIDE TO THE INSTALLATION OF PUBLIC TOILETS IN BUS TERMINALS AND CAR PARKS
Public toilets in bus stations and parking areas: what value do they provide?
Public restrooms in bus stations or public car parks are not an accessory feature: they have an infrastructural function. These are places of waiting, transit and departure, used by people with different schedules and needs: occasional travellers, commuters, families with children, elderly or disabled people and users carrying luggage or specific equipment.
In such contexts, a properly designed public toilet makes it possible to manage waiting times in an orderly and efficient way, turning transit and waiting time into more positive and inclusive experiences – even for more vulnerable users groups. At the same time, it can reduce inappropriate behaviour caused by urgency, limiting incidents of neglect and the need for emergency intervention. Reliable and well-maintained public toilets help to enhance the overall perception of the mobility hub: order, care and safety strengthen the reputation of its operators and improve the quality of service.
Which characteristics should public toilets in high-traffic area have?
Public toilets in bus stations and car parks must be designed to cope with peak demand and remain available and fully operational even when the area is not continuously monitored.
The first issue to consider is capacity: the main challenge is not the individual cubicle, but the queue. Planning additional units where necessary and adopting scalable solutions makes it possible to increase capacity without significantly altering the site.
Accessibility must be genuine and practical, not merely nominal. A unit designed for People with Reduced Mobility (PMR) – for example – should provide adequate manoeuvring space, properly positioned grab rails and easy-to-reach controls. It is also important to consider the needs of travellers carrying luggage or using wheelchairs or walking aids. For this reason, hooks, shelves and support surfaces that facilitate use should be provided.
Comfort must be understood in relation to specific user needs. For example, for women and families, queue management largely depends on the number of cubicles available and the speed at which the service is restored. For older people and more vulnerable users clear lighting, safe flooring, legible layouts, as well as intuitive opening and control systems are essential.
In high footfall environments, durability and security are fundamental requirements. Materials and fittings must be vandal-resistant with protected systems and installations. The perception of safety plays a decisive role: well-maintained toilets are used with greater confidence, while those perceived as “unsafe” tend to be avoided, and, paradoxically, are more likely to suffer acts of vandalism. Finally, hygiene must be consistently maintained even under intensive use and downtime must be kept to a minimum. In these settings, the real design failure are public toilets that are frequently out of service. At SANO2 we know how to ensure that none of these essential features is missing from our facilities.
SANO2 public toilets for bus stations and public car parks: which solution to choose?
The most suitable solution for public car parks and bus terminals is self-cleaning public toilets, designed to ensure consistent hygiene and reliable performance even under intensive use. SANO2 self-cleaning solutions are available into three series:
S3 – Essential, smart
Designed for medium to low traffic environments or to support other units during peak times. After each use, the EASYTECH® system activates washing with disinfection and drying of the bowl and the floor. It is an effective choice when reliability and a good level of automation are required, while keeping the system simpler.
S4 – Premium performance
S4 delivers excellent performances in high-footfall environments. The facility ensures high standards of hygiene while remaining easy to manage. S4 series integrates the SLEDTECH® device for automatic cleaning, sanitising and drying of all surfaces. Safety is further enhanced by three infrared presence-detection sensors.
S5 – Top Quality
S5 is the ideal technology to use where continuity of service and maximum sanitisation are essential. In addition to the sanitisation of all surfaces, it integrates a moving SCRUBBER® device for floor drying and waste removal. It is the natural choice for high footfall bus terminals and public car parks, where downtime is not an option and facilities must remain fully operational at all times, while minimising the need for manual intervention.
Is it possible to integrate platform canopies, vending machines and rest areas alongside SANO2 solutions?
Yes, and it is a particularly effective design choice. At bus terminals and car parks, public toilets can become the focal point of a service area capable of organising space efficiently and enhancing the overall user experience.
Alongside the toilet unit, it is possible to install platform canopies to provide shelter while waiting, vending machines for snacks and drinks, as well as dedicated rest areas with benches, shaded zones and covered spaces. From a planning perspective, these elements may be developed as separated components, coordinated through a coherent design, layout and signage. Alternatively, they can be integrated into a compact, unified scheme, in which toilets and complementary services form part of a single architectural solution. In both cases, the objective is to create spaces that are intuitive and pleasant to use: people arrive, immediately understand where to go and can find what they need without confusion.
It is a valuable design approach for operators because:
- It enhances the usability of the entire area and improves the perception of safety
- It makes spaces feel more “active” and therefore more supervised
- It increases the overall value of the investment, transforming public toilets from an isolated facility into a fully integrated urban amenity.
What kind of maintenance and monitoring can be envisaged with SANO2?
Public toilets at bus stations and car parks should be treated as part of a continuous service. A good design must ensure not only functioning, but also effective long-term management and monitoring. With SANO2 support it is possible to implement a model that aligns with the overall infrastructure logic. Solutions can include specialised technical support, rapid-response interventions and warranty programs, as well as structured support packages, designed to cover the facility throughout its lifespan. In addition to this, the SANO2CONNECT® telemetry and remote-control system allows the operators to monitor toilets status and schedule preventive intervention, before minor anomalies develop into operational issue. “Turn-key” options are also available, covering periodic tasks such as cleaning and replenishing consumables. The goal is clear: fewer incidents, reduced downtime and greater continuity of service.
Discover all support and management solutions in the dedicated section.
How to initiate a consultation for a bus station or public car park project?
SANO2 supports you from the initial planning through to final implementation:
- Site analysis
- Flows assessment
- Installation constraints
- Management objectives
Based on this information the most efficient solution can be defined: single or multiple units, indoor or outdoor installations, and any additional services.
If you are designing or upgrading a bus station or a public car park and you are planning to install high-quality public toilets, the right first step is a tailored consultation. We start from the real context and create a customised proposal that is reliable, easy to manage and sustainable over the long term.
Fill up the form at the bottom of the page and choose SANO2.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about SANO2 public toilets
What kinds of facilities and types of toilets can you provide?
We understand that each context has specific needs and requires bespoke solutions. That is why our range includes:
- Public Toilets that can be integrated into existing premises, ensuring maximum adaptability to the available space.
- Freestanding outdoor structures
- Off-grid Public Toilets, when sewer, water and electricity are not available
Our solutions are designed to meet every requirement: whether you need several toilets in a single room or individual toilets, at SANO2 we have the ideal project for your space.
Once you have defined the structure, choose the most suitable type of toilet: off-grid, traditional or self-cleaning, at SANO2 you will find each of these solutions and all the support you need.
I do not have sewage, water or electricity network. Can you provide me with off-grid public toilets?
Absolutely! Our S0 range of off-grid toilets is designed for areas that are far from water, sewerage and electricity networks. SANO2’s Bathroom Zero allows you to install a prefabricated toilet, accessible to disabled users, more durable than a chemical toilet and more versatile than a traditional bathroom. Bathroom Zero has a waste water tank to compensate for the lack of a sewer connection, a water storage tank connected to a rainwater collection system, and two photovoltaic panels to generate the electricity needed to light the facility. Off-grid solutions are highly valued by users for their added value as eco-friendly and sustainable restrooms.
When it comes to materials, fittings and finishes, you are spoilt for choice! Visit the design page of our projects!
With what kind of access can I setup the toilets?
Toilets access systems depend on customers and area of installation requirements, which is why we offer several options.
Access can be free or paid, coin-operated or contactless with Nayax readers (you decide how much to set!).
Again, you can choose the access system equipping the facilities with QR code or tax code reader or a EuroKey.
Do you want to buy a public toilet privately or do you want to respond to a public tender with your toilet project?
Whether you want to buy a public toilet as a private individual or you need a project for a tender, perhaps as a construction company, architect or town hall technician, at SANO2 we design public toilets of all kinds, from off-grid ones to self-cleaning models.
As a global company, one of our main values is respect for the installation context, the regulations in each country, and, above all, respect for the customers’ needs.
Tell us about your project, SANO2 will come to you and find solutions for all your needs.
Do you build Accessible Toilets for disabled users? Can I choose how to equip them?
At SANO2 we design, build and install Accessible Toilet And Unisex Toilet. Accessibility is a core value for us and has always been a part of our offering. As an international company, when we design and build toilets for people with disabilities, we always meticulously comply with regulations in force: each country has its own dimensions, equipment, access and measures specifically designed for safe use by people with reduced mobility.
Our public toilets are fully customisable, you choose the layout. For example, we can include instructions in Braille or record voice commands in the toilet, we can install the hand shower next to the toilet or include SOS buttons easily accessible from the toilet bowl.
You can rely on our experience in this industry and our knowledge of public toilet regulations for disabled users.
Can I get a maintenance contract for my toilet? How do you manage public toilets?
Of course you can! We guarantee our self-cleaning toilets maintenance through our All In service, which is an integral part of our offer. In addition, we can offer a variety of maintenance packages on request, depending on your specific needs.
Our All In maintenance service includes:
- Routine maintenance: cleaning and replenishment of consumables, typically scheduled twice a month
- Predictive maintenance: thanks to our powerful remote control tool we can intervene before components failure, reducing the time the toilet is inefficient.
- Technical maintenance: carried out by specialised technicians, it involves checking all the automatisms, usually scheduled once a month.
- Telephone assistance service: active on working days, we provide assistance and intervene remotelyon the units, solving most of the problems.
Do you have a warranty for your products? For how many years?
Yes, all our toilets are covered by a warranty. By law, the warranty on manufacturing defects is one year, but at SANO2 we have decided to extend it to 2 years to give you greater peace of mind and security in your investment.