A GUIDE FOR PUBLIC TOILETS FOR MOTORWAYS

What are the main challenges when planning public toilets along motorways?

Public toilets along motorways must maintain high levels of performance even under particularly challenging conditions, as facilities, structures and components are subjected to frequent and prolonged use.  

Therefore, each project must balance capacity, durability, hygiene and reliability, while also taking into account even all the factors that will affect its management: required maintenance frequency, ease of maintenance and repair, facility monitoring and rapid restoration of service in the event of a malfunction. 

Materials and components must be selected to withstand high levels of use, while the organisation of the space must ensure easy and intuitive use, even for people who are unfamiliar with the area or do not speak the local language.  

Compared with other settings, the design perspective changes: public toilets must be considered infrastructure that is constantly subjected to heavy use. Their quality depends not only on the initial condition, but also on their ability to maintain the same standards over time. 

How do stops and necessary services change according to the kind of travellers?

A motorway service area is used differently by different types of travellers. The duration and frequency of stops as well as individual needs, influence how people use the available services. These factors should therefore be considered from the earliest stages of the design process. 

For many car drivers, a service area represents a short stop, usually to use the toilets, refuel or visit the refreshment area before continuing their journey. Families may require different amounts of time and spaces, while the arrival of touristic coaches or organised groups can concentrate several accesses in a short time. 

Moreover, the growth of electric mobility is changing times and modalities of the stops. Charging an electric vehicle requires a longer stop than traditional refuelling, making the services available increasingly important. Therefore, alongside charging stations, the design may include spaces and facilities capable of making the stop more comfortable and useful, from refreshment areas and public toilets, to spaces dedicated to rest and relaxation as well as other needs. 

Truck drivers are in a different situation: for them, service areas may also represent a place to stay during rest breaks and off-duty periods. Alongside toilets, showers, changing rooms and areas dedicated to personal hygiene play an essential role, helping to improve the quality of their stay during long shifts and journeys. 

The project must also ensure easy access for people with different characteristics and needs. SANO2 solutions can include multiple public toilets, urinals, showers and changing rooms, in addition to accessible facilities for people with disabilities. In the S4 and S5 models, for instance, the washbasin is barrier-free to allow wheelchairs’ users to approach it from the front, while grab bars and touch-free automatic devices make the facilities easier to use.  

The possibility of customising the spaces makes it possible to develop anything from a single facility to more articulated structures, designed according to the type of users and the role the station plays along the journey. 

What should be considered when sizing public toilets according to user flows?

The sizing of public toilets along motorways should be based on an analysis of the expected number of users, and, above all, of how their use is distributed over time. 

A service area characterised by relatively consistent levels of use presents different conditions from a facility where user numbers are concentrated at specific times of the day. Public holidays, intensive travel periods, weekends, seasonal variations or the simultaneous arrival of groups can generate peaks that are significantly higher than average levels. 

The number of facilities, the provision of urinals, the organisation of entrances and layout of spaces should therefore be assessed by considering the capacity required during periods of peak use, in addition to the overall number of users. 

The speed at which each facility can become available again between one user and the next is also particularly important. In high-use contexts, automation and the duration of cleaning cycles directly affect the effective capacity of the entire system. 

How much do the size and characteristics of a motorway service area influence the project?

The size, location and function of a motorway service area can determine the level of complexity required for its restroom facilities. 

An area mainly intended for short stops may require compact, easily accessible and easy-to- maintain solutions. As user numbers, average length of stay and the range of available services increase, it may be necessary to install additional units and coordinate the different spaces in order to accommodate a wider range of activities more efficiently. 

The same principle applies to service areas with lower or highly seasonal levels of use. An example of a solution tailored to a context with different requirements is the SANO2 project carried out at the Santa Caterina parking area along the A23 motorway. In this case SANO2 installed precast modules equipped with S2 technology, a non self-cleaning system, accessible facilities, touch-free devices and automatic “free/occupied” status indicators, as well as a dedicated space for a vending machine. This project shows how, when user numbers and patterns of use do not require a self-cleaning system, public toilets can be designed with a level of automation that is consistent with the actual needs of the service area. Discover more about SANO2 project on motorway A23. 

Modularity makes it possible to develop facilities according to actual requirements, avoiding the application of the same solution to very different contexts, while allowing for more complex configurations when the scale of the service area requires them. 

In more complex settings, the project can therefore go beyond the concept of a single block of public toilets and include a fully-fledged service infrastructure for the rest area. 

To learn more about the relationship between the quality of a stop, comfort and services for travellers, read our guide to public toilets in rest areas. 

When can a motorway service area become a multifunctional hub?

As the size of the facility, the range of activities and the length of users’ stays increase, it can be useful to bring together several functions within an integrated system of services. 

SANO2 solutions can be developed as modular structures in which toilets are combined with showers, changing rooms, kiosks, vending areas and other functional spaces, making it possible to adapt the project to the characteristics of the service area and the range of services to be provided. 

The modular approach can be used to coordinate different activities within the same project, optimising space and building services while developing facilities that are consistent with the required level of service. 

In more complex service areas, therefore, the public toilet can become part of a multi-functional hub dedicated to rest and stopping, capable of meeting both the needs of people stopping for a few minutes and those of users spending longer periods in the area. 

To explore this approach in more detail we have dedicated an article to modular systems on the website of our parent company: Beyond the Building: the Evolution of Prefabbricati Santerno’s Solutions .

How can hygiene and continuity of service be guaranteed under intensive use?

In public toilets characterised by frequent use, maintaining high hygiene standards cannot depend solely on manual interventions. Automation makes it possible to carry out cleaning operations between one user and the next, helping to keep the facilities clean and available even during periods of peak use. 

The SANO2 range includes technologies developed for different levels of use. 

The S4 Series is designed for contexts where public toilets are used frequently. After each use, the system automatically starts a cleaning and disinfection cycle lasting less than 35 seconds. It can be installed both in existing buildings and in outdoor precast structures, in single-unit or multiple-unit configurations. 

The S5 Series, on the other hand, is designed for contexts characterised by higher levels of use and integrates specific technologies developed to meet particularly challenging conditions. The system automatically starts a disinfection and drying cycle for the seat and floor, uses industrial components tested for millions of cycles and precisely monitors the presence of users. A complete cleaning and disinfection cycle is carried out in less than 60 seconds after each use.  

In both series, the choice of materials and equipments contributes to long-term durability: porcelain stoneware cladding, steel components, touch-free devices and vandal-resistant features are designed to withstand frequent and intensive public use. 

The most suitable technology should be selected by taking into account user number, the intensity of peak demand, the characteristics of the service area and management requirements, in order to provide the level of automation best suited to the specific needs of the facility. 

Which solutions simplify the management and maintenance of public toilets along motorways?

Public toilets subject to intensive use must be designed not only to function reliably, but also to be efficiently monitored and maintained over time. 

Durable materials, easily accessible components and systems designed to simplify technical interventions help reduce the time and complexity involved in both routine and corrective maintenance. The choice of vandal-resistant equipments is also particularly important for public toilets that are not under constant supervision. 

In more advanced systems, remote monitoring makes it possible to check the status of the toilets without the need for on-site inspection. The Series S5 is equipped with a cloud-based telemetry system, allowing the facilities to be remotely monitored and controlled. 

This capability is particularly valuable when managing multiple installations across a network, as it makes possible to identify potential faults and plan interventions according to the actual conditions of each facility. 

Maintenance therefore becomes an integral part of the project and can be planned from the outset, taking into account accessibility, monitoring methods and the organisation of maintenance activities. 

To learn more about this topic, visit our web page dedicated to maintenance and assistance for SANO2 self-cleaning public toilets. 

How much does it cost to build and manage public toilets along a motorway?

The cost of a public toilet for a motorway service area depends on the specific characteristics of the project. The number of facilities, level of automation, internal layout, provision of showers or changing rooms, installation works, customisation and required capacity all affect the initial investment. 

However, the financial assessment should also take into account what happens after installation. In facilities subject to high levels of use, consumption, maintenance, the frequency of the intervention, component lifespan and periods of potential unavailability can all have impact a significant impact on overall costs. 

To properly assess different solutions, it is therefore important to consider the entire life cycle of the facility, relating the initial investment to performance, operating costs, durability and reliability. 

The most appropriate solution is not necessarily the one with the lowest initial cost or the highest level of automation, but rather the one capable of delivering the required performance through sustainable long-term management. 

Are you planning or upgrading public toilets along at a motorway service area?

Designing public toilets for motorways requires consideration of user flows, different types of users, the duration of stops, the size of the service area, available technologies and management requirements. 

Each service area requires a specific assessment, bringing together capacity planning, technology, space organisation, complementary services and future management. SANO2’s experience in designing public toilets using modular structures makes it possible to address all these aspects within a coordinated project, from a single toilet facility to more complex service hubs.  

Contact us or complete the form below. We will analyse the characteristics of the service area, expected users flows, users needs and management requirements to identify the solution best suited to your project.