Ergonomic Criteria for Bathroom and Toilet Design with Consideration to Potential Health and Hygiene Hazards for Users

The threat to health and social life resulting from the spread of the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus causing the COVID-19 disease has influenced people’s awareness of the need to maintain appropriate hygiene conditions in every area of life. The use of public bathrooms and toilets has also become a controversial topic. The aim of the study was to investigate the risks associated with the use of bathrooms, taking into account the potential risk of coronavirus infection. Another goal was to analyse and indicate the possibilities of protection as well as the application of design solutions in order to maintain appropriate hygienic and healthy conditions in these spaces. As a result of the research, factors and precautions that should be taken into account in the process of designing and implementing these facilities were identified. Design possibilities were examined in the field of the functional and spatial arrangement of bathrooms, and the selection of material solutions, elements of equipment, fittings and technical installations with a particular emphasis on potential threats related to bacteria and viruses, including coronavirus in public bathrooms. Design criteria for bathrooms have been defined, taking into account potential health and social life hazards and the possibility of their elimination thanks to the use of available knowledge, modern technology and innovation.