The Benefits of Urinal Dividers and Tips for Proper Installation
Bathrooms are a central feature in businesses and institutions, offering people a convenient place to relieve themselves when nature calls. However, personal privacy is one of the primary concerns in public restrooms. It can be awkward to walk into a men’s restroom and feel exposed. The problem is even more concerning in busy places such as gyms, locker rooms, schools, and offices.
Urinal dividers are a simple, effective solution to this problem. They act like little privacy booths in the bathroom. Beyond giving restroom users personal space, they maintain hygiene by preventing urine droplets from splashing around.
Let’s closely examine the benefits of urinal dividers and the right way to install them in public bathrooms.
The Importance of Urinal Dividers 
Urinal partitions are more than just another bathroom fixture. They are essential investments for businesses and institutions that value customer or employee satisfaction. By providing privacy and enhancing cleanliness, urinal dividers promote a positive restroom experience.
Besides creating a comfortable environment, urinal dividers make the place attractive. A restroom with stunning, well-installed urinal dividers appears polished and professional, which can be a great way to make a good impression.
Key Benefits of Urinal Dividers
Why install urinal screens in your restroom? There are many reasons, but here are the top five:
1. Enhances Privacy in Male Bathrooms
Privacy is non-negotiable and is what everyone expects when using a washroom, whether in schools, workplaces, or other public avenues. According to a 2024 survey by Bradley Company that interviewed both men and women, most adults (70%) want more privacy in commercial restrooms.
For men, urinal partitions deliver just that by creating a physical barrier between users. The barrier prevents uncomfortable eye contact, enabling people to attend to their needs without feeling observed by others.
2. Improves Sanitation
Moisture buildup in the restroom is one of the leading causes of bacteria growth, which causes unsanitary conditions. Moisture and germ-resistant urinal partition materials with easy-to-clean surfaces can help mitigate this problem and improve hygiene in the washroom. Examples of such materials include solid plastic and phenolic dividers.
3. Ensures Compliance With Regulations
The Americans With Disability Act (ADA) has specific spacing requirements for bathroom urinal dividers, and noncompliance can result in monetary fines.
Meanwhile, the Internationation Code Council (ICC) has a building code outlining the minimum required dimensions of commercial urinal dividers. Since many states and local jurisdictions have adopted ICC’s codes as the basis for their building regulations, installing compliant urinal dividers helps avoid legal penalties.
4. Increases Aesthetics
Urinal dividers are available in different materials and multiple colors. Whether you’re aiming for a modern, clean look, a classic appearance, or the attention-grabbing beauty of bright colors, they can be customized to match your bathroom’s decor, boosting the overall appeal of your restroom.
5. Promotes a Professional Appearance
Urinal partitions can create a sense of order and organization in the bathroom, making it appear attractive and inviting. As a result, your communal urinal will have a professional appearance, which can positively impact people’s perception of your establishment.
Tips for Proper Bathroom Urinal Installation
Looking to install urinal partitions in your commercial bathrooms? The following tips will help you get the best results.
Choose the Right Material
You want a material that can resist vandalism and last for many decades, so you won’t need to replace your urinal dividers frequently. The material should also be easy to clean and maintain.
Because bathrooms are often humid and can accelerate corrosion, the right material for urinal partitions is moisture resistant. Urinal dividers from trusted providers like One Point Partitions come with all these qualities.
When looking for the right material, there are five options you can choose from. Each type has its pros and cons, so you have to evaluate them carefully before selecting the most suitable:
- Stainless Steel: When looking for a robust, long-lasting material for your urinal dividers, it’s hard to find anything better than stainless steel. That’s because it’s one of the strongest metals on earth. Stainless steel is more expensive than most alternatives, but you get what you pay for.
- Powder-Coated Steel: This material is less robust than stainless steel, but it’s cheaper and relatively long-lasting. Powder-coated steel is also available in various colors, so you can choose your favorite finish to meet your aesthetic needs.
- Solid Plastic: It doesn’t rust or corrode because it’s not a metal. As a result, solid plastic can withstand thorough cleaning with chemicals and remain effective in high-moisture environments. Its appearance, however, may not be as attractive as some other materials.
- Phenolic: This material is more robust than solid plastic because of a thick, reinforced core. This makes it durable and resistant to impact. Phenolic is treated with chemicals (phenolic resin) to make it moisture resistant, so it’s suitable for a humid environment like a bathroom.
- Plastic laminate: It has a sturdy core made up of particleboard, layers of laminate, and a heat-sealed edge band, which makes it durable. Apart from durability, the material is one of the cheapest options in the market. However, it’s not as resistant to humidity as most alternatives.
Use the Proper Urinal Partition Dimensions and Spacing
According to the International Code Council, each urinal in a public or employee restroom must be enclosed by partitions. The width between the dividers must be at least 30 inches, while the height of each partition needs to be 60 inches minimum. The distance between the urinal divider and the floor should not exceed 12 inches.
Additionally, partitions must extend from the wall behind the urinal at least 18 inches. If the extension is less than 18 inches from the wall, it should be at least six inches beyond the front edge of the urinal. This ensures adequate privacy.
If your public bathroom has two or more urinals, at least one needs to comply with the Americans With Disability Act requirements about the spacing of urinals. The usual clear floor space in an ADA-compliant restroom is at least 30 inches wide by 48 inches deep, measured from the front edge of the urinal. If urinal partitions obstruct both sides of this space for more than 24 inches, the width of the clear floor space increases from 30 to 36 inches.
Ensure Stability and Durability
Loose urinal dividers can tip over, and if they unfortunately land on a bathroom user’s toes, they can cause injuries. They cost you
money, too, in replacement expenses when they fall off and break. To avoid these problems, make sure the partitions are firmly and securely mounted onto the wall. Double-check that all bolts or screws are properly fastened.
If you want high-quality urinal partitions that will last for many years, only buy them from credible sellers like One Point Partitions. Such sellers back their products with multiple-year warranties, showing that they have confidence in the quality and durability of their products.
Conduct Regular Maintenance
The lifespan and functionality of your urinal dividers depend on how well you maintain them. Routine maintenance is necessary to keep them in good condition and ensure hygiene.
This includes regular cleaning with warm water, abrasive powders, household detergents, or chemical cleaners, depending on the urinal divider material. Using the wrong cleaning solutions can damage the appearance of your partitions.
For instance, using warm water and a mild chemical cleaner can remove grease on powder-coated steel. However, using abrasive powders risks scratching the coating or even chipping the paint on the material. To prevent this, know what cleaners you can use for different partitions.
In addition to cleaning, regularly inspect the dividers for scratches or loose fittings to solve minor problems early before they become full-blown issues.
Get Your Dividers From One Point Partitions
Urinal partitions enhance privacy and hygiene in public bathrooms. Installing them correctly also improves regulation compliance and elevates the appearance of men’s bathrooms. But not every urinal partition out there will help you reap these perks. You need to buy the right divider material from a credible seller.
One Point Partitions is a nationwide supplier of public bathroom dividers. We offer a wide range of commercial urinal partitions in terms of materials, colors, and finishes to meet your design needs. Request a quote today and find out how we can help bring your ideal public bathroom to reality.