Portable toilets are important at every outdoor event and construction site, and proper porta potty placement can make all the difference. Porta potties need to be kept clean, be accessible, and provide privacy for anyone using them, and the right porta potty placement is key.
At FenceLine Rentals Ltd., we rent portable toilets for job sites and outdoor events, and can help you pick the right porta potty placement for your space. Here’s what you need to know.
Important Considerations for Porta Potty Placement
If you think you can set up your porta potty anywhere, think again. There are quite a few factors to consider when setting up your porta potty, including:
- Privacy
Privacy is an important factor to consider in portable toilet placement, as it will make people feel more comfortable if they are able to step away and use a portable toilet without feeling like they are being watched.
That means that placing your porta potty in an area that is removed from the work taking place on a construction site or right in the middle of your event should be a priority.
- Construction sites: Set up your porta potty in a more secluded area of your job site. An area that’s separated from the main work that’s being done is ideal, and additional temporary fencing with scrims can create even more privacy and make workers feel comfortable.
- Event sites: While attendees at your event must be able to easily access the portable toilets, they shouldn’t be right in the middle of all the action. Create private spaces with temporary fencing or find areas to place your porta potties that provide a natural barrier.
There’s always a balance that needs to be found with portable restroom placement, whether that’s on construction sites or at events. You want them to be visible so people know where they are, but not so visible that there’s no privacy.
- Avoid Heavy Traffic Areas
Whether you’re hosting an event or working on a construction site, it’s important to factor in both foot traffic and heavy equipment movement with your porta potty rental. While you certainly don’t want your portable toilets to be completely out of the way and hard to access, you also don’t want to place porta potties in areas where they’ll obstruct movement.
- Construction sites: A common issue on construction sites is that the couple of toilets that are placed in high-traffic areas get overused and are prone to freezing, and the ones in low-traffic areas are underused. This causes an issue because even if you have the right number of toilets on site as per calculation, you run into overuse issues on the high-traffic ones.
- Event sites: Placing portable toilets near the exits of your event space can be useful, as guests will often want to use them before they leave. Otherwise, they should be placed near areas where people might eat, but not right in the middle of them. It’s important when figuring out porta potty placement at events that they be easy to access, but also out of the way enough that some privacy is maintained and they don’t disrupt the event itself.
Pro tip: The closest toilets are always the most used. So if you are ever looking at a row of portable toilets, the farthest one is almost always going to be the cleanest.
- Accessibility
Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code has clear porta potty rules and regulations for job sites, and arguably the most important rule to know when considering porta potty placement is that your portable toilets need to be accessible for everyone, including persons with disabilities.
There are temporary toilet rules and regulations for events, as well, and the City of Calgary has a Festival and Event Manual that makes special note of the requirement that there be accessible toilets for disabled persons.
The City of Calgary’s Access Design Standards require that for outdoor events on City-owned land, at least 10% of portable toilets should be wheelchair-accessible and that there will be a minimum of one.
- Protection from the Elements
We all know Alberta is prone to some pretty extreme weather, and it’s important to remember that as you plan for your porta potty placement.
In winter, try to find a place for your portable toilets that has some protection from the wind and, if possible, extreme cold. Choosing a sunny area can also help in the cooler months. Staying out of the worst of the cold will make your portable toilets more comfortable for guests and prevent the winterization chemicals from freezing.
In the summer, try to find a shaded area for porta potty placement. This will act to prevent odours and also provide a little more coolness.
- Space for Handwashing Stations
When you’re considering porta potty placement at a job site or event, you also need to make sure there are enough handwashing stations. Just like Alberta’s porta potty rules and regulations, there are strict rules for handwashing stations, too. FenceLine Rentals Ltd. has portable handwash stations available for rent, as well.
Note: In Alberta, at least one handwash station must be provided if there is a toilet, and at least one more sink must be provided for every two additional toilets.
Rely on the Experts to Plan Your Porta Potty Placement
Renting portable toilets from FenceLine Rentals Ltd. ensures you get clean and durable porta potties that can be easily cleaned and restocked with supplies. Our team has been renting portable toilets for job sites and events for years and has the experience to help you determine how many portable toilets and handwash stations you’ll need, as well as help you plan your porta potty placement.
We provide 24/7 emergency service, pickup, and delivery, and our portable toilets and handwash stations are built to last the cold Alberta winter.
Quality Portable Toilets Rentals from FenceLine
Portable toilets are an important piece of any construction site and are important for outdoor events large and small. At FenceLine Rentals Ltd., we have the right handwash stations and portable toilets for your site and can help find the right porta potty placement, too.
If you’re searching for quality portable toilet rentals from a local, trusted provider, fill out the contact form or call (782) 825-5060.
FAQs About Porta Potty Placement
Are porta potties required on construction sites?
Yes, the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code has clear porta potty rules and regulations for all work sites. It is required that workers have access to toilets, and if you’re working outside, that will almost always mean porta potties will be needed.
Can I put a porta potty in my backyard?
Even for home renovations where indoor washroom access isn’t available, you will need a portable toilet. Toilet access is always required when work is being done.
Do you need a permit for a porta potty?
There are lots of porta potty rules and regulations in Alberta, but in general, you do not require a permit for a portable toilet.
How close can a porta potty be to a house?
While many homeowners might choose porta potty placement that keeps a portable toilet away from their home, there aren’t rules in Alberta that prohibit having one close. It’s important to remember that it could be deemed a nuisance by neighbours, though, if it’s too close to their property line.