Bathroom Stalls for Total Privacy

With a few basic modifications to partitions panels and doors, bathroom stalls can now be built for total privacy.   This new European style design is known as “no site” because it eliminates the gap between the stall door and pilaster that is often referred to as a “site line” into the stall interior.  This design also closes the approximately 12 inch gap between the bottom of the side panel and the floor. 

The site line between the panel and the door often results in the immediate discomfort of the user.  When a person enters the restroom, he or she can often see directly into the interior of an unoccupied restroom stall.  He or she also becomes immediately aware of the fact that anyone else can see into the bathroom stall if and when it becomes occupied.  Whether or not this actually ever happens is beside the point.  People always move away from areas of discomfort, and if this means they move away from using a restroom they feel uncomfortable with, they may spend less time in the building that houses the restroom.  For many types of service oriented and retail businesses, this basically means the eventual loss of revenue, customers, or both. 

However, users will immediately feel more comfortable in a restroom that is remodeled with total privacy in mind.  This is a very important thing to remember when the budget allows for only a partial remodel of certain restroom elements.  When it comes to a choice between new lavatories, new wall mounted accessories, or new bathroom stalls, the most important thing in most cases will be the quality and comfort level of the stalls.  People will put up with an outdated lavatory that is nonetheless clean.  They will also tolerate limited amenities so long as they can access essential paper products, wash, and dry their hands.  However, many people will avoid using a bathroom stall that fails to offer them total privacy. 

Amazingly, it requires only a minor alteration in door design to completely eliminate the site line.  Adding a door jamb to the pilaster allows the door to close flush with the pilaster edge.  While the stall may look like the door and pilaster fit perfectly flush and seamlessly together, in actuality it is simply a matter of adding one basic component to the door assembly to block the site line from behind. The door jamb prevents light from leaking through the 1/2” gap between the door and pilaster.   This works in even the oldest of buildings with uneven floors, so you only have to replace partition components without having to pay a small fortune to re-level the floor.

While this eliminates the site line by basically adding a door jamb to the assembly, total privacy is only possible when bathroom stalls are built with enlarged doors and partition panels.  The standard size for both is 55 inches, which leaves a 12 inch gap between the bottom of the stall and the floor.  By custom manufacturing panels and doors to measure 72 inches in length, we can close this distance and generate a completely isolated enclosure that is equal to that of a user’s private bathroom at home.