| Portable toilets are an essential feature of | | | | considering hiring such a portable toilet - |
| an event. This article is designed to assist | | | | it should be borne in mind that this will |
| the event organiser in choosing the most | | | | take over a cubicle although baby changing |
| appropriate type of portable toilet and | | | | facilities can be incorporated in a disabled |
| contains basic information and tips to | | | | portable toilet unit. |
| facilitate the decision making process. | | | | |
| | | | It is compulsory for disabled toilets to be |
| There are a large number of suppliers of | | | | provided at public (ticketed) events although |
| portable toilets to the event industry. | | | | this is not a legal requirement at private |
| Companies vary in size with suppliers being | | | | events. |
| either local, regional or nationwide. The | | | | |
| larger nationwide suppliers include - in no | | | | A general price indication for the hire of |
| necessary order of importance - Elliot | | | | portable toilets for events would be from |
| Loohire, Search, Igloos, Andy Loos, The | | | | around £200 for the supply of both a |
| Convenience Company, John Anderson and A1 Loo | | | | ladies and a gentlemen tardis portable toilet |
| Hire. | | | | with prices for the hire of trailer mounted |
| | | | portable loos ranging from £500 to |
| There are two main different types of | | | | £1,000 depending on the specification of |
| portable toilets for events. | | | | the unit and whether it has been provided by |
| | | | a local hire company or a larger regional |
| 1. Tardis Portable Toilets | | | | nationwide supplier, in which case |
| | | | transportation charges will need to be taken |
| The most basic type of portable toilet for an | | | | into account. |
| event is the single re-circulating chemical | | | | |
| unit, known in the industry as The Tardis on | | | | Whilst the focus of this article has been the |
| account of its uncanny resemblance to Doctor | | | | supply of portable toilets for outside events |
| Who's time-machine of the same name. | | | | it should be noted that portable toilet hire |
| | | | companies are equally adept at supplying loos |
| A tardis unit is essentially a 'budget box' | | | | for indoor events, often on a bespoke basis. |
| which is ideal for smaller outside events | | | | |
| such as local fetes, barbeques, | | | | A good portable toilet supplier can build |
| point-to-point meetings or any small local or | | | | rooms in an exhibition or conference centre - |
| budget event. They are also widely used | | | | or at any other type of indoor venue - |
| atfestivals. | | | | containing up to 20 cubicles per room with |
| | | | each room being able to accomodate up to one |
| 2. Trailer Mounted Portable Toilets | | | | thousand people. Indeed, portable toilets are |
| | | | often to be found at conference venues where |
| The other type of toilet for an event is the | | | | they are especially appreciated by delegates |
| trailer mounted portable toilet. This type of | | | | where break-out times can necessitate many |
| portable toilet is much larger and contains a | | | | people requiring their facilities at the same |
| combination of cubicles and urinals. | | | | time. |
| | | | |
| Cubicles can be equipped with handbasins. The | | | | The top ten tips and things to consider when |
| industry size range for the trailers is | | | | booking portable toilets for an event are as |
| between ten to twenty five feet in length | | | | follows: |
| with units being supplied in as many | | | | |
| configurations of cubicles, cubicals with | | | | 1. Decide how many guests will be attending |
| handbasins and urinals as imaginable. | | | | the event to determine the number of units |
| | | | that will be required. |
| Generally speaking, trailer mounted portable | | | | |
| toilets start in size with 1+1 units, i.e. | | | | 2. Remember that the caterers and ancillary |
| one cubicle with handbasin for ladies and one | | | | event staff will need to use the loos as well |
| for gentlemen. Larger trailer mounted units | | | | so add these to the guest list when |
| can accomodate configurations such as three | | | | calculating your loo requirements. |
| cubicles and ten urinals or three cubicles | | | | Alternatively, ask the portable toilet hire |
| for ladies with three cubicles and two | | | | company to supply a trailer mounted unit |
| urinals for gentlemen. | | | | outside for the caterers. For larger |
| | | | parties where there are more staff it is |
| It is also possible for this type of portable | | | | important to supply them with their own loos. |
| toilet unit to incorporate disabled toilet | | | | |
| facilities. The configurations really are | | | | 3. Ensure that the venue location is a level |
| endless. | | | | site. This is an essential requirement for |
| | | | obvious reasons that it would be both |
| There is, as one might expect, a large range | | | | indelicate and unnecessary to mention! |
| in the quality of trailer mounted units. The | | | | |
| most basic units are to be found at festivals | | | | 4. Check if the location of the venue has a |
| and less grand events whilst the more top-end | | | | power supply. It should be noted that a power |
| units are supplied to corporate events and | | | | supply is not necessary for the hire of |
| promotions, weddings and up-market gatherings | | | | tardis units. |
| - indeed VIP units are often to be seen | | | | |
| behind the scenes at important events and are | | | | 5. Check if the venue's location has a fresh |
| an important feature in any kind of outdoor | | | | water supply. It is always good if a fresh |
| corporate hospitality. | | | | water supply is available as this can be used |
| | | | to top-up both tardis and trailer-mounted |
| Trailer mounted portable loos can be either | | | | units, if necessary. |
| re-circulating or connected to the mains. | | | | |
| | | | 6. Decide if disabled and/or baby changing |
| A general rule of thumb is to allow one | | | | units are necessary. |
| portable loo per hundred guests at an event | | | | |
| although one per fifty guests is probably a | | | | 7. Decide if an attendant is required to |
| more comfortably generous guideline. | | | | clean and maintain the loos. |
| | | | |
| Portable toilet units should always be | | | | 8. Determine whether an interim service will |
| delivered to an event in a scrupulously clean | | | | be required. For more than one event at the |
| condition with the supplier operating to | | | | same venue, e.g. where a wedding is taking |
| stringent health and safety and British | | | | place on the Saturday with a further |
| Standard regulations. | | | | reception on the Sunday, it may well be |
| | | | necessary to empty and replenish the units |
| Trailer mounted units can be supplied with | | | | for the next day. |
| hot handwash basins which can be non-mains | | | | |
| connected as they come with fresh water | | | | 9. Decide which type of loos are required. |
| supplied which is then heated either from the | | | | As explained above, different portable |
| on-site power supply or by generators. | | | | toilets are more appropriate for different |
| | | | events and demographics. |
| Depending on the level of luxury required, it | | | | |
| is even possible to hire portable units | | | | 10. Is the event inside or outside. The |
| containing cubicles with infra red taps - to | | | | location of the event, i.e. whether the event |
| say nothing of the DVD facilities offered by | | | | is to be held at an outside location or an |
| other types of units! | | | | inside venue, will require different |
| | | | decisions to be made in choosing the most |
| Cubicles with baby-changing facilities are | | | | appropriate type of portable toilets |
| also available. These type of specialist | | | | required. |
| units are an optional requirement and - when | | | | |