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AUGUST 2012 | HIRE
AND
RENTAL
NEWS
| 15
EVENTS IN FOCUS
Britain and Europe have now formally
released an official European Standard for
portable toilets.
The Standard was put to the European
Committee for Standardisation (CEN -
Comitè Europèen De Normalisation) and
adopted as a European standard in May.
The Standard covers the types of portable
toilets permissible for use in the 27
member states (in terms of their method of
operation) and the standard and frequency
of servicing. The Standard is titled: Mobile
and non-sewer connected toilet cabins
- Requirements of services and products
relating to the deployment of cabins and
sanitary products.
According to Bob MacRae, International
Sales Director for Polyjohn International
who was instrumental in drafting the
European Standard, the draft was prepared
by the member states that had a recognised
portable sanitation association, including
Germany, France, Spain, Italy and UK.
“All these countries had recognised
portable toilet standards, and by putting
them together it was relatively easy
to prepare a draft for those emerging
countries that did not have much of
a portable toilet industry, or specific
standards,” Bob said.
“From the conception of the idea of
developing a European Standard for
Portable toilets, I believe it took about five
years to get the agreement from all 27
member states.
“The scope of the new Standard applies
to portable toilets that are not connected
to a sewerage system. It specifies the
requirements of the services relating to the
deployment of cabins and sanitary products,
taking into account, hygiene, health and
safety,” Bob said.
“The Standard recognises all styles
of waste tank in portable toilets are
acceptable, including static, recirculating
and fresh water flush.
“It specifies the minimum quality
requirements relating to cabins and sanitary
products and also relates to the extent of
cleaning required, the number of cabins
to be provided, location of cabins, and
cleaning/disposal intervals.
“I think a summary of the new Standard
would be; it is not the type of toilet that
is important, but how clean it should be.
The main benefit (for the industry) is now
Europe has a recognised Standard, this
could be extended worldwide.
“The creation of the new Standard
European Standard for portable
toilets launched
ensures a much more positive approach
to rental companies providing a clean
user-friendly toilet, and the standards that
will allow this to be policed by the relevant
authorities responsible for this aspect of
health and safety,” Bob said.
The debate on portable toilets has been
hot and prolonged in the Australian market
with differing factions and State legislation
in support of the various types of portable
toilet types; straight drop (which is not
very widely acceptable); recirculating flush
toilets and fresh flush toilets.
While debate is hot on the types of
toilets that should be acceptable in the
industry in Australia, it does seem consensus
is approachable on levels servicing and
sanitation for portable toilets in the
Australian market.
Glen Doherty, Managing Director
at Formit, agrees we should have an
Australian Standard. “Different legislation
and requirements on a state-by-state basis
makes servicing the overall Australian
market difficult. In Western Australia,
for example, as an industry, we have to
have toilet design signed off by the WA
Health Department. The Victorian Roads
and Traffic Authority will fine you if you
transport a ‘full’ portable toilet,” Glen said.
“We should have a National Standard in
Australia. The current State based standards
are ludicrous. We should have a standard
set of rules for servicing and sanitation –
like on levels of pumps out for example.
“The issue of fresh flush versus
recirculating is a great debate and has been
going on a long time but it is time for our
own Australian Standard.”
Glen’s main concern is not in the
formation of an Australian Standard but in
who will be responsible for policing it.
“Self-regulation works to a certain extent
but there will always be a rogue operator
set to flaunt the rules,” Glen said.
Chris Sharp, Director at Total Sanitation
Solutions, also agrees it is time for a
national Standard in Australia.
“Many people have been debating for a
long time in our industry, but the emphasis
on the European Standard is on the quality
and frequency of servicing that affect the
health and hygiene standards of portable
toilets. The European Standard is not about
the operating mechanisms of the toilets.
“The hygiene and odour levels of any
portable toilet, no matter how it operates,
are never going to sustain a ‘when it’s full’
servicing regime,” Chris said.
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