Urinal

Urinals are sanitary vessels designed exclusively for urination. 

They are flushable wall fixtures which are attached to the wall and are used by men for urinating. Urinals are frequently found in public toilets and in healthcare centers.

You can also find them in commercial establishments and institutional settings.

They come in a variety of shapes, structures and designs. Some have different heights or modified parts for people who have different mobility requirements.

TOYO’s sanitaryware collection includes urinals as well.

History Of Urinals

Urinals were first introduced in France in the early 1800s.

They were simple structures which were originally constructed to reduce public urination on the roads and streets. The early urinals had more privacy since they were in the form of booths.

Soon other parts of Europe also started setting up public urinals.

The first flushing urinal was first introduced during the industrial revolution. They were seen in many factories and were used by the workers.

Today urinals come in a variety of shapes, heights, designs and can be modified according to the user’s requirements.

Advantages Of Urinals

Urinals do have unique advantages.

• Urinals can help you save a lot of water. A waterless urinal in fact can help you save about 30,000 to 40,000 gallons of water per year. This is because no water is wasted to wash down the urine.
• They require less maintenance compared to other kinds of toilets. Many urinals don’t have a flush valve which creates less plumbing problems. In waterless urinals, common problems like clogging and blockage due to sediment buildup in the pipes.
• These kinds of sanitary fixtures are environment friendly because no wastewater which requires treatment is generated. The sealant liquid which is used does not consist of any harsh chemicals and is biodegradable.
• Waterless urinals which do not use water tend to be more hygienic since they attract less bacteria and germs due to the absence of water.
• They are more energy efficient since less energy is wasted for treating and pumping water.
• The need for a constant source of water is eliminated.
• It is less expensive to operate and maintain urinals.
• They can be constructed from a variety of materials including locally sourced ones.
• Urinals can be easily modified to be accessible to people of different mobility requirements.
• They take up less space compared to toilets so they are very suitable for highly compact toilets where there isn’t sufficient space for a regular toilet.

Types Of Urinals

Bucket urinals

As the name implies, a bucket urinal is shaped like a bucket and can come in versatile designs.

They are commonly found in public places and can be constructed from different materials like wood, porcelain, metal and plastic.

Trough urinals

A trough urinal is designed in the form of a trough. 

It is relatively cheaper to construct and maintain such urinals since it requires only one plumbing connection and a number of people can use a single trough at once.

It is less private compared to other urinals which are constructed as individual units.

Sensor urinals

A sensor urinal is a modern urinal which has an automatic flushing system.

It features a blinking sensor which is used to detect the state of use of the urinal. Once you stop using the urinal, the sensor will detect this and automatically flush by itself.

These kinds of urinals have many advantages. They are more hygienic and use less water which aids in water conservation. 

However they are expensive and that is why you find them in modern places like high end restaurants and shopping malls.

Stall urinal

A stall urinal is the standard urinal toilet which is used in most bathrooms.

It usually comes in two types – a stall type and a wall hung type.

Corner urinal

A corner urinal is exactly what it implies, it is designed to fit the corner of a bathroom.

It is very space efficient and a useful option for places or rooms which don’t have sufficient space for a regular urinal commode or any other toilet.

Squatting urinal

A squatting urinal is installed on the floor and you have to go into a squatting position to use it effectively.

Portable urinal

A portable urinal is a quick and convenient way to get rid of urinary waste.

These kinds of urinals are very useful during travelling when toilets are difficult to access.

They are also great for elderly or people who have difficulties using a normal toilet.

Installation Of Urinals

• The wall surface on which you are installing the urinal should have proper structural support like attached plywood.
• Mark the positions of the wall hangers, drain and water supply. You should also mark the position of the urinal and make sure it’s at a proper height from the floor level.
• Drill the mounting holes and screw the urinal wall hangers in place. Make sure the water supply connections are in place.
• Position the urinal on the wall and tighten the attachment screws. Connect and tighten the flush valve with the inlet spud.
• Finish by connecting the water supply.