Lavatory
In modern usage, the term ‘lavatory’ (UK pronunciation: ‘lavah-tree’) describes a room or cubicle containing sanitaryware or other receptacles for the passing of human waste. The sanitaryware will usually be connected to a public drainage system.
When used to describe a room, a lavatory may also contain other sanitaryware, such as a bath, shower, urinal or bidet. Other ancillary facilities may typically include wash-hand basins, hot air dryers, towels and mirrors.
The term lavatory is sometimes used synonymously:
- Toilet
- WC (although this more correctly refers to the water closet sanitaryware itself)
- Bathroom (if it contains a bath)
- Loo
- Washroom
- Ladies / gents
- Sanitary convenience
- Powder room
Historically, a lavatory was a cistern or trough where the inmates of monastic establishments could wash their hands and faces, as well as their surplices and vestments.
See Lavatorium.
In southern Germany, lavatories took on grander functions that resembled those of baptistries. They would be either square or octagonal chambers to the side of a cloister and would have a series of water troughs for washing arranged around a fountain located centrally in the room.
The term lavatory was also given to a ‘piscina’ – a drain that was originally connected to Roman aqueducts but which later was applied to a stone basin near a church altar.
Legal requirements for sanitary conveniences, washing facilities and bathrooms are set out in Part G of the building regulations, with solutions to common situations described in Approved Document G (Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency).
NB The Scottish Building Standards, Part I. Technical Handbook – Domestic, Appendix A Defined Terms, defines a toilet: ‘…an enclosed part of a storey which contains a watercloset, a waterless closet or a urinal, which are properly installed for use.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Approved Document G.
- Bidet.
- Cistern.
- Earth closet.
- ECA Water Scheme.
- Garderobe.
- Gas fired toilet.
- Inclusive design.
- Lavatorium.
- Macerating toilet systems.
- Passive water efficiency measures.
- Sanitary accommodation.
- Sanitaryware.
- Shared toilet facilities.
- Shower.
- Sink.
- Solid surface wash troughs.
- Types of sanitary appliances.
- Urinal.
- Wall hung toilet.
- Water closet.
- Wet room.
Featured articles and news
UK Construction Week, London is here !
Debuting major international pavilions and much more.
Getting the most out of heat pumps and heating
How heat pumps work and how they work best.
Plumbing and heating for successful retrofit and renovation
Low temperature underfloor systems and heat pumps.
Cost-of-living crisis and home improvement plans
Starting on the right footing and top tips for projects.
Delays on construction projects
Types, mitigation and the acceleration of works.
From Chaucer to Fawlty Towers.
Electrotechnical excellence, now open for entries.
Net zero electricity grids BSRIA guide NZG 5/2024
Outlining the changes needed to transition to net zero.
CIOB Global Student Challenge 2024
Universitas Indonesia wins for second year running.
New project and cultural district described in detail.
The nature of EPCs, crticism and inaccuracies.
History, issues and redesign.
From waste recycling to energy performance the hierchy.
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.
UK gov apprenticeship funding from April 2024
Brief summary the policy paper updated in March.
Comments
Quite informative. It’s good to know more about the lavatory from reading this piece of content before we finally proceed with the construction. Thanks!