Portable toilets, also known as porta potties, porta johns, and other more colorful names, are a staple of sports events, music festivals, and outdoor festivities. They aren’t a new invention, with the first ones coming out in the 1800s. The first true porta potties were used in shipbuilding yards for dock workers who would otherwise have to walk off site to use the bathroom. Today, porta potties are used in places where public toilets are not available. Since their inception, portable toilets have changed a lot. In the past, there weren’t very many types of portable toilets. Now, we have a wide variety of porta potties that you might have seen in various places. In this article, we’ll go over the different types of portable toilets and how they are used. Different Types of Portable Toilets Single Stall Portable Toilets: the most common type When you think “porta potty”, you probably think of a single stall portable toilet. These are the most common type of portable toilets found today, and usually look like a large box with a door. Inside, you generally find a toilet, with a hole that leads to a holding tank. Single stall units may sometimes have urinals inside. Other common features include a toilet seat, a hand washing area, and a locking latch on the door. Some single stall units are ADA-compliant, making them accessible for wheelchair users, however others may be a bit more difficult for wheelchair uses to use and are thus not ADA compliant. Double Stall Portable Toilets Double stall units are a bit less common than their single stall counterparts, but they are still used for many different situations. Double stall portable toilets are most common at small events such as weddings, outdoor company functions, open houses, and other similar events. The reason people would use a double stall portable toilet is to allow for a men’s and women’s section, but without having to rent two separate units. For this reason, double stall units are usually more expensive than a single stall unit but overall, the cost may be lower. Restroom Trailers These units are a direct upgrade from a typical porta potty, mainly because they tend to feature more amenities and a lot more room. If you’re looking to provide your guests with a much more comfortable and spacious restroom experience, a restroom trailer is your best bet. On the flip side, restroom trailers are much more expensive than typical single stall units. Most people who rent them place great importance on their restroom experience. Urinal Only Units These units are not typically used on job sites, but tend to be used at festivals or events where there is a large amount of alcohol consumption. Urinal only units are meant to help reduce traffic toward typical porta potties by allowing men to urinate at a separate station. Urinal only portable toilets usually come 4 urinals to a unit. For most situations, though, you’re better off getting a single stall unit. High Rise Portable Toilets Construction workers who are suspended hundreds of feet in the air working on unfinished buildings still need to use the restroom, but might not have one available. For this purpose, high rise portable toilets can be lifted via crane to provide relief to these workers. It’s much more sanitary than the alternatives!

When Porta Potties are serviced the waste is removed, odor neutralizing blue liquid is re-added to the tanks, and supplies like toilet paper and hand sanitizer are stocked. That’s how they’re serviced, but the question remains, how often does a portable toilet need to be pumped out? The general rule of thumb for porta potties in consistent locations (like those on construction sites and at parks) is that they should be pumped out once a week. However, there are a few factors that can influence how often a portable toilet should be serviced. High Traffic High traffic restrooms may need to be serviced more frequently, while lower traffic restrooms may be able to go longer without being pumped. Depending on how many people are using the porta potties, they may need to be pumped as much as three or four times a week to keep them in good working order. Remember, your service schedule can typically be modified as needed if the original agreement isn’t working out as planned. The risk of not getting them serviced often enough is that they can fill up. Then they’ll start to smell foul enough that people will be discouraged from using them. This can cause subsequent issues because people will need to leave to use the facilities. Or, they’ll just resort to going somewhere on the premises. The Overall Number of Units In areas where there are fewer portable toilets, those units will need to be pumped out more frequently. If you don’t want to have them serviced as frequently, you can rent additional units to spread out usage. Remember, you should have one portable toilet for every 10 full-time construction employees (assuming each worker is on the job 40 hours per week). Or, you should have two portable toilets for every 50 guests at a 6 to 10-hour event. Having fewer than this can require that the units be emptied more frequently. High Temperatures Keep in mind that the weather can also affect how often portable toilets need to be pumped out. The hotter the temperatures are, the more likely waste is to start smelling. This will require that you get the units pumped out more frequently. Porta potties being used in colder climates or during winter months should not need to be emptied quite as often. Here the weather works in their favor. So, how often does a portable toilet need to be pumped out? The answer is, it depends on whos’ using them, how many you have, and what the conditions look like. If you have any questions, consult with Topindus Group. For advice on how often your units should be cleaned out. Are you renting other sanitary add-ons like portable sinks or hand sanitizer stations? If so, you’ll want to determine a schedule that fits to have those restocked as well.

The most common construction material for Porta Potties is polyurethane plastic. This material is preferred because it’s easy to make and clean. Some manufacturers create their portable bathrooms with HPDE, a recyclable material and environmentally friendly. Although different manufacturers might have slightly varying steps for making their portable restrooms, here is the baseline guide. The process starts with heating the plastic pellets until they melt. Additives like colorants and UV protectants are mixed into the plastic The resulting material is put through rollers which press it into sheets that are cut to a specific length and width At this point, the plastic sheet could be reheated and put into a mold to be vacuum pressed for some time. This creates the panel units. Other parts of the Porta Potties, like the cleats and toilet paper dispensers, can be created utilizing CNC machines or injection molding. Holes are drilled into the panels, and the units are assembled in the desired form. The newly created portable restrooms are inspected, clean, and prepared for shipping to the market.

When working on remote job sites, such as construction sites, oil rigs, or mines, access to clean and functional restrooms can be limited. This can lead to discomfort and reduced productivity for workers. Renting porta potties for remote job sites is an effective solution to this problem. Here are some tips for ensuring that your workers are comfortable and productive when using porta potties on remote job sites: Choose the right type of porta potty: There are several types of porta potties available, including standard, deluxe, and VIP units. Consider the needs of your workers, the duration of the job, and the location of the site when choosing the right type of porta potty. Regular maintenance and cleaning: Porta potties can get dirty and smelly quickly, so it’s important to have a schedule for regular maintenance and cleaning. This will help ensure that the units are always clean and functional for workers. Provide hand washing stations: To promote good hygiene and sanitation, provide hand washing stations near the porta potties. Have enough units: Make sure to rent enough porta potties for the number of workers on the job site. This will help prevent long lines and wait times, and ensure that workers can use the restroom when they need to. By following these tips, you can ensure that your workers are comfortable and productive when using porta potties on remote job sites. Renting porta potties for remote job sites is an effective way to provide access to clean and functional restrooms for workers.