Why Do Commercial Toilet Seats Have An Open Front

One theory about the use of open front toilet seats in public restrooms is that they provide more comfort for a wider range of people.

Why do commercial toilet seats have an open front.

All seats of water closets provided for public use shall be of the open front type the global industry guideline uniform plumbing code created by the international association of plumbing and mechanical officials iapmo superceded the asnpc and has since 1973 called for open front toilet seats. A basic open front toilet seat is less expensive than a closed front seat for several reasons. This code was created in 1955 and further cemented by the. It also omits an area of the seat that could be contaminated with urine and avoids contact for easier wiping.

Any manufacturer s seats will fit any toilet manufacturers bowls if they are standard round or standard elongated. Seats with check hinges keep the seats from being able to be lifted more than 11 beyond the straight vertical open position. It seems that open front toilets are actually required by the uniform plumbing code in the u s. Open front seats use less material not just by omitting the space in the front but also by generally being thinner than their closed front counterparts.

The opening is designed to. The purpose for this seat design is to prevent genitals contacting the seat. Simnick explains that the open seat was designed to allow women to wipe the perineal area after using the water closet without contacting a seat that might be unhygienic. The code is followed by most public authorities many public toilets feature open front toilet seats also called split seats.

There are industry standards for toilet seats all toilets have seat post holes on 5 1 2 centers all elongated bowls are 18 1 2 from seat posts to front of rim and all round bowls are 16 1 2. These commercial heavy duty toilet seats closed front with cover comply with the american national standard institute ansi z124 5 to withstand up to 300 lb. This explains why commercial establishments have open front toilet seats but not why they are generally not installed in homes. This is an open front toilet seat and thanks to the american standard national plumbing code it s the go to for most public restrooms.

Open front seats usually though not always come without a lid. My best guess is because we tend to be more sanitary at home. Open front toilet seats are largely designed to make it easier for women to wipe according to lynne simnick the senior vice president of code development at the iapmo.