We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Materials

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Commercial Toilet?

By Lori Kilchermann
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 11,356
Share

A commercial toilet is used in public restrooms as well as in corporate and manufacturing settings. Typically without a holding tank, a commercial toilet gets water used for flushing from a water pipeline. This pipeline contains a flush valve and enters the rear of the commercial toilet in the location a holding tank usually occupies. The use of the direct water line eliminates the float and check valve in the commercial toilet. This is an important feature that makes the commercial toilet less prone to sabotage and overflowing.

Many commercial toilet systems use a mechanical eye to initiate the flushing action. An infrared eye triggers the flushing mechanism when a body leaves the area directly in front of the toilet. This is a sanitary option in high-use areas where the toilet is used frequently and rarely flushed. By flushing automatically, the toilet does not back-up and is less prone to overflowing with waste materials.

Often when used in public restrooms or in the work place, a special commercial toilet is designated for use by handicapped individuals only. These specially designated toilets not only sit inside extra-wide stalls that allow wheelchair access, the toilets actually sit higher as well. The extra height makes it easier for transitioning from a wheelchair to the toilet and back again.

With no reserve water tank to use a large quantity of water to initiate the flushing action, the commercial toilet is forced to rely on high pressure water to force the waste material down. When the flushing action is initiated, a high-pressure blast of water enters the toilet and causes the waste to rush down and out of the toilet. A lesser amount of water fills the bowl in readiness for the next user. The toilet is programed to operate on a specific amount of water, which is typically less than a tank-type toilet. This saves water and reduces the amount of liquid entering the sewer system.

Bowl-type toilets, or commodes, are not the only type of commercial toilet in use worldwide. Urinals, and in some areas bidets, are found in public restrooms and commercial settings. Urinals operate much like a toilet in that a lever or an electronic eye is used to initiate flushing. Water enters the urinal from a water line attached to the top and rinses the waste liquid into the sewer. While not typically programed to hold a reserve amount of water in the urinal to control odors, a deodorant cake is nearly always placed in the bottom of the device to help eliminate odors.

Share
About Mechanics is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.aboutmechanics.com/what-is-a-commercial-toilet.htm
Copy this link
About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.