Traditional vs Modular: Which Changing Places toilet is right for your venue?

If you’re working with a venue that’s planning accessible facilities, you’ve got a big question to answer at the very first step:

Should you choose a modular Changing Places toilet — or a traditional one?

They’re both fully compliant. They both have all the right equipment. And they both give your customers exactly what they need.

So how do you choose which is right for your venue?

Here’s what you need to know:

What kinds of venues need a modular Changing Places?

Modular Changing Places are all about flexibility — in both the locations you need them, and the potential for relocation in the future.

If you’re working with a venue that has limited space (or a limited number and size of rooms), it might not be possible to install a traditional Changing Places toilet that’s compliant with the regulations.

(Especially when you’re planning the size of the facilities — where there are precise requirements about how big a Changing Places toilet needs to be.)

But it’s not just smaller venues that are choosing the modular option. It’s also a perfect fit for:

• Expansive locations (such as zoos and theme parks) — where visitors travel far across a wide area
• Remote locations (such as beaches or nature reserves) — where there may not be a building at all
• Outdoor locations (such as sports and leisure venues) — where visitors spend their time far from the buildings
• Protected premises (such as listed buildings or historic sites) — where you’re not allowed to make changes to the structure.

So what do they all have in common?

They’re all venues where it’s not possible (or useful) to install facilities in the structure itself.

And for organisations like these, a modular Changing Places toilet is an easy choice to make.

Which one is easier to install?

A traditional Changing Places toilet is installed by adapting an existing room or structure.

That makes it a more challenging process — one that needs a deep assessment and a tailored approach to design the right facilities for the space you have.

Our teams need to understand the structure you’re installing into, as well as the size limitations and the way its users will access the building.

A traditional Changing Places toilet could involve:

• An in-depth building survey
• Expanding or combining rooms
• Adapting to the structure (such as finding support beams for a ceiling hoist)
• And creating an accessible route through the building to the new toilet.

That’s why we spend extra time on the discovery phase for every construction project in a venue or space — working closely with your teams and coordinating with contractors to help you reach your goals (and stay in budget!).

But with a modular Changing Places toilet, all the construction happens off-site.

There’s no existing structure that needs to be adapted — and that means the installation can be much simpler and easier.

How will the project affect my venue?

With a traditional installation, there’s always going to be some level of disruption.

While our teams do everything they can to minimise that disruption, it’s often unavoidable — especially with construction teams working on site and vehicles delivering materials.

But with a modular Changing Places toilet, any disruption is minimal by design. You’ll be looking at:

• A short time on-site to lay the groundworks
• No vehicles delivering materials
• No on-site teams constructing the facilities
• Minimal concerns about site safety
• And a single delivery of the completed modular toilet.

So what does that mean for your venue?

It means all the construction happens on our time — not yours.

Aside from the small area where the foundations are laid, you can keep things running and your visitors undisturbed — while you wait for the final delivery of your completed modular toilet.

Did you know?

Off-site construction creates up to 90% less waste than traditional methods. So, it’s not just less disruptive — it’s better for the environment, too!

Will a new structure fit with our brand?

Our traditional Changing Places toilets are built with your structure in mind, using the space and architecture that already exists to create an accessible facility that matches your building.

It’s something our teams always take into consideration — like with our installation at The Porchester Centre in Bayswater, where its subway-tile design was included to remember its heritage.

But that doesn’t mean a new structure won’t match your venue:

Our modular CareCapsule™ comes with a wide range of exterior and internal finishes — from oak, brick, and steel to rich woodgrain and calming blues.

That’s great for aesthetics and creating an attractive space. But it also means you can build a new structure that blends perfectly with the surroundings (and the theme) of your venue:

• For a nature reserve or wildlife attraction, you can choose a wooden finish to match your natural surroundings.
• For a heritage site or historic museum, you can go with a rustic brickwork that fits with the existing buildings.

And the best part?

We can even build your modular toilet to match your organisation’s branding. That could mean:

• Including your logo
• Matching your corporate colour scheme
• Or adding feature walls.

So no matter where your new modular toilet goes, you can give your visitors and customers a consistent experience — with facilities that fit perfectly with the rest of your venue.

We’ve been installing accessibly facilities for over 20 years, working directly with architects and designers to help venues choose the best possible facilities, and give their customers the spaces they need.

So, if you’re looking at options for your venue or attraction, get some helpful advice at an early stage by starting a chat with one of our Changing Places experts.