How to choose a commercial toilet
Wall hung pans
A wall hung pan leaves the floor clear for cleaning. Most fix from the front to a frame behind a duct panel, with the cistern on the frame: see concealed cisterns and frames. Some anti vandal pans fix through the wall into a service duct instead. Most stainless commercial wall hung toilets run 500 to 550 mm from the wall.
Back to wall toilets
A back to wall pan stands on the floor against a duct panel or wall, with the cistern hidden behind, so the floor, not a frame, carries the pan. On their data sheets, back to wall pans run 540 to 750 mm from the wall and stand 400 to 480 mm high, and some fix through the wall.
Close coupled toilets
A close coupled toilet carries its cistern on the back of the pan, so there is no duct to build and the cistern is easy to reach. Allow 620 to 750 mm from the wall and 810 to 895 mm to the top of the cistern. The Delabie and Dolphin cisterns give a 6 and 3 litre dual flush.
WC sets: complete commercial toilet systems
A WC set supplies the pan, seat, dual flush cistern and flush plate as one set, with a frame in the wall hung sets. The pneumatic sets' cistern gives 6 and 3 litres, adjustable to 4.5 and 3, and works on 0.1 to 16 bar; pan and cistern are weight tested to 400 kg. Two of the sets also come with an electronic sensor flush.
Stainless steel, vitreous china or composite
Vitreous china pans cost least. Our stainless steel pans are grade 304 (1.4301 on KWC DVS sheets), 1.5 to 3.0 mm thick, with 316 on request on some (ask us for lead times); Delabie and KWC DVS stainless pans have a concealed flushing rim. Composite pans are KWC DVS anti vandal designs. See stainless steel toilets.
Accessible pans
Accessible pans run 700 or 750 mm from the wall on their data sheets. Where Approved Document M applies, choose a 750 mm pan. For heavier users, our bariatric pan has a capacity of 1,000 kg without its seat; the seat's capacity is 362 kg.
Flushing and fittings
A pan sold on its own needs a cistern or flush valve, which sets the flush. Delabie and KWC DVS stainless pans work on 4 litres or more, and their wall hung pans take a 55 mm inlet and a 100 mm outlet. For sensor or push button flushing see flush valves; for flush plates and other parts see commercial toilet fittings.
Commercial toilets for sale
Our commercial toilets for sale run from about £420 to £1,660 ex VAT, and combination units from about £2,250 to £4,120 ex VAT. Seats come with the WC sets and the bariatric pan; for other pans, check the product page or ask us. Delivery takes 1 to 3 working days and is free to England, Scotland and Wales.
Compare the types
Commercial toilet types compared, from the makers' data sheets
| Type | Materials | Fixing | Length from wall (mm) | Cistern | Price from (ex VAT) |
|---|
| Wall hung pans | Stainless steel, vitreous china, composite | Frame, or through the wall | 460 to 750 | Separate, concealed | About £420 |
| Back to wall pans | Stainless steel, vitreous china, composite | Floor, or through the wall | 540 to 750 | Separate, concealed | About £420 |
| Close coupled toilets | Stainless steel, vitreous china | Floor | 620 to 750 | On the pan, dual flush, 6/3 litres on most | About £760 |
| WC sets | Vitreous china | Frame or floor | 540 | Included, 6/3 litres on pneumatic sets | About £700 |
| Accessible versions | Stainless steel, vitreous china, composite | Frame, floor or through the wall | 700 to 750 | Varies by model | About £700 |
| Combination units | Stainless steel | Wall, or through the wall from a duct | 615 to 890 | Varies by model | About £2,250 |
Regulations and standards
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, regulation 20, require suitable and sufficient toilets at every workplace. The HSE's Approved Code of Practice, L24, sets the minimum numbers, given in the FAQ below, and asks for more where the public uses them too.
Under Schedule 2 paragraph 25 of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, in England and Wales, a single flush may not exceed 6 litres, and the smaller flush of a dual flush may be no more than two thirds of the larger. Dolphin's pneumatic WC sets (DC3000, DC3020, DC3040 and DC3060) have a WRAS approved inlet valve and an EN 14055 Class 2 cistern; the inlet valve of its Doc M close coupled WC (DC1100) carries WRAS certificate 1912334.
Delabie states that its BCN S, BCN P, S21 S, S21 P, S21 S TC, S21 P TC, 700 S, 700 S TC, 700 P, Monobloco S21 and Monobloco 700 PMR pans comply with EN 997 for a 4 litre flush and are CE marked. KWC DVS states that the flush of its Campus CMPX592, CMPX594 and CMPX597 pans is certified to EN 997 at a minimum of 4 litres, and that their mounting plate conforms to EN 33.
Approved Document M Volume 2, for buildings other than dwellings in England, shows 750 mm from the back wall to the front of the pan in a unisex wheelchair accessible toilet, the pan's centre line 500 mm from the side wall and a 480 mm seat height. Dolphin's Doc M floor mounted toilet pan (DB590), Doc M close coupled WC (DC1100) and wall mounted Doc M WC pan (DC1300) and the Pland Monaco are 750 mm on their sheets; the DB590 gives a 480 mm seat height with its DB591 seat, sold separately. Dolphin calls the DB590 and DC1100 "Doc M compliant".
Where they are used
Offices and workplaces
Where an office washroom has a vanity unit, the short frame WC set's cistern fits under it. See commercial wall hung toilets.
Public toilets and schools
Where the public or pupils use them, choose stainless steel with TORX or anti theft screws, composite anti vandal pans or through the wall fixing. See anti vandal toilets.
Healthcare and care homes
Hospitals and care homes fit accessible pans, and bariatric pans where users need them. See disabled toilets.
Prisons and secure units
For cells, choose a through the wall pan made for the secure sector, or a prison toilet sink combo: toilet and basin in one stainless steel unit with a 2 mm body. See prison toilets.
Frequently asked questions
What are the different types of toilet pans?
Commercial WC pans come in three main types. Wall hung pans fix to a frame or through the wall, clear of the floor. Back to wall pans stand on the floor against a wall or duct panel, with the cistern behind. Close coupled toilets carry the cistern on the pan. A WC set supplies a wall hung or floor pan with its cistern, seat and flush plate. Each commercial toilet bowl is stainless steel, vitreous china or composite, and for cells, combination units build in a basin.
What is a standard toilet pan size?
There is no single standard size, but most pans are 350 to 370 mm wide. On their data sheets, most stainless wall hung pans project 500 to 550 mm from the wall, back to wall pans 540 to 750 mm and close coupled toilets 620 to 750 mm. Back to wall pans stand 400 to 480 mm high. Accessible pans project 700 or 750 mm, and Approved Document M shows 750 mm, with a 480 mm seat, for a wheelchair accessible toilet.
How much does a toilet pan cost?
A commercial toilet pan costs from about £420 ex VAT in vitreous china, about £680 in stainless steel and about £900 for a composite anti vandal pan, up to about £1,660 for a stainless close coupled toilet. With VAT at 20%, added at checkout, that is about £500 to £1,990. Accessible pans start at about £700. We also price match, as set out in our price match guarantee, and deliver free to England, Scotland and Wales.
What is the best toilet for commercial use?
For most workplaces the best commercial toilet is a wall hung pan on a concealed frame, which leaves the floor clear and the cistern behind the panel. Where toilets get misused, choose stainless steel 1.5 to 3.0 mm thick with TORX or anti theft screws, or composite, and fix it through the wall where you can. For a wheelchair accessible toilet, a 750 mm pan matches Approved Document M. Call 020 4571 5856 if you are unsure which suits your building.
What are the disadvantages of a close coupled toilet?
A close coupled toilet takes more space and leaves the cistern in the room. Standard ones run 620 to 680 mm from the wall, against 500 to 550 mm for most stainless wall hung pans, and stand 810 to 835 mm to the top of the cistern. Users can reach the cistern lid, and cleaners must work around the base. Where that matters, choose a back to wall or wall hung pan with the cistern concealed behind.
What are the best commercial toilet brands?
The commercial toilet brands we supply are Delabie, KWC DVS, Dolphin Solutions and Pland Stainless, and the best fit depends on the material you need. Delabie makes stainless pans in 304 steel, with a 30 year warranty on eight of them. KWC DVS makes stainless steel pans and composite anti vandal pans. Dolphin Solutions makes vitreous china pans and complete WC sets. Pland Stainless makes stainless pans in 304 steel, with 316 on request for some.
How many toilets does a workplace need?
For mixed or women only use, the HSE's Approved Code of Practice (L24) sets a minimum of one toilet and one wash basin for up to 5 people at work at once, two for 6 to 25, three for 26 to 50, four for 51 to 75 and five for 76 to 100, then one more for every 25 people or part of 25. Where only men use them, a second table mixes toilets and urinals, from one of each for up to 15 men.
What's the difference between a commercial toilet and a residential toilet?
A commercial toilet follows rules that do not apply in a home. The Workplace Regulations set how many a workplace needs, and Approved Document M Volume 2 sets the accessible layout in buildings other than dwellings. The Water Regulations allow pressure flushing valves, which need no cistern, only outside houses and where the supply gives at least 1.2 litres per second at the pan. Commercial pans also come in stainless steel or composite, and some fix through the wall.
