Portable toilets are an essential feature of an event. This article is designed to assist the event organiser in choosing the most appropriate type of portable toilet and contains basic information and tips to facilitate the decision making process.

There are a large number of suppliers of portable toilets to the event industry. Companies vary in size with suppliers being either local, regional or nationwide. The larger nationwide suppliers include - in no necessary order of importance - Elliot Loohire, Search, Igloos, Andy Loos, The Convenience Company, John Anderson and A1 Loo Hire.

There are two main different types of portable toilets for events.

1. Tardis Portable Toilets

The most basic type of portable toilet for an event is the single re-circulating chemical unit, known in the industry as The Tardis on account of its uncanny resemblance to Doctor Who’s time-machine of the same name.

A tardis unit is essentially a ‘budget box’ which is ideal for smaller outside events such as local fetes, barbeques, point-to-point meetings or any small local or budget event. They are also widely used at
festivals.

2. Trailer Mounted Portable Toilets

The other type of toilet for an event is the trailer mounted portable toilet. This type of portable toilet is much larger and contains a combination of cubicles and urinals.

Cubicles can be equipped with handbasins. The industry size range for the trailers is between ten to twenty five feet in length with units being supplied in as many configurations of cubicles, cubicals with handbasins and urinals as imaginable.

Generally speaking, trailer mounted portable toilets start in size with 1+1 units, i.e. one cubicle with handbasin for ladies and one for gentlemen. Larger trailer mounted units can accomodate configurations such as three cubicles and ten urinals or three cubicles for ladies with three cubicles and two urinals for gentlemen.

It is also possible for this type of portable toilet unit to incorporate disabled toilet facilities. The configurations really are endless.

There is, as one might expect, a large range in the quality of trailer mounted units. The most basic units are to be found at festivals and less grand events whilst the more top-end units are supplied to corporate events and promotions, weddings and up-market gatherings - indeed VIP units are often to be seen behind the scenes at important events and are an important feature in any kind of outdoor corporate hospitality.

Trailer mounted portable loos can be either re-circulating or connected to the mains.

A general rule of thumb is to allow one portable loo per hundred guests at an event although one per fifty guests is probably a more comfortably generous guideline.

Portable toilet units should always be delivered to an event in a scrupulously clean condition with the supplier operating to stringent health and safety and British Standard regulations.

Trailer mounted units can be supplied with hot handwash basins which can be non-mains connected as they come with fresh water supplied which is then heated either from the on-site power supply or by generators.
Depending on the level of luxury required, it is even possible to hire portable units containing cubicles with infra red taps - to say nothing of the DVD facilities offered by other types of units!

Cubicles with baby-changing facilities are also available. These type of specialist units are an optional requirement and - when considering hiring such a portable toilet - it should be borne in mind that this will take over a cubicle although baby changing facilities can be incorporated in a disabled portable toilet unit.

It is compulsory for disabled toilets to be provided at public (ticketed) events although this is not a legal requirement at private events.

A general price indication for the hire of portable toilets for events would be from around