Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004: Sanitary Facilities (Technical Handbook s.3.12)

In brief

Scotland regulates sanitary provision through the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and the Building Standards Technical Handbooks (non-domestic), Standard 3.12. Scotland does not operate the English Approved Document system and has no Part T equivalent. Handbook 3.12.1 states that separate male and female sanitary accommodation is usually provided, proportionate to the building's use (or equal numbers of each sex where the proportion is unknown). Unisex accommodation is permitted only where each facility is a single-occupancy space, for use by one person at a time, with a door securable from within. The regime is guidance-based around a functional standard, not a hard single-sex mandate of the Part T kind. Separate-sex workplace provision is also driven by reg 20 WHSWR 1992 (GB-wide).

Key provisions

• Std 3.12.1 — Number and separation of sanitary facilities: Separate male/female sanitary accommodation is usually provided, based on the proportion of each sex using the building (or equal numbers if unknown). Unisex accommodation is permitted only as a single-occupancy space, for use by one person at a time, with a door securable from within.

When relevant

Advising on toilet/sanitary facilities for non-domestic buildings in Scotland. Scotland has no Part T equivalent; Technical Handbook 3.12.1 favours separate male/female provision, with unisex permitted only as single-occupancy lockable space. Keep the three layers distinct: building-reg (this record, Scotland) ≠ workplace-welfare (WHSWR reg 20, GB-wide) ≠ equality law (EA 2010 / FWS / EHRC Code).