What Types of Toilet Cabin Are Available? Choosing Sitting Toilets, Squat Toilets and Urinals
What Types of Toilet Cabin Are Available? Choosing Sitting Toilets, Squat Toilets and Urinals
A suitable Toilet Cabin is not chosen by deciding between a sitting toilet and a squat toilet alone. The complete configuration may include a single or multi-cubicle cabin, male and female zones, urinals, wash basins, water supply, wastewater handling, ventilation, flooring and cleaning access. The right arrangement depends on the users, peak demand, installation site, operating period and maintenance capacity rather than the lowest initial price.
The GS Cabin Toilet Cabin and Mobile Toilet range covers options from low-cost to heavy-duty construction, with standard and customised dimensions. Its standard product information includes a sitting-type water closet, water tap, floor trap, natural ventilation and epoxy-coated flooring. The number of fixtures, sitting-to-squat ratio and internal layout should still be confirmed for each project before quotation.
How Can Toilet Cabins Be Classified?
Toilet Cabin types can be understood at two levels: the structure and layout of the cabin, and the sanitary fixtures installed inside it. Keeping these two decisions separate makes quotations easier to compare.
Types by Cabin Structure
| Cabin Type | Typical Use | Main Planning Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Single-cubicle Toilet Cabin | Small teams, limited spaces or toilets distributed across a large site | Choose either a sitting or squat toilet and confirm nearby handwashing facilities |
| Multi-cubicle Toilet Cabin | Factories, construction sites, schools and events with several simultaneous users | Balance cubicles, urinals, basins, circulation space and cleaning access |
| Male and female zoned cabin | Schools, offices, events and public-facing locations | Provide suitable privacy, separate entrances and capacity for each user group |
| Heavy-duty Toilet Cabin | Long-term sites, factories and industrial environments with frequent use | Assess structural durability, flooring, walls, doors and maintenance access |
| Custom-made Toilet Cabin | Projects where standard dimensions or layouts do not meet the brief | Confirm dimensions, fixture quantities, entrances, utilities and transport limits before fabrication |
Types by Sanitary Fixture
The main fixture choices are sitting toilets, squat toilets and male urinals, supported by wash basins, water taps, bidet sprays or washing hoses and floor traps. An accessible cubicle may also be necessary for a public-facing or project-specific application. A urinal is a supplementary fixture; it does not replace a complete sitting or squat toilet.
What Is the Difference Between Sitting Toilets, Squat Toilets and Urinals?
Each fixture serves a different user need. The most practical choice considers user mobility, familiar usage habits, peak traffic, cleaning routines and the available water and drainage system.
| Fixture | More Suitable For | Main Advantage | Points to Manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sitting toilet | Office users, visitors, older people, mixed user groups and people with limited mobility | Comfortable for a wider range of users and requires less lower-body mobility | The seat needs frequent cleaning, and misuse such as standing on the seat should be discouraged |
| Squat toilet | Construction, factory, plantation or industrial users who are accustomed to a squat fixture | Avoids direct contact with a toilet seat and may match the preference of a regular workforce | Not suitable for every older or mobility-limited user; the floor must remain stable, dry and slip-resistant |
| Male urinal | Male-dominant sites with frequent short-duration demand | Diverts male urination demand and reduces unnecessary occupation of full cubicles | Still requires full toilets, privacy screens, reliable flushing or washing, drainage and odour control |
| Accessible sitting toilet | Public locations and projects serving wheelchair users or people with limited mobility | Provides a more inclusive toilet option | Requires more than a larger cubicle; access route, turning space, grab rails, door operation and fixture positions must be assessed |
Who Is a Sitting Toilet More Suitable For?
A sitting toilet is generally more suitable for office staff, visitors, supervisors, older people, pregnant users and anyone with restricted knee or lower-body movement. If a Toilet Cabin will serve people of different ages and physical abilities, an all-squat layout may create an avoidable access problem.
The fixture itself is only one part of the decision. The cubicle must provide usable movement space, the door should not clash with the WC, water and toilet paper should be within practical reach, and the seat should be easy to clean or replace. The floor trap should allow cleaning water to drain without leaving persistent wet areas.
Sitting toilets normally provide broader usability in offices, site offices, school administration areas, visitor facilities and factories that receive contractors or guests. Clear user instructions may also help prevent people from standing or squatting on a sitting WC.
When Can a Squat Toilet Be Considered?
A squat toilet can be appropriate for certain construction sites, factories, plantations, industrial projects and workforces that already prefer squat fixtures. Some users favour it because they do not need to touch a shared toilet seat.
However, a squat toilet is not maintenance-free. Poor floor drainage, uncontrolled washing water or an unsuitable slope can still create slipping, odour and cleaning problems. Its design should address the following:
- Stable and correctly positioned foot areas
- Slip-resistant flooring that can be kept reasonably dry
- A floor gradient that directs cleaning water away from the entrance
- A practical floor-trap location
- A flushing and wastewater connection suitable for the fixture
- At least one alternative sitting toilet when the users include visitors, older workers or people with limited mobility
Where workers, office staff, drivers and visitors share the same facility, a mixed sitting-and-squat configuration is often more inclusive than using only one fixture type.
When Does a Urinal Add Practical Value?
Urinals are most useful where the user population is mainly male and demand is concentrated during shift changes, scheduled breaks or event intervals. They can reduce the time full cubicles are occupied for short visits and improve the flow of the male zone.
A useful urinal area still needs privacy dividers, a suitable flushing or cleaning method, accessible drainage, cleaning space and ventilation. The selected height should also reflect the intended users. Installing several urinals without enough full toilets may shorten one queue while leaving another requirement unresolved.
Urinals do not improve the capacity of the female zone. Male and female demand should therefore be planned separately rather than counting every fixture as if it served all users equally.
Which Configuration Suits Different Locations?
The following combinations are starting points, not fixed rules. Final requirements may vary with the project use, local authority, consultant, owner and site conditions.
| Location | Configuration to Consider | Planning Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Small site office | Sitting toilet, wash basin and washing-water facility | Staff and visitor numbers, cleaning arrangement and utility access |
| Male-dominant construction site | A combination of squat toilets, sitting toilets and urinals | Shift-break peaks, water, wastewater and cleaning frequency |
| Factory | Mixed sitting and squat toilets; add urinals when male demand justifies them | Shift population, durability, wet conditions and exposure to industrial contaminants |
| School | Age-appropriate sitting or squat fixtures with handwashing | Fixture height, supervision, gender separation, safety and cleaning |
| Outdoor event | Separate male and female zones, full toilets, hand basins and an accessible option where required | Expected attendance, peak intervals, water replenishment and waste servicing |
| Surau | Suitable toilets with washing or ablution areas planned separately | Wet-area drainage, privacy, slip resistance and the cleaning route |
| Plantation or remote site | Durable sitting or squat toilet arrangement based on the regular workforce | Water storage, waste destination, service access and repair distance |
Should Every Cubicle Use the Same Fixture?
A single fixture type may be practical when the team is small, user preferences are known and the site has a narrow purpose. For example, a small office cabin may need only one sitting toilet and a wash basin.
A mixed configuration becomes more useful when workers, management, drivers, contractors and visitors share the same facility. Possible arrangements include one sitting toilet and one squat toilet, a male zone with full toilets and urinals, sufficient full cubicles for the female zone, and a separate accessible or universal cubicle where required.
Mixed layouts require a larger cabin, more plumbing and a more detailed cleaning plan. Avoid adding rarely used fixtures merely because they appear comprehensive. Every fixture should respond to a clear user or operational need.
Why Peak Demand Matters More Than Headcount Alone
Two sites with the same total headcount can experience very different toilet demand. One hundred users spread throughout a working day produce a different queue from one hundred workers taking the same scheduled break. Events may also concentrate usage before opening, during intervals and immediately after the programme.
Before selecting the fixtures, establish:
- The approximate number of users per day
- The male-to-female user mix
- Whether visitors, older people or mobility-limited users are expected
- The times when concentrated demand will occur
- Whether the users are a fixed workforce or a changing public crowd
- Whether separate male and female entrances are necessary
- Whether cleaners can service the cabin between peak periods
Headcount helps estimate the overall scale, but peak-use behaviour determines the practical balance of full cubicles, urinals and wash basins.
How Do Water Supply and Wastewater Affect Fixture Choice?
Sitting toilets, squat toilets and urinals cannot be selected independently of the water and wastewater system. A proposal should confirm whether the site has a stable water source, sufficient pressure, a suitable drainage connection and access for servicing.
- Is mains water available, or is a storage tank required?
- Will a pump be needed to maintain usable water pressure?
- Will wastewater connect to an existing system, septic tank or holding tank?
- Can a waste-servicing vehicle approach the cabin safely?
- Who handles a full tank, blockage, leakage or emergency call-out?
- Will pipes and utilities need to be disconnected and rebuilt after relocation?
- Where will wastewater from floor washing be discharged?
A remote cabin with a complete set of fixtures may still become unusable if water replenishment and wastewater servicing are unreliable. Utility planning should therefore be completed before finalising the interior layout.
Why Flooring, Ventilation and Cleaning Space Matter
Fixture choice determines how people use the cabin, while flooring and ventilation strongly affect daily hygiene and comfort. The floor should be easy to clean, slip-resistant and designed to avoid standing water. Floor traps should sit where washing water can reach them rather than allowing moisture to remain at entrances or concealed corners.
Natural ventilation openings or mechanical extraction should remove moisture and odour. A larger multi-cubicle unit with urinals may need more deliberate air movement than a single-cubicle cabin. Exhaust should not create a nuisance for a nearby office, canteen, prayer space or rest area.
Cleaners also need enough room to reach behind WCs, beside partitions, around urinals and along wall-floor junctions. Packing fixtures too tightly may increase the nominal capacity while making cleaning and repairs slower and less effective.
How Should Male and Female Zones Be Planned?
Male and female zones should not be designed by counting all fixtures as interchangeable. A urinal serves a specific user group and does not add capacity to the female zone. The layout should consider separate entrances, privacy between approaches, adequate female cubicles, urinal dividers, basin locations, queue paths, night lighting and a separate accessible or universal cubicle where needed.
Clear signage is especially useful at public events, schools and shared work sites. It reduces confusion and prevents queues from blocking doors, walkways or cleaning access.
What Information Is Needed Before Requesting a Quotation?
Provide every supplier with the same project brief. This prevents a basic cabin-only proposal from being compared with another quotation that includes water storage, basins, plumbing, delivery and installation.
| Information to Provide | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Installation location | Affects transport, lifting, access and installation method |
| Operating period | Influences construction grade, maintenance planning and rent-or-buy evaluation |
| Daily user count | Provides an initial capacity estimate |
| Peak simultaneous users | Determines the practical mix of cubicles, urinals and basins |
| Male-to-female mix | Supports realistic allocation between user zones |
| User profile | Identifies the need for sitting, squat or accessible facilities |
| Water conditions | Determines whether tanks, pumps or additional connections are required |
| Wastewater method | Defines piping, septic-tank or holding-tank arrangements |
| Cleaning frequency | Affects flooring, storage, floor traps and service access |
| Cabin size limits | Prevents a completed cabin from being unable to enter or fit the site |
| Relocation requirement | Influences structure, lifting provisions and utility connections |
| Additional facilities | Clarifies requirements for basins, mirrors, fans, lighting or showers |
Common Configuration Mistakes
Choosing by Lowest Price Alone
A low quotation may cover only a basic cabin and WC while excluding wash basins, water tanks, wastewater connections, transport or installation. Compare the same scope before judging value.
Using Only Squat Toilets
An all-squat layout may not serve visitors, office staff, older people or mobility-limited users. Review the user mix before standardising every cubicle.
Installing Too Many Urinals but Too Few Full Toilets
Urinals can shorten part of the male queue, but they do not handle bowel movements or add female capacity. Full cubicles remain essential.
Ignoring the Male-to-Female Mix
An equal split based only on total headcount may leave one section underused and the other congested. Plan each zone against actual users and peaks.
Ordering Before Confirming Water and Wastewater
Late discovery of an unavailable water source, unsuitable pipe route or inaccessible waste tank can add modification cost and delay the opening of the facility.
Leaving No Working Space for Cleaners
A dense layout may fit more fixtures on paper but make wall corners, pipework, floor junctions and the spaces around urinals difficult to clean.
Treating a Relocatable Cabin as Instantly Movable
Relocation still requires water, electricity and wastewater disconnection, internal preparation, lifting access and a suitable foundation and utility plan at the new site.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the most common Toilet Cabin types?
Common options include single-cubicle mobile toilets, multi-cubicle cabins, heavy-duty Toilet Cabins, male-and-female zoned cabins and custom-made units.
2. Is a sitting toilet or squat toilet better?
Neither is universally better. Sitting toilets suit a wider range of ages and mobility levels, while squat toilets may match the preference of a regular workforce. Mixed-user sites can provide both.
3. Can one Toilet Cabin include sitting and squat toilets?
Yes, if the cabin has sufficient space, separate cubicles and suitable water and wastewater pipework. The quotation should state the exact quantity of each fixture.
4. Can urinals replace standard toilets?
No. Urinals serve male urination demand only. A suitable number of sitting or squat toilets is still required for complete toilet use.
5. Does a male-dominant site always need urinals?
Not always. A small team with spread-out usage may be served by full cubicles. Urinals become more useful when male demand is frequent or concentrated during breaks.
6. Which fixture suits a small office?
A sitting toilet with a wash basin is generally a practical starting point because the users may include staff and visitors. A sitting-and-squat combination can be considered when regular users have different preferences.
7. Should a construction site use only squat toilets?
Not automatically. Consider the workforce, supervisors, visitors, ages and mobility levels. Keeping at least one sitting toilet may make the facility usable by more people.
8. Does every Toilet Cabin need a wash basin?
Handwashing must be planned as part of the facility. If a basin is not installed inside the cabin, a convenient nearby handwashing station with water and replenished supplies should be provided.
9. Can a Toilet Cabin be installed without an existing sewer connection?
It may be possible with a suitable septic tank, holding tank or another approved site-specific system. Waste capacity, servicing access, maintenance responsibility and applicable approvals must be confirmed.
10. How do I decide between a single-cubicle and multi-cubicle cabin?
Use daily demand, peak simultaneous users, gender mix, available space and operating duration. A small dispersed demand may suit a single unit, while concentrated peaks usually need multiple fixtures.
11. Can a Toilet Cabin have separate male and female entrances?
Yes, through a customised layout or a larger cabin. The design must also coordinate partitions, signage, wash areas, pipework, queue paths and privacy.
12. Is an accessible toilet just a wider standard cubicle?
No. The access route, door width and operation, turning space, grab rails and fixture positions also need to be considered against the project use and applicable requirements.
13. What site information matters most before selecting fixtures?
The essential information is the user profile, peak demand, water source, wastewater method, available dimensions, transport access and cleaning responsibility.
14. How can different supplier quotations be compared fairly?
Give every supplier the same fixture quantities, cabin dimensions, material grade, water and electrical scope, wastewater arrangement, delivery, installation and maintenance requirements. Then compare the complete offer rather than the headline price.
A Toilet Cabin should be configured around its users and site conditions. Sitting toilets offer broader accessibility, squat toilets suit certain familiar and high-use work environments, and urinals help divert male short-visit demand. Headcount is only the starting point; gender mix, peak periods, water, wastewater, cleaning access, ventilation and inclusive use determine whether a single, multi-cubicle or mixed-fixture layout will work in daily operation.
Before requesting a quotation, record the users, installation location, cabin size limits, water source, wastewater plan and required fixture quantities. Ask every supplier to price the same brief so that structural grade, sitting and squat toilets, urinals, basins, utility connections, delivery and installation can be evaluated on an equal basis.
Disclaimer: Information provided is for reference only. We do not bear responsibility for any inaccuracies or consequences arising from its use.
Aug 13,2026