Property Care Services made a big splash at BMAM together with energy management and building maintenance partners, M&C Energy Group and Comin Thai Co., Ltd. BMAM provided a perfect opportunity for the partners to showcase their strength in providing services to optimize energy and water conservation, helping to create more green buildings in Thailand. Impressively PCS's Total Facilities Services now also focuses on the "hard core" engineering, mechanical and technical services to achieve effective and smooth building operations for PCS clients.

PCS Group is focusing its regional growth in the integrated security market with the PCS team in Bangladesh leading the charge. Steve Woodward PCS Regional Security Advisor expects PCS to become the integrated security leader there, where PCS Bangladesh has already established an excellent reputation in cleaning and pest control services and has huge opportunities for security services.

PCS' Eastern team recently took part in a CSR project initiated by the PCS Foundation to renovate a school canteen at Ban-Ka-Diang School in Prachinburi province. Built in 1940, the Ban-Ka-Diang public school is small in size with 8 classrooms for kindergarteners up to grade 6 students. Due to a lack of sufficient funds from the government, most of the school's buildings have not been maintained for several years, leaving the students without proper shelter. Knowing this spurred PCS into action to renovate the school canteen for the benefit of the students. Repairs made to the structure and roof, new floor tiles and a fresh coat of paint has turned the canteen into a multi-function space for the kids to socialize, eat and play.

Big contract wins at Paradise Park have the PCS team proudly standing by for service with 240 staff throughout Bangkok's newest shopping mega-mall. Not only has PCS clinched the contract for security and cleaning services for Paradise Park, PCS staff members can also be spotted on duty at Fuji Japanese Restaurant, CoCo Curry House and the Loft.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has recently presented 'Best Toilet of the Year' awards to organizations from different sectors, from state to private owned companies, temples and public institutions.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukvejchavarakit, who presided over the award ceremony, said only 10 per cent of the toilets at Bangkok's gas stations and schools met health standards. As a result, the city invited 12 target groups to improve their public toilets to meet health standards of cleanliness, supply sufficiency, access for the disabled, elderly and pregnant women, as well as users' general convenience and safety.

Those of us who have become accustomed to the luxury of a working, flushing toilet and running taps often overlook the importance of the restroom in commercial properties. For decades, toilets have remained a misunderstood area. While common areas are generally well maintained, washroom facilities are all too often considered of secondary importance. Those times have changed and more property owners are realizing the returns on investment possible through well-maintained toilets. Now, even the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority is joining the washroom revolution.

Public fear poor washroom facilities

A large majority of people fear that poor hand washing and drying facilities in public toilets pose a risk to their health, according to new research commissioned by a major washroom product supplier of 700 consumers in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Russia earlier this year.

When questioned, 87 per cent of respondents said public conveniences did not consistently provide adequate hand washing and drying facilities. And almost a quarter - 23 per cent - said facilities were either 'never' or 'rarely' of a high enough standard. Four-fifths (79 per cent) said it was more difficult to maintain hand hygiene levels outside of the home than inside.

The issue is clearly of concern to people, with 95 per cent of respondents believing that inadequate hand washing and drying facilities in public toilets impact on the public's health and safety. A majority - 59 per cent - said they believed a poor standard of washing and drying facilities impacts 'a lot' on people's welfare.

The business dangers of unsanitary washrooms

In offices or industrial buildings, badly maintained restrooms can lead to low morale, low productivity and high staff turnover. From a landlord's perspective, bad toilets mean bad business as in many cases the problems they cause will lead to lower demand and, eventually, lower rents.

The importance of having well-designed and well-maintained toilets can be seen very clearly in today's modern Retail sector. Recent statistics from department stores show that shoppers require toilet breaks every 2.5 hours and point out that if the facilities don't meet expectations the customer will have no choice but to leave.

In the Healthcare/Hospital sector, toilets and washrooms are one of the key areas that Facilities Managers need to pay particular attention to. With the previous SARS, Bird Flu and H1N1 crises now joined by growing concerns of 'Hospital- Acquired Infection' (HAI), addressing hygiene and cleanliness in order to help halt the spread of contagious bacteria and viruses is of major importance for today's Facilities Managers.

Automated cleanliness with a human touch

With all of the challenges facing commercial property owners and managers, hygiene and the serious task of preventing the spread of disease are becoming critically important. The good news for responsible building owners and managers is that there is a wide array of automated products available. Products range from automatic soap and gel dispensers to infrared sensor auto-lid feminine hygiene waste disposal units and sanitizers that are placed in toilets to kill germs during flushing. One consideration that cannot be overlooked in washroom cleanliness is 'the human touch', without which automation will always fall short of true cleanliness.

Even the best designed and luxurious toilet facilities will suffer from problems if the cleaning team is incapable of performing well. To clean toilets well, cleaners must have an understanding of various chemicals and how they should be used. Harsh chemicals in cleaning solutions can harm the environment and leave toxins that may be dangerous for the toilet's end-users as well as impair the performance of draining systems on the premises and damage sanitation durability. These days, pH-balanced solutions offer the best solution.

Knowing that the average person spends approximately three years of their life in washrooms, visiting between six and eight times a day, it is safe to say that toilets plays a central role in peoples' lives. For designers, Facilities Managers and property planners, flushing out old-fashioned complacency about washroom facilities can bring a string of benefits that have never before been truly capitalized upon.

For more information about 'Cannon Washroom Hygiene Services', please contact at PCS Call Center Tel. 02 800 9011 or visit www.pcs.co.th

References:

'Survey highlights concern about washroom facilities'
Commissioned survey by Kimberly-Clark Professional as part of its 'Take Control of Poor Hand Drying' campaign '

BEST TOILET OF THE YEAR' City's top toilets lauded, By The Nation, 8 October 2010