All Gender Restrooms - Extent of Hygiene Product Distribution

Summer, can you link to where this language is posted? Sorry if I'm missing something obvious but I couldn't track it down.

Tristan, see if this link works (my hyperlink postings have not been cooperative lately): http://www.usgbc.org/credits/WEpc147-v4
It's in the Pilot Credit Library.

I think the intent would be to have the products available in all places, for many reasons. If it's only in one location, that would require users to trek across a project just for that purpose, which is burdensome.
I interpreted the availability to mean vending (such as a wall-mounted machine) or just being provided for free, such as in baskets on the counter or mounted on walls. I've seen free products available in many locations including malls, higher ed buildings, and now, some of our own offices.

Also consider disposal containers for feminine products in the stall(s), as would normally be provided in dedicated women's restrooms.

Thanks! I agree with the other comments and would only add that I would interpret as allowing vending in a common handwashing area, if one is used in the design, while not required in individual stalls.

Agree, that would probably meet the requirements as stated; from the user standpoint, though, as a female, I don't want everyone knowing my business. Having to access or reach for very personal products in front of your coworkers is inappropriate for a place of business to do to its female staff/visitors. I feel the same way about baby changing facilities that are out in the open (unrelated to the credit, but same invasion of privacy).

Our project is a daycare center with 100% all-gender restrooms. The building management have provided menstruation hygiene products in each restroom initally. However, they had to place additional hygiene kits and disposal containers for these products in each single stall due to the privacy concerns raised by the female users, supporting Emily's point.

I read the language as a nice to have since it says 'should' not 'must'. Has anyone submitted a project and not provided feminine hygiene products? What were the reviewer comments?

It's important to maintain our menstrual hygiene during the period. Associated with menstrual we will face many problems. In order to avoid certain risks, we need to maintain hygiene.

We agree this portion of the credit is rather vague. It is unclear whether this will require photos of the products in baskets or vending machines, a policy stating the intent to disperse them, or simply just saying it is happening. We have a project currently attempting this credit. This project is a NC project on a campus of buildings under the same owner. It is already the owner's policy to provide feminine hygiene products in all of their facilities free of charge. We opted to provide a letter stating as much signed by the owner as a means of proof of provision.

This credit seems easy to attain if the occupancy of the space/building is small.  It is a struggle to find square footage, particularly for Option 1, if the occupancy is large.  We also did an informal survey/observation of time spent in single stalls versus occpant time in conventional restrooms.  Time spent in single stalls was more than double for conventional.  A line formed often throughout the day!

Michelle - Have you gotten any feedback from GBCI on your submittal approach?

Sorry no. It is just about to submit.

I'm working on a higher ed campus building providing 100% all-gender restrooms. The campus does not typically provide feminine hygiene products in their restrooms, all-gender or multi-stall. Each all-gender restroom is set up to function independently with a toilet, urinal, wall mounted sink, and handwashing supplies. Thus far putting a dispenser or setting them out free in each all-gender restroom hasn't totally resonated with the client. Any other ideas? Any constraints on location?

As a woman, I certainly have my thoughts on how to best comply with this credit (agreeing with previous comments). I also want to try to understand all the options for meeting the requirement. 

I would think that GBCI would expect the products to be within easy access of the restroom, itself, to really meet the intent. It's probably best to just reach out to LEED Coach and see if they can provide some clarity rather than risk it and get review comments back too late to implement something properly.

@Kath, I have a solution to the time spent...have the client ban smart phone use in the restrooms. 

@Michelle What documents did you end up submitting to comply with the Menstrual Hygiene Materials requirements of the credit? Thanks!

Hi all,

We submitted the memo on owner letterhead indicating the policy to provide the products and that was accepted.

We provided some actual photos of cabinet with hygiene products and Owner signed committment letter. This was approved too.  

Thanks for the excellent thread everyone.

I am working on a men's homeless shelter where the restrooms are being designed as 100% all gendered. We are concerned that making menstruation hygiene products freely available in restrooms may result in some abuse of those products by less courteous shelter guests.

Any ideas to maintain convenience for those who need the hygiene products without allowing bad actors to abuse the resources?

Thanks!