Finally seeing some real common sense in our site toilets

I ran into those same units last fall when our super switched our rental contract over to United Rentals for a hospital wing expansion. They brought in these 'Elite' series models that had the same grated floor setup. It makes a massive difference for drainage, especally during the rainy season when everyone is tracking in mud and slush. It keeps the floor from becoming a slick mess by the afternoon.

That grab bar is a lifesaver when you’re wearing a heavy 20-pound tool belt and your center of gravity is all off. I actualy prefer the units with the slightly larger 48-inch wide footprint becuase it gives you enugh room to actually use that handle without banging your elbows. The ventilation on those newer models is usally better too; they have high-offset vents that actually move the air instead of just letting it bake in the sun.

My only issue with the mesh floors is that if you drop a screw or a small bit, it’s gone into the abyss. I lost a specialized T25 bit last week thru the grate and there was no way I was reaching down to retrieve it. Still, I’d take that trade-off any day over standing in a puddle.

The mesh floors are a decent idea for drainage, but they have been a headache for my crew lately. We had a batch of those Satellite Industries units on a site in Denver, and while they stayed drier, we had guys losing small hand tools and hex keys trough the floor. Once something small slips through that grate, you aren't getting it back without a biohazard suit and alot of regret. It has reached a point where I tell the apprentices to leave their pockets empty before heading in.

As for the grab handle, I acutally find it gets in the way more than it helps. I am usually wearing a full Occidental belt with the suspenders, and those extra few inches the bar takes up make the whole space feel cramped. I woud much rather see these companies prioritize a wider footprint or a better ventilation stack. The fancy features are nice, but if I am constantly bumping my rig against a plastic bar, it just makes the whole experience more claustrophobic than it already is.

I finally saw one of these on a house flip I'm finishing up and the best part for me wasn't even the floor. It was the coat hook they actually reinforced. usally, those cheap plastic nubs snap off the first time you hang a heavy winter jacket or a loaded tool vest, but this one was bolted trough the wall. I didn't have to choose between wearing my gear or putting it on that nasty floor. I’m curious though, does the door latch on yours feel sturdier? The one I used didn't have that flimsy plastic slide that always jams up when the unit isn't perfectly level.

Fancy floor grates are fine until they clog up with dry-pack dust, but I'm just glad to see a handle. Back in the 70s, we were lucky if the door latched and the thing didn't tip over when the wind kicked up. I remember using wooden outhouses on residential builds where 'ventilation' was just a gap under the roof and a prayer. If you think losing a bit through a grate is bad, try losing your wallet down a pit latrine back when everything was analog. I'll take these new plastic palaces any day, even if they are a bit over-engineered for a simple job.

You're spot on about that grab bar, especially for the older guys on the crew who need that extra points of contact. One thing you might not have noticed yet is the translucent roofing material they're using on these newer models. It's way more opaque than the old yellowed plastic, so you actually get decent natural light inside without it feeling like a greenhouse. It makes a huge difference when you're trying to find something in your pockets and don't want to fumble around in the dark.