Mystery Unveiled: The Purpose Behind The Innovative Design Of U-Shaped Public Toilet Seats

When you're out and about and need to use the restroom, the only option is to use a public restroom. They're not all unpleasant, but the experience isn't as relaxing as it could be in the comfort of your own home.

While doing your business in a public restroom with five other people in adjacent cubicles, you may have noticed a few architectural variances.

Why are some lavatories U-shaped?

Getty Images

Lavatories at highway rest stops, shopping malls, and train stations generally have U-shaped seats rather than the comfy oval ones found at home. And it turns out that there is a reason why some materials are missing in public restrooms.

The main reason for changing the design of public toilet chairs is to improve hygiene. An open-front toilet seat is a novel take on where you park your buttocks, and it is the standard for most public restrooms owing to the American Standard National Plumbing Code.

Where does it come from?

This toilet code dates back over 70 years, to 1955, when it was first formed.

It was then commissioned by the Uniform Plumbing Code in 1973, allowing the U-shaped toilet seat to become popular. "Water closets shall be equipped with seats of smooth, non-absorbent material," according to the code.

All public-use water closet seats must have an open front." The entire concept is obviously based on hygiene, as the number of individuals sitting on a public toilet seat on any given day is not something we'd wish to know.

However, because there is less surface area for germs to thrive on in these U-shaped chairs, there is less contact with your neighbouring regions.

How was the design shaped based on users?

The toilet seat appears to have been constructed with women in mind as well. According to Lynne Simnick, senior director of code development at the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the open seat was designed to allow women to 'clean the perineal area after using the water closet' without using an unsanitary seat.

Simnick further stated that the open-front seat 'eliminates an area that could be polluted with urine', as well as 'eliminates the user's genital contact with the seat'.

Previously, many people theorised about the origins of the unusual-looking toilet seat. According to Slate, some of the beliefs as to why the seat is utilised include men being less careful in public restrooms and the U-shaped seat being cleaner than the typical oval if it isn't lifted.

Other ideas cited people's fear of contracting STIs from public restrooms and the U-shaped seat's ease of cleaning as contributory factors.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.