Although this is one possibility according to the toilet museum website imagining that this is the real answer is difficult.
Why do commercial toilet seats have an open front.
These commercial heavy duty toilet seats closed front with cover comply with the american national standard institute ansi z124 5 to withstand up to 300 lb.
It seems that open front toilets are actually required by the uniform plumbing code in the u s.
This is an open front toilet seat and thanks to the american standard national plumbing code it s the go to for most public restrooms.
This code was created in 1955 and further cemented by the.
The code is followed by most public authorities many public toilets feature open front toilet seats also called split seats.
The purpose for this seat design is to prevent genitals contacting the seat.
This explains why commercial establishments have open front toilet seats but not why they are generally not installed in homes.
The u shaped seat in.
My best guess is because we tend to be more sanitary at home.
One theory about the use of open front toilet seats in public restrooms is that they provide more comfort for a wider range of people.
There are industry standards for toilet seats all toilets have seat post holes on 5 1 2 centers all elongated bowls are 18 1 2 from seat posts to front of rim and all round bowls are 16 1 2.
This is due to sanitary reasons when used by males.
Any manufacturer s seats will fit any toilet manufacturers bowls if they are standard round or standard elongated.
Open front seats usually though not always come without a lid.
Simnick explains that the open seat was designed to allow women to wipe the perineal area after using the water closet without contacting a seat that might be unhygienic.
All seats of water closets provided for public use shall be of the open front type the global industry guideline uniform plumbing code created by the international association of plumbing and mechanical officials iapmo superceded the asnpc and has since 1973 called for open front toilet seats.
Seats with check hinges keep the seats from being able to be lifted more than 11 beyond the straight vertical open position.
It also omits an area of the seat that could be contaminated with urine and avoids contact for easier wiping.
A basic open front toilet seat is less expensive than a closed front seat for several reasons.