Before your prefab toilet arrives: what the site needs to have ready

A prefabricated toilet leaves the factory finished. Set it down, connect water and power, and it works. In practice, what delays almost every installation is not the unit but the site — the truck cannot get in, the slab has not been poured, or nobody has decided about the waste tank yet.

Here is what to have ready before delivery day so the job finishes in one visit.

1. Access and the placement spot

The unit arrives whole and is placed by crane; it is not assembled on site. So the truck has to reach the spot and have room to extend its outriggers.

• Width of the approach. For narrow lanes or obstructing poles, send photographs to the team first.
• Low power lines or branches over the spot, since the crane has to lift across them.
• Canopies or overhanging roofs that would stop the unit being lowered into position.

Genuinely difficult sites can still be solved, but it has to be known in advance so the right unit size and lifting method are chosen — not discovered when the truck arrives.

2. Ground that carries the load

The base should be level and evenly load-bearing. On uneven ground the unit sits out of level, and that affects drainage inside directly: water stops running to the outlet and pools in a corner.

• Existing concrete — place it straight down, the simplest case.
• Compacted soil — use pads or bearers to spread the load.
• Soft ground, lawn or recently filled land — pave first; fresh fill keeps settling for months.

3. Water supply

Internal plumbing is done at the factory. The site only needs a supply point to connect to. Check:

• Distance from the supply to the unit — extra pipe may be needed.
• Pressure. Groundwater or a low header tank may need a pump.
• On sites with no mains water yet, plan a storage tank.

4. Drainage and the waste tank

This is the decision most often left late, and the one that affects installation day most — a buried tank has to be dug in beforehand.

Both the under-booth tank and the buried septic tank work by gravity, so neither needs electricity to drain. Both also share the same two weak points, odour and corrosion, which we cover in detail in why portable toilets smell and rust.

5. Power and ventilation

Wiring is also finished at the factory. The site needs a supply point nearby with its own breaker for the unit.

Ventilation gets overlooked, but it affects both odour and how long the unit lasts:

• Do not box it in on every side. Leave a gap so air can move around the unit.
• Wind direction. Where there is a choice, face the vent away from main walkways and seating.
• Sun. A unit in full sun all day gets hot, which makes odour worse. Use natural shade where it exists.

Match the model to how long you need it

A large multi-cubicle unit cuts the number of units to transport and install, which works out cheaper than several single units once usage is high.

Checklist before delivery day

• Photographs of the approach and the spot sent to the team
• Base level and load-bearing, or the slab poured
• Water supply point within reach
• Power point with its own breaker
• Waste tank decided, and excavated if it is the buried type
• Clearance left around the unit for airflow

In short

The unit is not what slows a job down; the site is. Clear the five points above in advance and installation genuinely finishes in a single day.

See every model and price for all the toilet units we stock. On a tight budget for temporary work, our second-hand units all have their plumbing and wiring checked before handover.

Not sure what your site needs? Send us photographs of the location and we will tell you what to prepare and what delivery and installation will cost.