Portable Toilets for Home Use During the Epidemic

During the epidemic, portable toilets can serve as a solution for households without independent sanitation facilities, playing a crucial role in blocking fecal-oral transmission and ensuring environmental hygiene.

I. Application Value in Home Settings

During the epidemic, some households face challenges such as inconvenient toilet access for isolated individuals and a high risk of cross-infection due to the lack of independent sanitation facilities. Portable toilets effectively address this pain point through their independent design. For example, the portable flush toilets distributed by Xisanqi Subdistrict in Haidian District to isolated individuals returning to Beijing for work feature a separate design for the sewage tank and toilet bowl. The sewage tank is detachable and replaceable, and is equipped with a sealing valve for odor isolation, which not only prevents odor diffusion but also reduces the risk of virus transmission through aerosols. Each household is provided with two sewage tanks, meeting the normal usage needs for a 14-day isolation period without frequent cleaning, making operation convenient.

II. Public Health Functions in Epidemic Prevention and Control

Portable toilets play a key role in blocking fecal-oral transmission routes. Studies have shown that the novel coronavirus can be excreted in the feces of infected individuals, and improper handling of sanitation facilities can easily lead to environmental contamination. Portable toilets effectively cut off the virus transmission chain through full-process closed management, from the collection and sealed storage of excreta to professional disposal. For example, the "Guidelines for the Management of Portable Toilets During the Epidemic" issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) explicitly require that portable toilets be equipped with leak-proof sewage tanks and high-efficiency disinfection devices, and stipulate the frequency of cleaning and disinfection (e.g., at least twice a day) to ensure that the virus load on facility surfaces meets safety standards.

III. Standardized Management Requirements

According to the ISO 24599:2025 standard, the deployment of portable toilets should follow the principle of "scientific planning and dynamic adjustment", prioritizing coverage in high-risk areas (e.g., isolation points and temporary medical sites). Facility configurations should meet barrier-free design requirements (e.g., handrails and non-slip floors) and humanized needs (e.g., lighting and ventilation). The operation and maintenance process emphasizes dedicated personnel management, with operators required to wear protective suits, gloves, and other equipment and receive regular training. Waste disposal should be linked to the medical waste treatment system, using high-temperature incineration or chemical disinfection methods to ensure harmless treatment.

Through technological innovation and standardized management, portable toilets provide reliable protection for home isolation and public health safety during the epidemic, serving as important infrastructure for responding to public health emergencies.