16. Cleanliness

The assessment of cleanliness needs to be based on observation but bearing in mind the current use of the facility. Obviously it would be unfair to mark down dirt which had just been walked in on a wet day (though maybe a mat is needed). 

Quality Advisors will often ask questions about the cleaning policy. Is the cleaning done once a day or more frequently? Even in busy periods, it is expected that the block will remain tidy for a succession of users. 

At the height of the season, it is highly unlikely that once a day will be enough. 

Some larger parks use a checking system which requires the cleaner to sign each time a check has been completed and thereby ''own their work''. 

Positive Aspects:
Quality Advisors bear in mind an old building can be as clean as a new one.

Some cobwebs and dead insects are almost inevitable but are they fresh or ancient?

On wet days or when the grass has been cut, there can be mud or grass cuttings on the floor, so allowances will be made but is it new or long term?

A high standard of cleanliness and attention to detail in all areas both above and below eye level, floors, walls, ceilings, doors, window ledges, light fittings, extractor fans, pipes etc.

Negative Aspects:
Any areas which show neglect, behind cubicle doors in and around toilets (including seats) around urinals, behind pipes, shower cubicle walls, inaccessible areas, light fittings, ceiling lights, shower curtain bottoms, shower mats or duck-boards, around sinks, edges, corners, high and low drainage points.

Shower curtains which are mildewed, marked or stained. 

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17. Range of facilities including heating and baby changing

This item reflects the greater expectations of caravaners in the twenty-first century. As with Range of Fixtures and Fittings to follow, the assessment is of the provision not of the quality. 

Quality will be assessed under item 21. Note - if none of the following facilities are provided a mark of ''0'' will be given but this will not preclude a grade being awarded.

For maximum marks provision of five out of the following list of six items, will be required: 

• Heating (note metered heating is not acceptable) See 5 Star requirement above at top of page
• Baby changing Facilities
• Bath 
• Disabled Facilities
• Separate Washing Compartments/Cubicles
• Free (hot water) for showers

As regards to heating the building, the assessment is based on the provision of heating rather than taking into account the output of any or all appliances. 

If a number of blocks are provided, it may only be one which has heating provided. Each will be assessed separately and an average score reached. 

Many parks will use all blocks at Easter or May Bank Holiday and it can be very cold then too. See also the qualifier for 5 star grade [top]. 

To be given credit, heating must be provided in ladies, gents and disabled facilities. In the exceptional case of individual showers which open directly to the pathway etc. each one should have heating to be awarded the credit. 

Heating should be of a fixed type rather than provided by portable heaters.

Baby changing facilities should be able to be used by both male and female. This could be in a unisex area, a family room or in both ladies and gents.

A bath should be provided in both ladies and gents unless there is a unisex facility. This need not necessarily be a full size bath. A bath would suffice but it should be suitable for adult use.

Purpose built or specifically adapted facilities for the disabled are required. (Cubicles or compartments with extra wide doors only will be disregarded). To be given credit for disabled facilities there needs to be at least a shower or bath, toilet and basin for the use of disabled guests. 

Separate washing compartments should be totally screened. Again for maximum marks the facilities should be able to be used by both sexes.

A park which does not accept children would obviously not be expected to have baby changing facilities.

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18. Interior layout of facilities

Positive Aspects:
In considering the space available, the Quality Advisor would look to see if there is sufficient space for people to move about and use the facilities comfortably.

Hand basins should be well spaced.

Opening doors should not cause obstruction.

The overall level of lighting (both natural and artificial) should be sufficient.

The building should be light, airy and well ventilated. Often this is likely to be a combination of natural ventilation through opening windows or vents and forced extraction. 

There should be adequate space in WC cubicles and they should be adequately lit.

The shower cubicles should be lit sufficiently with enough space for both wet and dry areas.

The supply of both hot and cold water should be adequate when a number of basins are being used simultaneously. 

Shaver points and hairdryers should be close to a mirror.

Soap provision should be conveniently situated. Individual to each basin and shower is the ideal but it may be equally convenient to have one between two basins.

Mirror, razor points, shelves or tables should all be well-positioned.

Negative Aspects:
One tap provided

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19. Decor and maintenance (of the facilit y )

Positive Aspects:
Well maintained, easy clean wall and floor surfaces e.g. tiling, cement screened or melamine all in excellent order.

Fresh bright paintwork, professionally applied

Well maintained tiling, especially round the wash basins and shower cubicles.

Grouting and shower seals should be well maintained. 

Negative Aspects:
Poorly maintained flooring 

Condensation marked walls and flaking ceilings. 

Hard to clean wall and floor surfaces or those which are damaged or marked.

Faded, peeling or cracked paintwork or paint which has been carelessly applied.

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20. Range of Fixtures and Fittings

The assessment will reflect the provision not the quality (see item 21) of fixtures and fittings. For maximum marks the following should be provided:

• Toilets
• Wash Hand Basins with plugs
• Taps (Hot & Cold) see note above.
• Mirrors
• Toilet Roll & holders
• Shelves/Tables
• Sanitary Disposal
• Hair dryers & Hand dryers
• Shaver Point
• Refuse Bin
• Hooks
• Ashtrays or No Smoking Sign
• Soap

Under the requirements of most site licences, some form of sanitary disposal should be provided in the ladies toilets, but to be awarded the credit, a sanitary towel disposal bin should be in each ladies cubicle or sani bags in each cubicle if a disposal facility (such as incinerator) is in a central area.

The provision of plugs and chains to basins would be expected.

Hooks should be provided in main washing area/s and inside WC cubicles

Hand and hair drying facilities are required. A hot air hand dryer with rotating nozzle is not acceptable as a hair dryer. It is more convenient to use a hand held dryer than to move around a fixed unit.

Refuse disposal and ashtrays should be provided if smoking is permitted. If smoking is not allowed, a suitable method of depositing butts should be provided outside the entrance.

Where one or more of the above are missing this will affect the score but the importance factor will be considered. A missing ash try might not be considered as important as the absence of hand drying facilities. 

Soap provision will normally be a fixed dispenser. One is sufficient but the quality of the provision will be assessed at items 18 and 21.

The range of fixtures and fittings in family bathrooms and disabled facilities will be included in the assessment. 

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21. Quality and maintenance of facilities, fixtures and fittings.

The assessment considers all toilet and washing facilities, equipment, fixtures and fittings including showers, baths, disabled facilities, baby rooms etc.

Higher marks will be awarded for better intrinsic quality as well as for older items which have been maintained to an excellent standard.

Positive Aspects:
The provision of ladies sanitary disposal facilities in individual bins in compartments, as opposed to communal receptacles.

A nappy disposal facility and a washable changing mat provided in the baby changing area. Some parks provide a secure seat in which the baby may be placed while mother/father washes etc.

Where the block is locked, provision of coded locks in preference to use of keys which can be mislaid, lost or forgotten.

Heating of a type which ensures pre warming of the washing and shower area. The quantity of provision will be taken account of in relation to the space.

Negative Aspects:
Cracked or chipped wash hand basins, urinals, shower bases etc.

Cracked or silvering mirrors, broken or missing locks or bolts.

Poorly maintained electrical connections or fittings, lights that do no work, missing light bulbs.

Shelves, vanity units or tables with marked surfaces or broken edging strips.

Doors that fail to close, cubicles or doors with peepholes.

Long term graffiti.

Coin machines that are rusted or do not work, shower heads that are blocked and/or fail to distribute an adequate spray.

Toilets with no covers/lids. 

Single tap(s) providing water at a pre-set temperature

Higher marks will be awardrd for better intrinsic quality as well as for older items which have been maintained to an excellent standard.

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22. Range of shower facilities

On parks which cater for a small number of touring units, and/or where all caravan holiday homes are fully serviced, the Site Licence may not require the provision of showers. In this case, this item will not be assessed and the potential marks removed from the calculation of the overall grading percentage mark.

For maximum marks the following should be provided: 

• Doors
• Shower Curtains
• Stools or Seats
• Mats / Duck Boards / Non slip bases
• Shelf 
• Soap Dish
• Hooks

Note: Where there is a seat in the dry area, this can compensate for the lack of a shelf.

The assessment will only reflect the range of fixtures and fittings in the showers, not the quality of provision which will be considered under item 21.

Positive Aspects:
The provision of shower curtains. The curtain is to provide separate wet and dry areas within the cubicle although some larger cubicles are designed to provide these without the need for a curtain. If it is considered that this requirement is satisfied, the curtain will be discounted from the facilities list.

The provision of non-slip floor surfaces, or mats/duck-boards. There are various types of plastic matting on the market, which are suitable.

The provision of shelves and soap dishes. It may not be essential to have a shelf in the dry area where there is a seat or a bag on the back of the door but there should be somewhere to put spectacles, watch, rings etc. while showering.

The provision of seating within the cubicle. Folding/free-standing stools are acceptable.

Hooks should be provided, in an area which cannot get wet.

An outer door or curtain for privacy, a full length door, as opposed to a curtain or half door would afford more privacy and merit a higher assessment.

Where any of the above items are absent, the Quality Advisor will consider the relative importance factor and mark the whole rather than individual items.

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23. Ratio of toilets and showers to pitches

One of the complaints from visitors is that of the need to queue for facilities or the inconvenience caused by facilities which are too busy and over used.

The ratio of toilets, showers, urinals and washbasins to pitches is set out below.

Where this ratio is met provision will be considered to be good and awarded 7 marks. The number of touring pitches as well as any unserviced caravan holiday homes are taken into account. The latter will obviously be privately owned, as minimum standards require the full range of services for hire units. 

It is obviously important that the number of pitches which are actually in use in the current year is established. This number may vary from that set out in the original site licence.

NB The park grading scheme standards should not be confused with Model Standards or Site Licencing Requirements.

Gents Ladies

1 urinal per 30 pitches 
1 toilet per 30 pitches - 2 toilets per 30 pitches
2 basins per 30 pitches - 2 basins per 30 pitches
1 bath/shower per 25 pitches - 1 bath/shower per 25 pitches

Higher / Lower marks will be given for exceeding the provision required using the following formula: 

Less than 100% = 5 marks (Acceptable)
100% = 7 marks (Good)
105% = 8 marks (Very Good)
110% = 10 marks (Excellent)

However, where extra provision is not made, but facilities are used by 28 day campers or rallies, the mark is reduced accordingly.

All blocks will be taken into account. For higher marks, there should be above average provision in all areas. Where facilities are unisex, the number will be divided and half attributed to each sex. 

Special facilities such as disabled and family bathrooms can count towards the total if they are available for general use but not if, for example, the disabled facility needs to be accessed by use of a RADAR key. 

When assessing a ''trough'' style urinal, Quality Advisors would use reasonable judgement in attributing the quantity of provision. 

Note: all service touring pitches with individual washing / toilet provision may reduce the ratio. As this is not the norm at present any possible dispensation would be referred back to the Tourist Board. 

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