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Engineering

Repairing Concrete Toilets

Precast concrete toilets are virtually indestructible, although cracked panels and peeling paint are a common sight. Vandals, weather, and the nature of concrete itself may take a toll, leaving USDA Forest Service field personnel wondering how best to repair and maintain these toilets and precast concrete utility buildings.

MTDC randomly inspected about 35 Sweet Smelling Toilets (SSTs) in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nevada. The toilets ranged from 1 to 7 years old. Cracks were found in panels at the sharp angles near doors and windows and at panel connection joints. Paint commonly was seen peeling under the eaves and in areas where concrete was cracking.

Maintenance Issues and Repair Guidelines for Precast Concrete Toilets and Utility Buildings (0471–2334–MTDC) documents the field inspections and describes the best methods and materials for repairing cracks in concrete and coatings. The tech tip also offers information on the two companies currently under contract with the Forest Service to produce concrete SSTs. The tech tip discusses safety and structural issues, as well as warranty and contract issues.

For more information on concrete toilets and utility buildings, contact Gary Kees, project leader (phone: 406–829–6753; e-mail: gkees@fs.fed.us).

Forest Service and U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management employees can view this tech tip on the Forest Service's internal computer network at:
http://fsweb.mtdc.wo.fs.fed.us/pubs/htmlpubs/htm04712334/

Others can view the tech tip over the Internet (Username: t-d, Password: t-d) at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/htmlpubs/htm04712334/

To order the tech tip, contact Cailen Hegman, MTDC publications (phone: 406–329–3978; e-mail: cahegman@fs.fed.us).

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