A new-build bathroom can look deceptively simple on a floor plan.

There is a toilet, basin, shower or bath, perhaps some storage and a few electrical points. But behind that finished room sits a network of plumbing, drainage, electrical services, ventilation and structural considerations.

For property developers, getting those decisions right early can make the difference between a bathroom that simply works and one that has been properly designed around the way it will be used.

This is particularly important when specifying smart toilets for new builds.

Unlike a conventional toilet, some smart toilets combine plumbing with electrical technology and may include functions such as automatic flushing, heated seating, warm-water cleansing, warm-air drying, deodorisation and integrated lighting.

That means the toilet needs to be considered during the design and specification stage - not added as an afterthought once first fix is already underway.

What should developers consider before first fix?

Before a new-build bathroom reaches first fix, developers, architects and contractors should have a clear understanding of:

• The exact toilet specification
• Toilet position and orientation
• Soil and waste connections
• Water supply
• Electrical requirements
• Access for maintenance
• Bathroom layout
• Accessibility requirements
• Ventilation
• Future adaptability

This doesn’t mean every detail needs to be complicated.

It means the decisions that affect the building services need to be made before those services are concealed behind walls, floors and finished surfaces.

What is first fix, and why does it matter?

First fix is the stage of construction when essential services such as plumbing, drainage and electrical wiring are installed before walls, floors and ceilings are finished.

For bathrooms, this is when many of the decisions that determine where fixtures can ultimately go are made.

Changing the position or specification of a conventional toilet later may already be inconvenient.

Changing the requirements of a smart toilet after plumbing and electrical work has been completed can be considerably more involved.

That’s why the safest approach is straightforward:

Choose the sanitaryware early enough for the building services to be designed around it.

1. Choose the toilet before finalising the bathroom services

The first decision should be the actual toilet specification.

Not simply “a smart toilet”, but the specific model and installation requirements.

Different products can have different requirements for:

• Water connection
• Waste outlet
• Electrical supply
• Isolation
• Control systems
• Clearances
• Installation depth
• Maintenance access

Washloo’s Japanese toilet guide provides an overview of smart toilet technology and the different features developers and designers may encounter when choosing a system.

Once the product has been selected, its installation documentation should be given to the relevant architect, M&E designer and contractor.

2. Check the electrical requirements

This is one of the most important differences between a standard toilet and an electrically powered smart toilet.

Functions such as heated seating, warm-water cleansing, warm-air drying, automatic flushing and lighting require electrical power.

The precise electrical specification depends on the product, so developers should consult the manufacturer’s installation instructions rather than assume that every smart toilet has identical requirements.

The electrical provision should be considered alongside:

• Position of the toilet
• Cable routing
• Isolation
• Consumer unit capacity
• Bathroom electrical zones
• Building regulations and applicable electrical requirements

The important point is timing.

The electrical requirement needs to be known before the walls are closed up.

3. Plan the water supply

Smart toilets still require appropriate water connections.

The specification should account for:

• Water inlet position
• Pipe routing
• Available water pressure
• Isolation
• Connection requirements
• Accessibility for servicing

Water pressure can be particularly important because different smart toilet systems can have different operating requirements.

Developers should therefore check the manufacturer’s technical information during specification rather than assume that the existing bathroom plumbing will automatically be suitable.

4. Get the waste connection right

Drainage is another area where early planning matters.

The toilet needs to connect correctly to the building’s soil and waste system, and the route needs to work with the intended bathroom layout.

Consider:

• Waste outlet position
• Soil pipe location
• Required fall
• Floor construction
• Wall construction
• Toilet positioning
• Access for future maintenance

The earlier these decisions are made, the easier it is to coordinate the toilet with the rest of the building.

5. Think about the finished dimensions, not just the toilet itself

A toilet occupies more space than the ceramic footprint shown on a product image.

The finished design needs to consider the user, the seat, controls, doors, adjacent fixtures and maintenance access.

This becomes particularly important in:

• En suites
• Cloakrooms
• Apartments
• Compact bathrooms
• Loft conversions
• Accessible bathrooms

Developers should review the manufacturer’s dimensional drawings before finalising the room layout.

A few centimetres can make a significant difference in a compact bathroom.

6. Consider maintenance access before closing everything up

One of the easiest things to overlook in a new-build bathroom is what happens when something needs servicing several years later.

The finished bathroom should look seamless, but essential components still need to be accessible when required.

Ask:

• Where are the isolation points?
• Can a technician access the relevant components?
• Can the toilet be serviced without unnecessary damage to surrounding finishes?
• Is there sufficient working space?
• Are replacement components accessible?

This is particularly relevant to smart toilets because they combine multiple systems within a single fixture.

Good design isn’t simply about hiding everything.

It’s about hiding it without making future maintenance unnecessarily difficult.

7. Decide whether the bathroom needs future adaptability

A new-build bathroom may serve its occupants for decades.

The needs of those occupants can change during that time.

A family bathroom may eventually need to accommodate an older family member. An en suite may need to become easier to use for someone with reduced mobility.

This makes future-proofing an increasingly useful consideration for developers.

Potential considerations include:

• Generous circulation space
• Appropriate door widths
• Accessible layouts
• Reinforcement for future grab rails
• Easy-to-use controls
• Comfortable toilet heights
• Clear floor space
• Adaptable shower arrangements

This is not necessarily about designing every bathroom as an accessible facility.

It is about avoiding design decisions today that make future adaptation unnecessarily difficult.

Washloo’s guide to future-proofing a bathroom with a rise-and-fall smart toilet explores this concept in more detail.

8. Don’t overlook accessibility during specification

Accessibility should be considered alongside the overall bathroom design.

For new developments, the applicable requirements will depend on the type of property, building and jurisdiction.

Developers should therefore ensure that the bathroom specification is reviewed against the relevant building regulations and accessibility requirements.

Smart toilet technology may provide additional functionality that can benefit some users.

For example, water-based cleansing and remote controls can reduce the physical effort involved in certain aspects of toilet use.

However, technology is only one part of accessible bathroom design.

The layout, circulation space, doors, grab rails, basin position and other elements still need to be considered properly.

9. Think about ventilation

Bathrooms generate moisture and odours, making ventilation an important part of the building services design.

In a new build, the ventilation strategy should be established alongside the rest of the M&E specification.

Consider:

• Room size
• Bathroom location
• Extraction route
• Ventilation system
• Noise
• Controls
• Maintenance access

Some smart toilets also include deodorisation systems.

These can complement the bathroom’s ventilation system, but they are not a substitute for appropriate mechanical or natural ventilation.

10. Consider the complete smart-home ecosystem

Modern new builds increasingly incorporate technology across the property.

Heating, lighting, security, blinds and appliances can all be connected or automated.

The bathroom can form part of this wider smart-home experience.

Smart toilet functions may include:

• Automatic flushing
• Heated seating
• Wash-and-dry functions
• User controls
• Night lighting
• Deodorisation
• Automated lid operation

The important consideration for developers is whether these features genuinely complement the specification.

A smart toilet shouldn’t be selected simply because the property is marketed as a smart home.

The technology should be appropriate for the intended occupant and the wider bathroom design.

11. Think about cleaning and everyday ownership

Developers understandably focus on construction, but the finished bathroom will eventually belong to someone who has to clean and maintain it.

That means ease of cleaning should form part of the specification.

Rimless toilet designs can be particularly useful here.

A traditional toilet has a concealed internal rim that can be awkward to access during cleaning. Rimless designs create a more open bowl that can make the ceramic easier to inspect and clean.

Washloo’s rimless toilet hygiene guide explains how rimless toilet design differs from traditional rimmed toilets.

For a developer, this is a relatively small design decision that can have an impact on the everyday usability of the finished bathroom.

12. Don’t leave sanitaryware until the end

Bathrooms are sometimes treated as a finishing-stage decision.

The tiles are selected, the walls are prepared and then the sanitaryware is chosen to fit what remains.

That approach can work with straightforward conventional fixtures.

It becomes less appropriate when specifying products with additional plumbing and electrical requirements.

Smart toilets should therefore be incorporated into the project programme early enough for the relevant teams to coordinate the installation.

This means involving:

• Architect
• Interior designer
• M&E consultant
• Plumbing contractor
• Electrical contractor
• Main contractor
• Sanitaryware supplier

The objective is simple: everyone should be working from the same specification.

New-build smart toilet checklist

Before approving the bathroom specification, developers can work through this checklist.

Product

• Has the exact smart toilet model been selected?
• Are the manufacturer’s technical drawings available?
• Are the installation instructions available to the contractor?

Plumbing

• Is the water connection correctly positioned?
• Has water pressure been checked?
• Is the waste connection suitable?
• Is the soil pipe position compatible with the layout?

Electrical

• Is the required power supply understood?
• Has cable routing been planned?
• Has isolation been considered?
• Does the installation comply with applicable bathroom electrical requirements?

Layout

• Is there sufficient clearance around the toilet?
• Can doors open without interfering with the fixture?
• Are controls accessible?
• Is there enough space for maintenance?

Accessibility

• Does the bathroom meet the applicable requirements?
• Could the space be adapted later if necessary?
• Have circulation and transfer space been considered?

Maintenance

• Can essential components be accessed?
• Are isolation points accessible?
• Can servicing be carried out without unnecessary disruption to the finished bathroom?

Finishing

• Are the floor and wall finishes compatible with the installation?
• Has the toilet position been coordinated with tiling?
• Have lighting and ventilation been coordinated?

What happens if you specify a smart toilet too late?

The consequences depend on the project stage and the particular toilet.

In some cases, late specification may simply require adjustments to the installation.

In others, it can mean revisiting electrical provision, water connections, waste positioning, wall construction or access arrangements.

The principle is therefore the same as with many other building services:

If it affects plumbing or electrics, specify it before those services are concealed.

This is particularly important for developers working across multiple bathrooms or an entire new-build development.

Early coordination can make the installation process much more predictable.

The bathroom should be designed backwards from the finished experience

A successful new-build bathroom isn’t created by adding individual products at the end of construction.

It starts with understanding how the finished room needs to function.

For a smart toilet, that means considering the product’s technical requirements alongside the room layout, plumbing, electrical installation, ventilation, accessibility and future maintenance.

For the developer, this approach has another benefit: it creates a clear specification that can be communicated to everyone involved in the build.

The finished bathroom may look simple.

Behind it, however, good planning has already solved the complicated parts.

Final checklist: before first fix

Before work begins, make sure you can answer these questions:

Which toilet is being installed?

What are its water and waste requirements?

What electrical supply does it need?

Where will the isolation points be located?

Does the room provide adequate clearance?

Can the toilet be maintained after installation?

Have accessibility and future adaptability been considered?

Is ventilation adequate?

Have all relevant contractors received the same technical information?

If the answer to all of these is clear, the bathroom specification is in a much stronger position before first fix begins.

For property developers, that is the real advantage of early specification: the bathroom can be designed around the chosen technology rather than trying to make the technology fit a bathroom that has already been built.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should a smart toilet be specified in a new build?

A smart toilet should ideally be specified during the bathroom design and building-services planning stage, before first fix. This allows the plumbing, waste connection, electrical supply, room layout and maintenance access to be coordinated with the manufacturer’s requirements.

Do smart toilets need an electrical connection?

Many smart toilets require an electrical connection because functions such as heated seating, warm-water cleansing, warm-air drying, automatic flushing or lighting require power. Requirements vary between models, so developers should check the manufacturer’s technical documentation before planning the electrical installation.

Do smart toilets need special plumbing?

Smart toilets may have specific water supply, pressure, waste and connection requirements. These vary between models, so the manufacturer’s installation instructions should be reviewed before plumbing and drainage are installed.

Can a smart toilet be installed in an existing new-build bathroom later?

It may be possible, but the feasibility depends on the specific toilet and the bathroom’s existing plumbing, electrical provision, dimensions and waste connections. Installing the necessary services during the initial construction stage is generally more straightforward than modifying concealed services later.