What drives the price difference between a standard unit and an ADA unit?

Question

I'm coordinating a weekend food festival in a city park, expecting about 500 people over two days. We'll have alcohol sales and multiple food vendors. The rental company quoted us for 10 standard units and one ADA-compliant unit, with service halfway through the event. The ADA unit costs more per week than a standard unit. I know it's larger and has grab bars and a ramp, but I need to explain the price difference to our budget committee beyond just 'it's accessible.' What factors drive the higher cost for an ADA unit? Is it the materials, the manufacturing volume, the delivery handling, or something else?

Ray M. · Answer

An ADA-compliant portable toilet costs more because it is larger, heavier and more complex to manufacture, transport and service than a standard unit. The unit itself uses more material: a wider footprint, a ramp, grab bars, a higher roof and a larger holding tank. Manufacturing volume is lower for ADA units, which raises the per-unit cost. On the truck, an ADA unit takes up more space and weighs more, so a rental company can haul fewer units per trip, increasing the delivery cost per unit. Service takes longer because the interior is larger and requires more cleaning time. Your event needs the ADA unit to comply with the ADA cluster rule, which requires at least one accessible unit in a cluster of portable toilets. Your quote includes 10 standard units and one ADA unit, which meets the guideline for a 500-person event with alcohol and food vendors. Service halfway through a weekend event is standard; without it, odor and capacity issues would arise.

What drives the price difference between a standard unit and an ADA unit?

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